EAST END x YURI – MAICCA (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
February 13, 1995 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
A wonderful follow up to “DA.YO.NE”, EAST END x YURI’s “MAICCA” is single worth checking out!
GROUP: East End x Yuri
CD SINGLE: MAICCA
LABEL: Epic/Sony Records
CATALOG #: ESDB-3537
DURATION: 14:58
RELEASE DATE: February 13, 1995
BUY THIS CD SINGLE from:
- MAICCA
- GROOVIN’ -remix-
- MAICCA -backing track-
EAST END x YURI are riding sky high with their hit song “DA.YO.NE”, the first single featuring hip hop group EAST END (GAKU, YOGGY and ROCK-Tee) and Tokyo Performance Dolls idol singer Yuri Ichii. Needless to say, “DA.YO.NE” inspired so many copycats from groups from all over Japan making their own version of the song utilizing their own slang (ie. WEST END x YUKI’s “SO.YO.NA”).
But now EAST END x YURI is back and showing us that they are not a one-hit wonder with their new single “MAICCA” (which can translate to “I Don’t Care” or “Forget About it!”).
The song is just a fun, commercial hip-hop track. I dig the beats and the overall song is pretty enjoyable to listen to as the song is about a guy going on a date with a girl and we are hearing their different opinions. So, its interesting and humorous to see the back and forth between GAKU, YOGGY and YURI.
The chorus is also quite interesting:
maikka ittoke maikka (maicca) Don't care, go for it, forget about it. komatta toki wa saa maikka (maicca) When you have anxiety, forget about it. fukaku kangaenaide maikka (maicca) Don't think too much, forget about it hirakinaotte maikka Be offensive, forget about it. kekka all right donna mondai Result is all right, I did it! itsu datte maikka mendokusai I don't care when zenbu all right ato wa shiranai Everything's all right, it's my business soo dattara nara ii kedo (maicca) If it is so...that's good. (forget about it)
The coupling track is titled “GROOVIN’ -remix-” and features a mid-tempo groove but features more of YURI getting down with her rhymes, as well as GAKU. A catchy coupling song! And the single rounds it all off with an instrumental of “MAICCA”.
Overall, a wonderful and fun followup to “DA.YO.NE”, “MAICCA” is definitely a single worth picking up if you are a fan of EAST END x YURI!
BUY THIS CD SINGLE:
EAST END x YURI – DA.YO.NE (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
January 10, 1995 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“Japanese hip hop goes mainstream with the collaboration of hip hop group EAST END and YURI from Tokyo Performance Dolls. An awesome CD single made even better with its smooth coupling song ‘Sunao ni’!”
GROUP: EAST END x YURI
CD SINGLE: DA.YO.NE
LABEL: Epic/Sony Records
CATALOG #: ESDB-3519
DURATION: 16:35
RELEASE DATE: August 21, 1994
- Da.Yo.Ne
- Sunao ni
- Sunao ni (for the boys)
Possibly the biggest commercial hip hop group in Japan since Scha Dara Parr, hip hop group EAST END teams up with Tokyo Performance Dolls idol YURI to form EAST END x YURI and have dominated the charts with their song “DA.YO.NE”.
A song that have had many copycat versions but reflecting the slang of their city’s version of “oh really?”
But the significance of this song in Japan is the merging of a Japanese underground hip hop with J-Pop. And with many Japanese hip hop artists right now still known via the underground scene, it’s was quite interesting to see so much attention put on this group because of the merging and eventually, getting the name of a Japanese hip hop group out there and hopefully giving exposure to Japan’s hip hop scene. Also, the song was the first non-English hip hop track to reach a million in sales and getting the group’s name on the Guinness Book of World Records and also became the first hip hop group to appear on the popular Japanese New Year’s Eve Show – “Kouhaku Uta Gassen”.
The first track “DA.YO.NE” is a fun and enjoyable hip hop track which kicks off with Yuri known for singing busting out rhymes, followed up by MC Gaku as the two trade off with their communicative rhymes and beats supplied by DJ YOGGI.
But the surprise was the coupling track “Sunao ni” featuring a smooth hip hop ballad by both Yuri and MC Gaku. The ballad is just well done and for the most part, has surpassed my love for “DA.YO.NE” in being my favorite track of the single. Great rhythm and flow by GAKU but Yuri adds sexiness to the track.
The third track is a “version for the boys” of “Sunao ni” which is the same song without MC Gaku but only Yuri’s segment. For those who want to bust out their rhymes for the song.
This CD single comes in the horizontal packaging with lyrics and production credits.
Overall, I’ve become quite an addict to the music of EAST END x YURI and “DA.YO.NE” is just a great CD single and also great to see some form of Japanese hip hop getting noticed in Japan. Granted, some may see East End possibly selling out by teaming up with a Japanese music idol but I don’t think so. I think it’s all about opportunity and getting out into the mainstream and now the group can reap its benefits while giving some props to other Japanese hip hop artists out there.
“DA.YO.NE” is highly recommended!
