“E”qual – 7 Days (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)
May 19, 2011 by Level J · Leave a Comment
“E”qual’s “7 days” album is a one man tour-de-force of beats and rhymes.
ARTIST: “E”qual
ALBUM: 7 DAYS
LABEL: Columbia Music entertainment/Harlem Recordings
CATALOG #: COCP-50921
DURATION: 59:10
RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2006
BUY THIS ALBUM from CDJapan.com:
- My name is…
- Intro~Prologue (“E”qual Feat. Jack Herer)
- I.C.E.B.E.R.G. (クエルボ O’clock) (“E”qual Feat. Adya)
- Baby, Baby (“E”qual Feat. JAY’ED)
- Dress code (“E”qual Feat. YA-KYIM)
- “E”d up from the feet up
- You gotta be like that
- 7 Days
- Skit~Message
- The Rock Diamonds (“E”qual Feat. BALLERS)
- Let’s go (“E”qual Feat. HI-D)
- The sky is the limit
- M.O.S.A.D. is forever (“E”qual Feat. TOKONA-X, AKIRA, 來々)
Before listening to “E”qual’s “7 Days” album, I received some advice, listen to what the artist has to say.
So, listen I did and I have to say that I enjoyed what “E”qual had to say and how he did it.
With the BEATS. The “7 Days” album was composed entirely by “E”qual. This allows “E”qual’s voice, lyrically and production-wise shine. With that being said the album has a consistent feel to it and held my interest for the most part.
The highlight of this album was the beats.
“E”qual has variety in the beats that he composes. Those beats helped him and company deliver their lyrics and kept me interested and listening for the next track. They were quite a few tracks that I returned to for seconds and thirds but the tracks “I.C.E.B.E.R.G.”, “Baby, baby”, “7 Days”, “Message”, “The Rock Diamonds” and” The Sky is the Limit” were among the ones that caught me beat wise and lyrically.
“E”qual definitely wants you to move and bump this in your music players. His attention to production and lyrics are testament to that. There is enough variety in his subject matter to not make you feel like you are listening to the same songs over and over again.
“7 Days” comes with a CD insert booklet with 20-pages featuring lyrics, liner notes and production credits and two pages of photos featuring “E”qual.
In the future I look forward to “E”qual’s take on the more conscious sides of life.
So, if you are looking for some Japanese Hip Hop with the added bonus of hearing one production style and an album that doesn’t sound like a beat sampler, listen to “E”qual’s “7 Days” album.
Hopefully, E’qual’s beats and lyrics will keep you motivated to bob your head.
BUY THIS ALBUM from CDJapan.com:
or YesAsia.com
Kicking it with Home Made Kazoku – a J!-ENT interview by Dennis A. Amith
September 8, 2010 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
Japanese hip hop trio Home Made Kazoku (which means Home Made Family) performed in Baltimore, Maryland for an American audience of 5,000 people at Otakon.
The trio are known for their hit songs on Japanese animation series “Naruto” , “Bleach” and “Eureka Seven” which aired on the Cartoon Network and “Naruto Shippuden” which currently airs on the Disney XD.
J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith had the opportunity to interview MICRO, KURO and DJ U-ICHI of Home Made Kazoku after their performance in Baltimore.
Please downlaod the PDF of our interview here
Unique Hip Hop trio, Home Made Kazoku making a great U.S. debut performance!
August 9, 2010 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
August 1 2010, Home Made Kazoku arrived as guest performers at Otakon 2010, an event that boasts the largest following of any Anime convention on the east coast, and finished their first U.S. performance with a great success!
Although they performed on Sunday, which was the final day of the convention and usually receives the smallest crowd, Home Made Kazoku was able to attract a swarm of 5000 screaming fans from all across the country. They opened with “Kazoku Sensei,” which immediately filled the concert hall with excitement, and once they began playing their next song “Shonen Heart”, the opening theme for anime series EUREKA SEVEN, the entire audience stood up in unison and would not settle down for the rest of the performance. MCs MICRO and KURO began a call and response in English, and at one point, MICRO shouted to the crowd, “No matter where you are from, or who you are, or what color your skin is, we are one big family!” and the audience’s fervor reached its peak. The show concluded with Home Made Kazoku and the crowd all singing along their biggest hit song, “Thank You!!” which was also featured as the ending theme of BLEACH.
After the show, the band conducted a fan signing, which, as one of the Otakon staff members noted, had “the longest line I have ever seen in 17 years of the convention!” The line even consisted of fans that came all the way from Japan, and the band was able to sign for about 700 visitors.
Although their scheduled appearance was on the last day of the 3-day convention, Home Made Kazoku arrived on the first day and was busy being chased by media from all over the U.S. Over the course of the convention, the band conducted over 20 interviews, and even sat down with FOX TV, a network that is the equal of the big three networks (ABC, NBC, CBS).
During Otakon, MICRO specially “tweeted” in English and DJ U-ICHI took photos of the convention in order to communicate with the fans. After the live show there were nearly few hundred “tweets” related to Home Made Kazoku.
The group released a special Anime tie-in single collection “Home Made Kazoku @ the Animes” which is now available on all major digital outlets from SIN/Sony Music Independent Network.
Home Made Kazoku @ the Animes
1. Thank You!! (ending theme for BLEACH)
2. SHONEN HEART (opening theme for Eureka Seven)
3. Shooting Star (ending theme for NARUTO)
4. No Rain No Rainbow (theme song for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN the MOVIE –Kizuna-)
Home Made Kazoku Office HP:
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/home-made/
KEN THE 390 – Todoketakute… feat.Thelma Aoyama (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
January 28, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
A solid debut single with a collaboration with Thelma Aoyama from Japanese hip hop group – KEN THE 390!
