This blog’s taste in Japanese rap leans towards the poppier and the stranger — and today, two artists hitting both those sides released new videos. The first comes courtesy of a performer I’ve been on the fence about personally for a while now, Akko Gorilla. She occupies the same space as many other artists I…
Building off of a lovely debut album last year, hip-hop duo Chelmico will release a new EP titled…EP next month. They’ve previewed it with the bouncy “Highlight,” which finds the pair tag-teaming in and out over the skippy dance-pop beat, delivering smooth rap flows and sing-song styles in equal measures. Central to Chelmico’s music has…
It’s smack dab in the middle of the rainy season here in Japan, and a particularly wet Saturday last week meant I stayed in and listened to new stuff on Apple Music. Surprise surprise — Suzuki Mamiko of Chelmico released a solo EP, the lovely Deep Green. Hunt that one down if you are in…
And now the final list begins…here is part one of our “best albums” list, featuring our favorite Japanese releases of the year. #30 Wata Megumi Blindman Wata Megumi’s nervy pop has always felt just off, regardless of whether she was taking aim at society as a whole or otherwise. Blindman aims for something more ambitious,…
Summer 2016 has found Chelmico embracing the season in a way they weren’t one year ago. Back in 2015, the rap duo made their first splash on the scene via a sax-ed-out number and then a rapid-fire bop owing a lot to Jersey Club and netlabels. But so far this year, they’ve teamed up with…