Tag Archives: Nippon

AK-69 Performed Live at S.O.B.’s

Posted on September 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

New York’s legendary Hip-Hop radio station Hot 97 hosted its Who’s Next? Live at S.O.B’s and invited AK69 as a special guest.

Who’s Next? Live is a showcase for up and coming artists in the Hip Hop world that have generated enough buzz to warrant performing for a Hot 97 event. Hosted by Hot 97′s own Peter Rosenberg and Shani Kulture, performers included: Japan’s No. 1 selling Hip-Hop artist, AK-69; Bishop Nehru; Yungstar 6’3; Dyme-A-Duzin; and 360.

DJ did his thing to hype up the show playing Jay-Z’s old hits like, “”Money Ain’t A Thing,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Heart Of The City,” “ROC Boys” and more. 20 something young audience seemed to know all the songs.

Up first was Japan native (from Nagoya to be exact) AK-69. Proclaimed the “Jay-Z of Japan,” AK-69 definitely showed us why he is deserving of such accolades. He has a great flow and even though he was not understood the whole time (he performed in both Japanese and English,) it was evident he had talent as a rapper and singer!

He performed 4 songs from his latest album, “The Independent King” which I believe he’s living up to the album title. Damn, he’s got swag. A lot of it. The song, “Independent King” shows what he is today is a result of fighting his own battle and doing things the way that he can only do.

Closing his set with the rapper’s anthem to be “Yellow Gold,” he sang ♪♪yellow gold, yellow gold, yellow gold, ya know we gotta shine like yellow gold……♪ AK-69 really represented Nippon!!

AK-69 Official Site

http://www.ak-69.com/

Watch AK-69’s interview on FCI Morning EYE via Youtube (English subtitled)

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Posted in AK-69, Event, Uncategorized

Tagged AK-69, Harlem, hip hop artist, HOT 97, Japanese Hip Hop, Nagoya, New York, Nippon, S.O.B.'s, The Independent King, underdog, Who's Next?, Yellow Gold

DJジューン＆クリントン・スパークス日本制覇！DJ June Invades Nippon with American Super DJ Clinton Sparks!

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

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DJジューン＆クリントン・スパークス　日本制覇！
DJ June Invades Nippon with American Super DJ Clinton Sparks!

ハーレム2ニッポンでも紹介してきましたが、DJジューンの仲間、クリントン・スパークスがとうとうニッポンを制覇しました。全米はもちろん、ロンドン、パリ、ミラノ、デュバイ、シンガポール、香港、上海、台北、マニラなど各都市でパーティーを盛り上げてきたクリントン、実は東京でプレイするのはこれが初めてだそうです。

場所はお洒落な銀座にあるマルチ・フロアを誇る大バコ「ジニアスTokyo」、スーパー・スター・ウェンズデーというスペシャル・パーティーの特別ゲストに招かれました。海外からDJを招聘するのはこれが初めてとあってクラブ側も万全を尽くしてのイベントです。あいにく、午後から大雨で夕方には土砂降りというクラブにとっては最悪な条件となってしまい、関係者はみんな不安な面持ちで見守っていたようです。ところが開場の7時前からお客さんが続々と駆けつけ、平日ではあり得ないほどの大盛況となりました。

DJジューン、ニューヨークの夜を演出

もちろん、DJジューンとのコラボです。まずはジューンがNYクラブ・スタイルのオール・ジャンル選曲でウォーム・アップ。ここはデキるビジネス・ウーマンが集まることで有名らしく、キャリア志向でなおかつファッショナブルな女性たちがいっぱい。女の子たちを踊らすのが得意なジューン、ノリのいいR＆Bやヒップホップ、エレクトロなどをスムーズに繋げて女子向けの演出をします。狙いはばっちり、ダンス・フロアは音楽に敏感なキャリア・ウーマンたちで埋め尽くされました。

一息いれたところでメイン・ゲスト、DJクリントン・スパークスの登場です。東京の某高級ヘア・サロンでヘアカットしたクリントン。ハイ・クウォリティーなのに15、000円という安さ（？）にビックリしたとか……..。ふだんはハリウッドやロンドンなどのハイエンドなサロンで４〜500ドル（約4〜5万円）払っているので日本の価格が安く感じるらしいのです。それも、プロモーターのコネで50％ディスカウントしてもらったから自己負担は7、500円。「ニッポン最高！」とご満悦です。

DJ Clinton Sparks オリジナル・メガネ配布！

クラブ「ジニアス・トーキョー」のDJブースは機材も最新式、とても仕事がしやすい、と大はしゃぎ。いきなりブースのテーブルの上に立ち上がってマイクを握って歌ったりラップしたり踊ったり……。プロモ・グッズにも力を入れ、自分の名前入りのオリジナル・メガネを配ったり、これまでのDJは裏方というイメージをすっかり覆して、「スーパー・スター、DJクリントン・スパークス」をアピールしました。オーディエンスのあいだでも、「彼はDJというよりパフォーマーですね。とても楽しい！」と大好評でした。

この夏、メジャー・レーベルからミックスCD のリリースが決まり超多忙。仲良しのラッパー、リック・ロスやエレクトロの大スター、Macklemore とのコラボ曲も収録することになっています。「ジニアス・トーキョー」でのプレイでもそんな仲間たちの曲をミックスしてパーティーを盛り上げてくれました。昨年にリリースした本人プロデュース曲「Watch You」はアメリカでも大ブレイクしましたが、銀座のクラブ「ジニアス・トーキョー」でかけたところ大反響、フロアが狂喜したそうです。「こんなに反応してくれると思わなかった。凄く嬉しい！トーキョー大好き！」と大興奮のクリントンでした。

