[article] Japanese hip-hop: Imitation or art?

[nmskalmn]

Excerpt:

For the last 12 months, Ian Condry has been organizing a research project at MIT and Harvard on Cool Japan: Culture, Media, Technology. So on the surface he may appear to be one of those young academics who desperately wishes he was even younger, and seeks to redeem himself from the staid image university life often attracts by immersing himself in the culture of the markedly and trend-settingly young. But this would be to do him an injustice. This new book, his first, shows he has the merit of plowing his own furrow in research, of being able to read and speak Japanese fluently, and of being able to write clearly and forcefully about contemporary Asian life.

He spent 18 months on intensive research for the book between 1995 and 1997 and, on this and other visits to Tokyo and elsewhere, has probed pretty much every aspect of the Japanese popular music business. He's talked to rappers, DJs, record company executives and fans. He's even talked to Japanese rappers' parents, which must be something of a world first.

Japanese hip-hop, he relates, encountered considerable skepticism, even opposition, when it first emerged. Critics said the Japanese language was intrinsically alien to the conventions of rap lyrics, and in addition insisted the Japanese experience had nothing in common with that of Afro-Americans, the originators of hip-hop. Japanese rappers, these skeptics continued, were merely following an American fashion without being able to add anything of their own. Moreover, they were probably puppets dancing on the strings of record companies eager to emulate anything American and reap the profits of any new US musical style.

Condry, who has spent many long and smoky evenings in Japanese genba ("actual sites," or more simply clubs), not surprisingly disagrees. He's made friends with the stars and is clearly keen to see things from their perspective. One of his main arguments is that the music grew from the grass-roots upwards, and that recording executives were at first reluctant to take it seriously, or to believe Japanese youth would take to it in significantly profitable numbers.

Read it: Japanese hip-hop: Imitation or art?

[edgefusion]

I always found Japanese hip-hop to be very different to Western hip-hop. It always seems much happier to me and usually has more of a tune to it and maybe someone sings. American hip-hop is just the same note played again and again with somebody talking over it.

[My Rainbow]

Yes! It's true, that's why I prefer J-Hip Hop!

[Keishi]

J-Hop is more than that. But then again, I only listen to m-flo, so I can't say anything. XD

[Jayee19]

I think it started out as imitation. But I think nowadays, people are taking it more seriously. It's not the most profitable genre in Japan, so I don't believe J-Hip Hop artists are exploiting. Except those pathetic boybands who add in a couple of verses to add in "street credibility". I freakin hate that! Prefer American hip hop by a long shot, though. And Korean hip hop. And British Hip Hop. Okay, I'll stop now. ^_^

[ohsixthirty]

who says that imitation can't be art?

i think some times japanese hip-hop does imitate western hip-hop. but at the same time, they also innovate and create their own ideas as well.

[Aisha_Angel]

J-Rap is awesome. It's not all death and dying and smoking&drinking until you die. It's so easy to get into too. Of course not all J-Rap is good J-Rap but still; the majority of it I love to bump in the car. Whereas a lot of these kids in America are popping in Three-Six and other lameos in their stereos I'm satisfied with m-flo and DJ OZMA. *laughs*

[Keishi]

The good things are,....they don't talk about sex, they don't talk about drugs, and they don't have tan women with over-sized breasts and butts half naked.

[Beauty4123]

Originally Posted by Keishi

The good things are,....they don't talk about sex, they don't talk about drugs, and they don't have tan women with over-sized breasts and butts half naked.

you've got a point there. i never really listen to american rap anymore, cuz i just don't see any point of it. i hardly listen to j-hip hop either. well, if heartsdales or Foxxi misQ count, but other than that, i just listen to jpop. but i think j-hip hop is much better. yea, i dunno japanese, but i know english and i don't really like what the american rappers are rapping nowadays.

anyway, is it imitation or art? i always used to think any japanese music was kinda influenced by america, but jpop or anything japanese music related sounds different than american music. it's kinda like the same beats, but different.

my two sense. who knows if i'm right or wrong

[Coelacanth]

Oh please. DJ Honda and DJ Yas. Amazing.

S-Word and Dabo. Amazing.

Sphere of Influence, KREVA, Kick The Can Crew. Amazing. I love J-hip-hop.

But I love J-Reggae/Dancehall even more. =D

Some of it is really innovative. 'For Minutes' by S-Word feat. DELI is simply amazing. The strings infused with the heavy hip-hop beat. And the song 'JB TRAIN' by TEAM BLOK 44 I believe, has an enka feel to it.

[Belinda]

I went to a few local hiphop clubs in yokohama and tokyo and got to hear quite a few local artists (can I just say they are pretty awesome?!). I used to think that jp was just imitating or that hiphop was just a trend..., but the most I see and get to know people in this "scene" the more it seems like art of expression. I actually grew more and more to appreciate the jp ways of hiphop and at first it was kinda funny or hard to see people in this way, but right now, I really think they fit just as well as americans.
There are some artists though that rap/sing just as dirty haha, good thing I cannot understand much hehe.

[hallelujah_united]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

who says that imitation can't be art?

i think some times japanese hip-hop does imitate western hip-hop. but at the same time, they also innovate and create their own ideas as well.

It's pretty much what the Japanese are best at doing: taking a foreign (Western) creation or idea, and infuse it with their own brand of creativity and style, to come up with something that's unique and yet relatable and recognisable by foreign (Western) markets.

J Hip-Hop certainly has its roots in Western hip-hop culture, but has managed to pull itself away and create an identity of its own.

[Nanako]

I agree. J Hip-hop is definetly a western inspired creation obviously because Americans invented hip hop, but Japanese artists add their own flavor and style to it. I believe hip-hop artist in Japan are true lovers of hip-hop and want to spread it into Japan.

Of course, Japanese Hip Hop has been influenced by western hip hop, but it has definately evolved into its own thing. And it's great, because I think that now, it sets itself somewhat apart from the hip hop that it was originally influenced from. I don't think there's anything wrong with imitation, as long as is changes into its own style, and doesn't just depend on imitation itself.

[mishidabo]

j-hip-hop has its own soul.. it did came from america's hip hop.. but i think japanese hip hop has left amercian Hip-hop waaaay behind.. in every way

there are sooo many good hip hop(kinda) acts in japan.. pioners will be m-flo rip slyme and kick the can.. as far a hip hop group , that is

[Calico]

Wow. Where to begin. I definitely prefer J-hh to American any day. Like someone else said, the Japanese version is much bouncier and fun to listen to. Plus the voices tend to differ from group to group. (Whereas in America it just sounds like...the same male African-American voice over and over) And I can see people dancing silly to the Japanese tunes, as compared to America where it feels like the only way you can dance to rap is...dirty. And don't get me started on the lyrics. I would like hip-hop in America a lot more if it wasn't the same dirty themes over and over. =\