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While the majority of the American public doesn’t know what’s going on with the Japanese music scene, fortunately some in the American music industry do.

Enter the Teriyaki Boyz. A collaborative hip-hop group featuring some of the most popular Japanese MCs out there:

• Verbal: Leader rapper for the very popular hip-hop group m-flo and also one of the busiest producers in Japan today
• Ilmari & Ryo-Z: Founders of the popular hip-hop group Rip Slyme
• Wise: New solo rapper with BAPE Sounds
• Nigo: DJ and founder of the BAPE (A Bathing Ape) clothing brand

Through their connection with BAPE (and BAPE Sounds), they’ve been able to hook up with some heavy western hitters. Their first single, Heartbreaker, was produced by Daft Punk (and yes, before Kanye did his thing with them). Their third single, ZOCK ON! (featured below), includes hype guest shots from Busta Rhymes and Pharrell (who even raps in Japanese).

If you’re looking for something a little different, check it out:

Can’t wait for more :)

On this day, 19 years ago, the joy that is Dreams Come True was introduced to the whole of Japan via their first self titled album, and their first single, ‘Anata ni Aitakute’. In the years since, their own brand of pop, jazz, latin, r&b and more has captivated millions throughout Asia and amazed those of us outside of Asia who swear by them (and think the rest of the world doesn’t know what they’re missing). 50 million copies later, they’re still going strong!

Happy Anniversary, Miwa & Masa!

Here’s to another two decades! :)

Whenever I see a brutha/sista taking a full step outside of black status quo, I take notice. Whenever they’re vocal and fearless about it, I applaud. The following dude gets a standing ovation in my book.

Introducing Jero. A Philadelphia native who is trying to become a hit in Japan. Not as a R&B singer. Not as a rapper. But as an Enka singer!
(Enka is a traditional Japanese style of music, sometimes compared to country or blues music. It is mostly sung by older Japanese singers).

As a tribute to his Japanese grandmother, Jero first single “Umiyuki” (Ocean Snow) will not only be #1 on the Enka charts this week, but will also be #4 Jpop charts as well.

Check out his recent performance on a morning talk show:

Omigoto Brother-man. Keep shining bright. :)

Congrats to the kawaii darlings of American accepted Jpop! Their new show, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, has set new ratings records for the Cartoon Network.

They’re also keeping it live on the album side…just received a positive 3 out of 4 star rating by Rolling Stone magazine for their new album, Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, which contains music from the TV show.

Keep on, keepin’ on, sistas! ^_^

One of the biggest stories in the Japanese music industry this year was the attempt by JPop queen Utada at breaking into American music market. She had a lot going for her…

She has a enjoyably natural R&B/Pop style which had helped her sell millions and millions of albums in Asia. (In fact, her greatest hits CD, that was released this year, beat out both Norah Jones & Usher in terms of first week sales…1.4 million). She not only was born in America (NYC), but speakes fluent, non-accented English. Island Def Jam had no problem signing her up to a one album contract. (Yes…one album…already a good sign, eh?) It looked like she had a better chance than anyone before her to make it big.

Well…dinna happen…or at least it ain’t happened yet.

Positive:

• Her dance club release, “Devil Inside”, made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
  (Chalk it up to the remix..the original ain’t worth spit)
• She got a lot of newspaper exposure and even some MTV exposure.
  (a lot more than any other big time Japanese artist has ever gotten…)
• Her English album, Exodus, sold over a million copies in Japan already.
  (Was released a month before the US release…IDJ gotta get their money…)

Negative:

• She creates an album that not only sounds nothing like what she’s done before, but nothing that’s currently on the popular charts either.
  (While I love creativity, you better be damn sure your new music will make the public respond)
• Exodus has barely sold 20,000 copies (if that many).
• Her first single, Easy Breezy, cried out in dark, looking for someone to care.
• “You’re easy breezy…and I’m Japanesey…” Ugh.
  (Yes, Utada, some of us know the reference, but it still sounds wack.)

Whenever a really big time Japanese artist comes over, it’s always so black and white. It seems like it’s either you make it big or go back home. No putting in your dues…no taking a few albums to try suss things out…not even trying to put a truely radio friendly song out. Don’t know why they expect anything different than what they’re getting.

Sure the industry isn’t always sure how to market them. It’s not like they don’t already know that. Since that’s the case, then perform music that’s easy to market. Sacrifice a little to get your foot in the door. Then show them what you’re truely about.

Exceptions do exist, but always later down the road. Putting in your dues has paid off recently for a couple Japanese artists:

Puffy (AmiYumi): Three well reviewed albums (with a fourth along the way). Many small club dates to build up a new fanbase. Singing the theme song to the Teen Titans show. And now they have their own show on Cartoon Network, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi.

Toshi Kubota: After a number of well reviewed albums, Toshi hooked up with whole neo-soul gang (?uestlove, Angie Stone, etc) and is getting major props for his new soul album, Time to Share. My man also recently became the first Japanese artist to ever perform on Soul Train!

To all those people searching for Utada Hikaru’s "Blow My Whistle":

There’s nothing about it on Hikki’s website. I’m assuming she’s waiting for Rush Hour 2 to be released in Japan before she makes any official notice about it. If you’re looking for the song and you’re in the US, just go buy the Rush Hour 2 soundtrack. If you’re not in the US, you can find it in one of the music sharing programs like WinMX. Also, try out the sample of the song on Amazon.com.

While you’re at it, check out Hikki’s "Final Distance", a vastly superior song!

Notice for you JPop fans out there! The US releases of Spike by Puffy (aka Puffy YumiAmi in the states) and Clicked Singles Best 13 by the famous rock band L’Arc-En-Ciel are now available! You can order both of them from Tower Records. Buy them today and tell your friends!

The JPop invasion continues later this year with the US release of Dream Come True’s Monster (WooHoo!) ^_^

Looks like I’ll have to retract some of my harshness about Mai Kuraki. I still think that none of the released singles from the album were as good as others on the album. However, I do find myself listening to two songs off of that album very often these days. I’ve also enjoyed her new “Simply Wonderful” single as well. Waddaya know…I think I’m actually looking forward to her next release. ^^

A few Jpop quick notes. Finally got the new CD by flava of the year, Mai Kuraki. I’ll have to agree with the consensus..Kuraki wouldn’t be nearly as popular as she currently is without the groundwork paved by Hikki-chan last year. There’s almost nothing groundbreaking (or even mildly inspiring) on her CD that would make me think otherwise. I did find shades of something special on the title track, ‘Delicious Way’…someone in that studio knows how to produce a quality song. He must have been on vacation for the rest of the recording sessions. ^^;

Not to say Kuraki doesn’t have talent..she wrote or co-wrote all her own songs and seems to have a decent voice as well as the looks to pull things off. Maybe she needs someone else creating the music. It took Hikki a couple albums to get the right formula too. (Cubic U…Bleh)

Of course being the current flava means not having to prove you’re quality. (Well not until the second album…)