quote:

Originally posted by Petey Awol:
Mono, what else are you getting into? Musically?

Mostly Japanese urban music (R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Reggae, etc.) and some Japanese Pop music.

Japanese R&B:
KAANA - Dear Sweet Love ～夜明けと落日に～

JAMOSA - MISSIN' U

ARIA - Slow Jam feat. 童子-T

Japanese Hip-Hop
Anarchy - Blood In Me

BY PHAR THE DOPEST - 恥じゃない

SEEDA feat. bay4k - SHIBUYA SHIBUYA

DOBERMAN INC - FIVESTAR LINERS

Japanese Reggae:
PUSHIM - HEY BOY

Wow..interesting. Black dude from Philly all about Japanese urban tunes. Wasnt quite expecting that one.

Yes, this is interesting.
I´m into Reggae/Dancehall for some years now and I look for japanese reggae from time to time. But for my taste acts lik pushim, moomin, ryo the skywalker: the´re not bad, but I don´t like the riddims much. They sound more like pop than reggae to me.

What I really like is Dry&Heavy. This is more dubby and deep, very good band and singer likkle mai has got a very special voice. It´s like a japanese version of portishead with dub/reggae background ---> Video!

quote:

Originally posted by Petey Awol:
Wow..interesting. Black dude from Philly all about Japanese urban tunes. Wasnt quite expecting that one.

Well, I went to Tokyo 2 years ago and they had MTV Japan on the cable over there... I was instantly fascinated with the music! Hearing so-called "Black music" done from Latinos from America is no big deal to me 'cause I first heard Mellow Man Ace kick raps in Spanish back in 1987. I thought it was dope then (and I still do)! But when you see somebody rap in another language and they live half way around the world, that shows you just how big this whole thing has become! It's interesting to see how somebody can take something like Hip-Hop, R&B, Reggae, etc... and put their own spin on it to make it theirs. I understand very little Japanese, but I can go on the flow of what they're saying or the passion they put into singing the song and I can feel it! Japanese girls are HOT too!

Japanese urban music is basically 75% of all the music I listen to these days 'cause American radio sucks when it comes to Hip-Hop and R&B.

quote:

Originally posted by drmz:
Yes, this is interesting.
I´m into Reggae/Dancehall for some years now and I look for japanese reggae from time to time. But for my taste acts lik pushim, moomin, ryo the skywalker: the´re not bad, but I don´t like the riddims much. They sound more like pop than reggae to me.

What I really like is Dry&Heavy. This is more dubby and deep, very good band and singer likkle mai has got a very special voice. It´s like a japanese version of portishead with dub/reggae background ---> Video!

I have some songs by most of those artists you mentioned and I agree, they have more of a pop edge... Japanese artists like to mix styles - sometimes to have a broader appeal.

I've never heard of Dry&Heavy but I have a few songs from Likkle Mai - I need to check out more of her stuff!

That Dry&Heavy track is Reggae in its purest form, so I can kinda understand why you don't feel PUSHIM and those others too much. Great track!

Hey, when I was there, this video was played a few times and became one of my faves: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=B4hU3gbPYWQ

Not exactly Hip Hop, but I was very impressed by a Japanese "Orchestra of Light" (translated) with their Latin Salsa music. They went all out with their music and very well recieved in many continents. Good for them. Good to see people do well in other musical cultures. Rock on! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qFy-UddRKM

Personally, I just cant get into hip hop not done by americans. I just doesnt sound koser to me. I never got into the UK rappers (The streets) etc etc. So to hear a Japanese man do it I just scratch my head. I'm not closed minded but it just aint the same to me.

These days I'm all about electronic dance music. The inner "raver" calls out from time to time. Drum And Bass, Electro Breaks, "fidget house". These are the things that i blast in residental neighborhoods at high volumes.