One of the reasons Dotama has stood out from the pack of ascendant Japanese rappers that have been gaining buzz over the last few years is his selection in beats. His latest, “Y☆kai Watch,” features production from Imai of (very ahead of their times!) group_inou, and the slippery feel and simple-but-emotional approach that make that duo such a pleasure to listen to comes across on this sillier number riffing on various kid-friendly trends (Yu-Gi-Oh! shout out). While Dotama isn’t as intense as cp of group_inou, his swift rapping and ability to leap between vocal deliveries works against this backdrop…and his humor fits nicely too, something group_inou have plenty of too. Listen above.