ARTIST: KEN THE 390
CD SINGLE: 届けたくて… (Todoketakute…) feat. Thelma Aoyama
LABEL: rhythm zone
CATALOG #: RZCD-46124
DURATION: 16:24
RELEASE DATE: February 11, 2009
BUY THIS CD SINGLE from CDJapan.com:
- 届けたくて… feat. Thelma Aoyama
- タイトロープ (tight rope)
- 届けたくて… (instrumental)
- タイトロープ (instrumental)
KEN THE 390 is the monicker used by MC Ken Sakuma, who has come along way since his hip hop indie years with Da.Me.Records and when he was part of the group known as “Apples” and was with TARO SOUL. But the hip hop artist was signed to a major record deal with rhythmzone in 2008 and in Feb. 2009 released his first single from the label titled “Todoketakute…” in which he collaborated with red hot vocalist Thelma Aoyama.
Smooth, upbeat and the kind of Japanese hip hop that makes you want to bump and move courtesy of the sick beats and piano courtesy of KEN THE 390, DJ KOMORI & UTA. Aoyama Thelma gives the track that sensual balance with her beautiful vocals.
The coupling track is titled “Tight Rope” feature beats courtesy of KEN THE 390 and ALI KICK from Romancrew. Deep bass beats and DJ scratching on the vinyl with a straight up rhythmic flow courtesy of Sakuma. A solid debut for KEN THE 390!
Insert features lyrics to both songs and production credits. Also, include are two mini fliers for KEN THE 390′s live show and rhythm zone information sheet.
BUY THIS CD SINGLE from CDJapan.com:
or YesAsia.com
ONE☆DRAFT – Jounetsu (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
May 20, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
A sixth single that features a rock track, hip hop track and another feature a combination of both. Overall, a wonderful single from ONE☆DRAFT.
GROUP: ONE☆DRAFT
CD SINGLE: Jounetsu
LABEL: Sony Music Associated Records
CATALOG #: AICL-2021
DURATION: 11:40
RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2009
BUY THIS CD SINGLE from cdjapan.com:
- 情熱
- ターミナル II (feat. MACHERI)
- 昇陽
ONE☆DRAFT is a Japanese hip hop/vocal/hip-rock group that debuted back in 2007 on the Sony Music Japan label.
The group consists of MC Lance, vocalist RYO and DJ MAKKI. The three were members of the Teikyou High School baseball team and the name originated from a slogan “Big Top Rookie Draft Pick”. After high school, LANCE went to Boston to study and lived their for five years and absorbed the culture. Upon returning, the three formed their hip hop group and their music has been used for tie-ins for professional baseball games in Japan.
“Jounetsu” (which translates to “Passion”) is the trio’s sixth single and was the theme song for NTV’s “2009 Nippon Professional Baseball PRIDE & SPIRIT”.
The single kicks off with the title track “Jounetsu” and unlike previous singles which are hip-hop driven, the track is an all vocal rock track. The track which was written by LANCE and is a pretty catchy rock song from the trio. An upbeat rock track that is a type of song to fire the crowds at a baseball game.
The coupling track “Terminal II” features a hip hop track collaborating with female vocalist Macheri. A slow-tempo, beat driven hip hop track featuring beautiful cool harmony with Macheri, while the second coupling track “昇陽” (Rising Sun) is a mid-tempo vocal hip rock track and a mellow track that showcases the groups singing vocals and rhymes.
The CD insert features the lyrics and production credits.
Overall, “Jounetsu” is a pretty solid single feature three awesome tracks and what I like about ONE☆DRAFT is that their music is not all hip-rock, you get an all vocal track, an all hip hop track and a hip-rock track. A good balance of music in this single alone and their style and presentation definitely makes them stick out among the many similar groups out there in Japan. Definitely recommended!
BUY THIS CD SINGLE from cdjapan.com:
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
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- 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!
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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!
Scha Dara Parr – Konya wa Boogie Back (feat. Kenji Ozawa) (a J!-ENT World Groove CD Single Review)
March 9, 1994 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
A wonderful collaboration between SDP and Kenji Ozawa, “Konya wa Boogie Back” is definitely recommended!
GROUP: Scha Dara Parr
CD SINGLE: Konya wa Boogie Back
LABEL: Ki/oon Sony Records
CATALOG #: KSD2-1061
DURATION: 16:40
RELEASE DATE: March 9, 1994
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- 今夜はブギー・バック (smooth rap)
- 今夜はブギー・バック (Live At BIG Egg)
- 今夜はブギー・バック (ラップ用カラオケ)
Scha Dara Parr is back with their sixth single “Konya wa Boogie Back” and a collaboration with up and coming Toshiba-EMI artist Kenji Ozawa.
The song is so popular that I’ve seen the two perform together and the audience singing in unison. Needless to say, the single has been a big commercial hit for the hip hop group which consist of MC’s Ani and Bose and DJ Shinco.
The single begins with “Konya wa Boogie Back” (smooth rap). Some people may have seen the performance on television and the difference is that Scha Dara Parr uses a more synth musical arrangement. But I admit that my preference is the beat-driven version we have seen them perform on Japanese television, where the guys are more live, more raw and where you can hear the audience be moved by that energy.
And fortunately, that live bass-beat version of the song is included as the second track as the group is performing Live at BIG Egg. This is the Scha Dara Parr that I’m used to hearing and it’s a track that I enjoy much more than the smooth rap version.
The single ends with the karaoke version of “Konya wa Boogie Back” (Smooth Rap). The CD Single comes with an insert with the lyrics and production credits.
Overall, “Konya wa Boogie Back” is an awesome single and if you enjoyed listening to these guys perform this track on various music shows, then you’ll be happy to know that they did include a live version of the song on this single. Definitely recommended!
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