INTERVIEW - AXIS (LIBRA LTD)

I recently had the opportunity to interview Yokohama based rapper AXIS. AXIS is on the LIBRA LTD label which has acts such as MSC who are known as one of the founding groups of Japanese Hip Hop. As with all of my interviews it was via email.

Song of the Day - GAZZILA - WHAT'S MY NAME?

A brand new PV from R-Rated Records, starring label newcomer GAZZILA! Pretty cool video if you like R-Rated Records and skateboards/BMX! This came out of nowhere on YouTube yesterday and it's not being released as a single yet either. Hopefully it's a sign of his first album. The track is produced by NAOtheLAIZA & RAGSIX. The video is directed by JONAH SCHWARTZ.

REVIEW - AXIS - UNCIVILIZED

I pre-ordered AXIS's new album from JetSet Records and after it arrived I got sidetracked for a month and didn't get around to reviewing it. AXIS is a rapper on the LIBRA LTD label known for Japanese hip hop legends MSC aka Mic Space Crew and SHINGO NISHINARI as well as JUSWANNA and many great DJ. Anyway! Without further ado, on to the review!

1.Prologue - It's basically a good intro track that sounds like it could go in a action film, then AXIS just kills it with a freestyle session. It definitely sets up the rest of the album, especially the eerie demonic laughter. The beat is courtesy of DADDY VEDA a.k.a. REBEL BEATS (ILL EAST RECORDS).

RIZE 2012 Fallin' Tour

RIZE TOUR 2012 - Sponsored by Stride gum

Everyone's favorite Japanese grunge-rock band RIZE is back at it again, along with the release of their newest single, "Local Defense Organization." 

Song of the Day: ChthoniC - KAORU

By now, it should be painfully obvious to most of our regular readers that I am a HUGE fan of ChthoniC. Their latest album, Takasago Army embraces the theme of a WWII Taiwan. I am especially fond of the art style they chose for the posters and flyers - it really draws people in, as if it is another piece of wartime propaganda.

Song of the Day: Loreena McKennitt - Marakkesh Night Market

I am very fond of Celtic music, and Loreena McKennitt is probably the main reason for this. When I was in junior high school, my father gave me one of her albums to listen to, The Book of Secrets. I fell in love with her music, and it is a love that continues to this day. Traditional and innovative, McKennitt's music captures the ear and draws the listener into a world far away, filled with dreams and fragments of histories that long passed by.

Song of the Day: Silver Ash - Gorgeous Devil

Many of the veterans of the visual-kei scene will be familiar with the name Silver Ash. Silver Ash are one of the first visual kei bands to come out from China, having been founded in Beijing. They are not well-known to most younger fans (who, at most, are familiar with ParanoiD, Venue, and other current VK bands from Hong Kong), but at one time they were rather popular. Their song Gorgeous Devil is one of my favorite tracks. 

Song of the Day: Melechesh - Negative Theology

I will admit that I find metal rooted in traditional music to be  one of the most engaging genres possible. From Orphaned Land to ChthoniC, from Kagrra to Rudra, I find myself enchanted by the timeless melodies that echo amidst the clanging chaos and the sounds of battle. Metal is meant to portray a battle - perhaps that is why some of the heaviest metal comes from Scandinavia, where vikings had once feasted in the name of Odin and planned their battles. In that line of thought, the Middle East should also produce music of battle, music of war, music steeped in blood and tears and sweat and history - and they do. Melechesh is one such band, and today's song of the day is a prime example of excellent metal. 

Song of the Day: Dio - I Could Have Been a Dreamer

I remember quite clearly where I was, when I heard about Ronnie James Dio's death. I don't suppose many people do, but it was a strange night for me, that one night. You see, I was outside of Webster Hall with some friends, waiting to get into a show... in the basement, of course. Cool people go to the basement, don't you know? It's underground. (Yes, I made a hipster joke. Moving along, now.) Now, it was about 6:30pm, and the sun was setting, and it was a lovely May evening, and my friend was checking his facebook when he nearly shit himself and announced that RJD was dead.

Song of the Day - Shazna - Sumire September Love

Ah, the 1990s had certainly been a great decade. Lately, I have been feeling nostalgic for that time - watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, and listening to Savage Garden and such... ah, yes. It had been a great time for music and a fascinating time to be alive. Thus, coming back to RSF after my hiatus as I am, I thought I'd start with one of my favorite songs. Shazna were one of the first bands I encountered, and their Golden Sun and Silver Moon compilation is one of my most prized albums to date. 