5日間の滞在ですっかりニッポン・ファンになったクリントンですが、トーキョーの女の子たちのファッションに強烈な印象を受けたそうです。「特に色使いが上手だと思う。意外な色の組み合わせなんだけど、それがうまく調和している。たとえばイエローのソックスにブルーのスカートを合わせて、ピンクのトップとか…….。アメリカの女の子たちではあり得ないファッションだね。ニッポンの女の子たちはすごくクリエィティヴで感心した。すごく可愛い。サイコー！」と手放しで大絶賛。

「ニッポン、ベスト、I’ll be back!」、また来るという言葉を残してアメリカに帰っていきました。

（伊藤弥住子）

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Tagged american dj, クラブ, クリントン・スパークス, トーキョー, ニューヨーク, ハーレム, ヒップホップ, ブラックミュージック, Clinton Sparks, DJ June, DJジューン, entertainment, 銀座ジニアス, Hip Hop, music, New York, Nippon, R&B, tokyo, travel, 洋楽

DJ June Invades Nippon with American Super DJ Clinton Sparks!

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

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DJ June Invades Nippon with American Super DJ Clinton Sparks!

Harlem2Nippon’s lovely DJ June and her friend, DJ Clinton Sparks, hit Nippon’s big club named “Genius Tokyo” on Wednesday, April 3 located in fashionable Ginza, the upscale district that looks like the Fifth Avenue of New York City.

Sparks was the featured guest DJ for “Super Star Wednesday,” a special party specifically launched for him. This was the first attempt for “Genius Tokyo” to feature a DJ from overseas. DJ June opened the show and pumped the crowd into a frenzy playing smooth R&B, edgy hip-hop and bangin’ club music. June said, “I know how to make ladies dance,” and she proved it.

Sparks is a Grammy nominated celebrity DJ from Boston, Massachusetts who has spun in several foreign cities including London, Paris, Milan, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, and Manila. He had never performed in Tokyo and was definitely looking forward to rockin’ the crowd with DJ June.

A rainstorm had the Genius Tokyo owner nervous about the turnout, but the attraction of two world class DJs had the club packed!

When asked how he prepared for his first party in Tokyo, Sparks said, “I got a haircut. Through June’s connection, I got 50% discount so I only paid $70.” This was a significant bargain because he usually spends $400 to $500 for haircut in London and Hollywood.

Sparks is known for his hyper performances, and he lived up to his reputation, standing up in the DJ booth, singing, rapping and screaming with the music. His infectious energy made him an instant favorite, and the party people loved the gifts he tossed into the crowd: custom made glasses with his name on it.

In addition to producing music for Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg and many more, Sparks also released his own song as a producer/performer, “Watch You” in 2012. He was overwhelmed by the crazy response when he played the tune in Genius Tokyo. “People went bananas,” he said.

After five days in Tokyo, Sparks is in love with the city. He’s looking forward to his next visit as he announced with a huge smile, “I’ll be back!”

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Tagged ニューヨーク, ハーレム, ヒップホップ, celebrity dj, Clinton Sparks, dj, DJ June, entertainment, Ginza Genius, Grammy, Harlem, Hip Hop, japanese dj, Ludacris, music, New York, Nippon, Rick Ross, singapore hong kong, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, tokyo, Watch You, world class djs

Nippon Hip Hop Nation – 1 Miss Hitoe from SPEED

Posted on October 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

SPEED

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Nippon Hip Hop Nation – 1

Miss Hitoe from SPEED

The first guest for our new feature “Nippon Hip Hop Nation” Special Interview series is a good friend of mine, Miss Hitoe of SPEED.

Hitoe Arakaki ,is the oldest member of the Japanese pop girl group SPEED, which disbanded in 2000 and reformed in 2009. Their first album since their reunion, 4 Colors, will be released on November 14, 2012.

Arakaki was born in Okinawa, Japan, and is also known by her first name, Hitoe. Her trademarks are her enthusiastic dancing as well as her wild and eccentric hairstyles.

Speed made their major label debut on August 5, 1996 and became an immediate success. Their debut album Starting Over became their first number one album on Japan’s Oricon weekly charts. They would eventually become the most successful girl group in Asia with sales of over 20 million singles and albums in just three years and eight months. The members disbanded on March 31, 2000 to pursue solo careers and to study.

Speed – Ashita No Sora

In 1999, Hitoe released her first solo single, “Inori”, which reached number two on the Oricon charts. On December 2002, she released her second single “I Got You” and the album I’ll Do It My Way. Besides “Inori,” she co-wrote all the tracks on the album. In February 2003, she released her third single, “I’ll Do It My Way”.

Hitoe is also an accomplished graphic artist, and following Speed’s breakup, she moved to New York City to attend art school. She is known for her distinctive graffiti styled paintings often depicting African-American life style. She has published an art book called “Vibe Art” and has held private exhibitions in Tokyo and New York. Her work has also been featured on the covers of various American Hip Hop compilation CDs.

Hitoe also became active in yoga and is a licensed yoga instructor in Japan. In June 2007, she published a book and DVD of yoga lessons. Hitoe is currently teaching yoga in Shibuya, Japan’s Star Light Studio.

SPEED Discography

Studio Albums

1997 Starting Over

1998 Rise

1999 Carry On My Way

2003 Bridge

Other Albums

1998 Moment

2000 SPEED The Memorial best 1335 Days Dear Friends 1

2000 SPEED The Memorial best 1335 Days Dear Friends 2

2001 SPEED Memorial Live “One More Dream” + Remix

2004 Best Hits Live: Save The Children SPEED Live 2003