I recorded “Longevity” w/ DJ Shin this past August in Osaka, Japan. DJ Shin, DMC World Team Finalist, is a long time comrade of mine, and I was featured on his 2003 “World Famous” compilation album. Although I was in Osaka for less than a week, it was a memorable recording session since we haven’t collaborated in close to a decade.
This time around in Japan, I witnessed a very special memorable performance by an up-and-coming female MC 072, pronounced “Natsu.” The Sapporo representer emitted an extremely unique, deep vibe which successfully transported the entire audience into her pleasantly twisted world. So many artists strive to be different and heartfelt in an abstract manner, and the result is just confusing nonsense which the traditional rap listener fails to enjoy, however 072 isn’t one of them. Her debut album, Inquisition, recently dropped from my long time friend KK’s label Lo-Vibe, and it’s definitely worthy of a listen.
Throughout my journey and development as an MC since the mid-nineties, there are few artists that I have studied as much as Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks; I would describe his style as “controlled aggression,” where the syntax, syllable placement, subject matter, and pattern, are thoroughly calculated within every bar. Beneath the frequent references of hardcore violence, distrust for the government and organized religion, and alcohol indulgence, there exists a tortured bipolar soul that looks to Islam for the answer.
His lead-off single for the upcoming “God of the Serengeti” album is certified traditional banger… I mean, how can you not respect a dude that names his single after his favorite sandwich, features his mom and barber, rhymes about being manic depressive, and gets it produced by the Beatnuts?
Back in ’98-ish, when I was just beginning to MC, there was a group that just blew my mind…
I had stumbled upon “Venom” by the Arsonists on a mixtape that I copped out in Tokyo; I remember rewinding Freestyle’s verse over and over… I vote for the Arsonists as the most underrated group of MC’s of our generation.
Fast forward more than a decade… One of the Arsonists’ MC’s reemerge with German production team the Snowgoons on this one and has got me rewinding again… These brothers epitomize perseverance and timelessness. Respect to the Arsonist MC’s.
Kemui, a veteran Japanese MC from Tokyo, JP, will be releasing his second album in November; yours truly is featured on “Genshiryoku Salaryman,” produced by Cloud N9Ne. Some of the most successful independent Hip Hop artists in Japan,
like MC Kan from MSC and Rumi, are also featured on this album.
The global street banger,
“Swordz Up! (Jovian Remix)feat. Akua Naru”
is featured on “Internationally Known Vol. 2 Mixtape”
Download for free here
This mixtape features artists from literally around the world…
Europe, Africa, U.S., Latin America, to Asia.
Nomadic Wax presents “Internationally Known Vol. 2 Mixtape”
Nomadic Wax releases the second installment of Internationally Known, the most comprehensive ongoing international hip hop mixtape series in the industry.
The 38-track mixtape presents artists from over 30 countries, and features some of the world’s fastest rising stars, including Zero Plastica (Italy), Modenine (Nigeria), Alesh (D.R.C.), Las Krudas (Cuba), Art Melody (Burkina Faso), Vox Sambou (Haiti), Emile YX (South Africa), and Diamondog (Angola), to name a few.
Originally conceived by pioneering emcee Dumi RIGHT of Zimbabwe Legit, Nomadic Wax’s Dj Magee, and Italy’s Dj Nio, the mixtape series has become home to many of the world’s most interesting young artists. On Vol. 2, Dumi Right continues his hosting duties as NYC heavyweight Dj Boo pilots the listener around the world and back, shedding light on new musical sounds, styles, and artists.
The closing track is “Super MC’s,” a Nomadic Wax exclusive that is this year’s anthem for the international hip hop community. The track rep’s the best from all four corners of the world and solidifies Internationally Known as a tastemaker’s pick for global urban music.
Recently I was featured on a track with SF MC A1,and Living Legend Arata;
I believe Arata was the first MC I ever saw spit in Japanese back
in the late nineties…
Dank Dier
I am featured on Swiss MC Akai’s “Jazzabelle’s” album on the song “Dank Dier.”
This is my first bilingual double time verse… to tell you the truth,
I’ve never heard a bilingual double time within the same verse…
NY veteran MC/educator Rabbi Darkside is also featured on the track.
Listen to it here! Dank Dier