Regarding - Politics - The Way It Looks ( US Election 2012)

Due to a very disheartening revelation I must make a correction to the statement I made earlier.

Mitt Romney will be the next President of the United States. Mitt will be the next president thanks to no actions of his own. Mitt Romney will be the next president thanks to the voter suppression ID laws, cut backs on early voting (especially in Democratic leaning counties/districts and in Florida for instance have an 10 page voting ballot. 

Few people, excluding hardcore voters I.e. few young people and the sick, disabled, elderly will not spend a lot of time in line and if you're older you may very well have eyesight issues. The turn out will be lower than usual if it's raining or even snowing in some states like Colorado.

All of this makes for a perfect storm of rigging an election in the GOP's favor. The system has never been more rigged than it is this year. It will be amazing if Obama gets a second term.

Regarding a Personal Matter - 30 Days in Seclusion

Last month after seeing my routine matinee movie in the form of The Bourne Legacy, I decided that was the last time I would go anywhere for the rest of the month. Little did I know it would be the beginning of a routine that would be very powerful.

Song of the Day - Purple Swag Remix PV

Watch "Purple Swag Remix feat. VITO, KUTS DA COYOTE, ERA, Cherry Brown, PUNPEE & DJ TY-KOH" on YouTube

Another great PV from EillyHustleHard. It's got some great rappers on it!

INTERVIEW - CRAZY-T

Recently I had the opportunity to interview American-Born, Hip Hop artist living in Japan, CRAZY-T. I can't say how much I appreciate him taking his time out of his busy schedule to do an interview, it was via email, but he replied just a few hours later and that I am very grateful for. Where was I? Oh right! On to the interview!

ALBUM REVIEW - SHINGO☆西成 - ブレない (Burenai)

Where to begin...SHINGO☆西成 is a rapper from Nishinari, Osaka Japan and is signed to LIBRA RECORDS and SHOWA RECORDS, one for management, the other for distribution purposes. SHINGO☆西成 has made a name for himself as one of the top emcees in the game and the face of Hip Hop in Osaka. Anyway, on to the album!

Song of the Day - Triga Finga - Level 7 (Subbed) PV

Very good song with a great message behind it.

SONGS of the WEEK MONDAY-WEDNESDAY SPECIAL!

Japan's Top R&B - A.I.

I love music. It's simple. Unfortunately, finding new music I like is often impossible. Either it's too "poppy" for me or it lacks a certain element of the underground, which I so desperately crave. In recent years, in terms of the music I've been listening to on a daily basis, most of the music I listen to these days were orchestrated by friends I've made in real life. Today's featured artist is no different, allow me to introduce you to Japan's top R&B singer, the beautiful "A.I.".

Born in Los Angeles, California in 1981, AI would go on to become one of Japan's top R&B artists. In 2000, she signed with Universal (BMG) Japan, and moved to Def Jam Japan in 2002. It wasn't until 2005 when AI found major success with her single, "Story." Since then, AI has gone on to win numerous awards from Billboard Japan, Space Shower and MTV Japan. No matter what AI does, there is just no stopping this sensational singer.

Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!

Megadeth's first album. Definitely my favorite! It keeps to amaze me the fact that their first album is so good, usually first albums are not necessarily bad, but not the best either. It amazes me even more the fact that they managed to record such a great album even after they spent half of their already limited budget in drugs/alcohol, I wonder what it would've been like if they didn't... but I guess we can see some of that on the remastered version, which I recommend over the "original" if you're looking for sound quality. This album enters my top 3 Megadeth albums right next to Countdown To Extinction and Youthanasia

ALBUM REVIEW - V.A. BLACK SWAN 3 -In the Case of BES from SWANKY SWIPE-

You've probably never heard of BES, unless you've heard him featured on a track or happen to know who SWANKY SWIPE is OR have the 2008 Ultimate MC Battle DVD, otherwise you could have very well missed out on one of the best young MC's in the game today. Now that you have an idea (albeit small) of who BES is, I'd like to introduce you to the label that has made this album come to be. BLACK SWAN INC is an independent record label based out of Tokyo, which was created for the sole purpose of exposing those who people tend to ignore, the "BLACK SWAN's" of the music basically. Since May BLACK SWAN INC have been releasing monthly albums in the form of BLACK SWAN 1/2/3, which typically deal with multipe artists, which makes sense, seeing as their slogan is Music for Multiple Fanatics. BLACK SWAN 3 features just one artist though, with multiple track makers with all lyrics by BES from SWANKY SWIPE.