Non-derivative J-Urban?

TurtleFu · 2011.03.07, 08:48 AM

So, I was reading some old threads about the Maboroshi collab and Mummy-D's guest spot on Hayari and Togatta Teguchi.
Somebody mentioned that Shiina thinks that J-Urban music is deritive (which it is) and they were a lot of complaints about how bad J-Urban is.
So, I have to ask, are there any GOOD non-derivative J-Urban acts?

Scribble R · 2011.03.07, 10:15 AM

J-Urban? Like, as in RnB? Rap?

Um, well, I don't listen to Japanese rap because I don't know Japanese, but there is this one RnB/pop album I really got into back in the day: http://www.last.fm/music/Asuka/initial+A. This and her self-titled debut. The albums didn't do well commercially, so she changed her name to ARIA and became VERY derivative.

And then there's Nujabes with his jazzy instrumental hip-hop. He's great too.

SoulExperience · 2011.03.07, 10:28 AM

Well I guess it depends...Are you in it based on the sound of voices/music or for the words? I can't speak Japanese so for me I listen to it based on the voices/music and I don't know if they're saying silly things. As with American urban music, a lot of it can be bad (word/beats) but you have your exceptions! Here are the Japanese acts I'm fond of:

Gagle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ploXB...eature=related

DJ Mitsu The Beats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQrh...eature=related

Shing02:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bUgHIWNAuM

Soul Scream:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBBF...eature=related

Buddha Brand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omLHp...eature=related

King Giddra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IMIz...eature=related

Hope this helped a little.

TurtleFu · 2011.03.07, 03:51 PM

J-Urban, meaning Hip-Hop, R&B, and anything with an "urban" beat.
I don't understand Japanese either. It's no so much about artists, but about the whole attitude I've noticed on the forum (and that Shiina allegedly shares). That ALL J-Urban music is crap. I mean, I don't know any especially good or unique J-Urban artists (all I listen to is RIP SLYME and m-flo), but I have to imagine there has to be some kind of unique J-Urban artist.
I'm probably not making much sense.

justriiingo · 2011.03.07, 08:01 PM

Can't go wrong with GAGLE. They've got a niche of their own. Definitely not derivative. DJ Mitsu is 1/3 of GAGLE and he's pretty awesome as a solo act.

NUJABES is also worth a listen if you're into chill jazzy hiphop.

2011.03.07, 08:48 AM	#1
TurtleFu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,592	Non-derivative J-Urban? So, I was reading some old threads about the Maboroshi collab and Mummy-D's guest spot on Hayari and Togatta Teguchi. Somebody mentioned that Shiina thinks that J-Urban music is deritive (which it is) and they were a lot of complaints about how bad J-Urban is. So, I have to ask, are there any GOOD non-derivative J-Urban acts?

2011.03.07, 08:01 PM	#5
justriiingo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SGP. Posts: 2,664	Can't go wrong with GAGLE. They've got a niche of their own. Definitely not derivative. DJ Mitsu is 1/3 of GAGLE and he's pretty awesome as a solo act. NUJABES is also worth a listen if you're into chill jazzy hiphop. __________________ "You gotta have freedom! You gotta have freedom. You gotta have peace of mind! You gotta have peace of mind."

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2011.03.07, 10:15 AM	#2
Scribble R Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,392	J-Urban? Like, as in RnB? Rap? Um, well, I don't listen to Japanese rap because I don't know Japanese, but there is this one RnB/pop album I really got into back in the day: http://www.last.fm/music/Asuka/initial+A. This and her self-titled debut. The albums didn't do well commercially, so she changed her name to ARIA and became VERY derivative. And then there's Nujabes with his jazzy instrumental hip-hop. He's great too.

2011.03.07, 10:28 AM	#3
SoulExperience Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ZAZENVILLE Posts: 117	Well I guess it depends...Are you in it based on the sound of voices/music or for the words? I can't speak Japanese so for me I listen to it based on the voices/music and I don't know if they're saying silly things. As with American urban music, a lot of it can be bad (word/beats) but you have your exceptions! Here are the Japanese acts I'm fond of: Gagle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ploXB...eature=related DJ Mitsu The Beats: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQrh...eature=related Shing02: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bUgHIWNAuM Soul Scream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBBF...eature=related Buddha Brand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omLHp...eature=related King Giddra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IMIz...eature=related Hope this helped a little.

2011.03.07, 03:51 PM	#4
TurtleFu Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,592	J-Urban, meaning Hip-Hop, R&B, and anything with an "urban" beat. I don't understand Japanese either. It's no so much about artists, but about the whole attitude I've noticed on the forum (and that Shiina allegedly shares). That ALL J-Urban music is crap. I mean, I don't know any especially good or unique J-Urban artists (all I listen to is RIP SLYME and m-flo), but I have to imagine there has to be some kind of unique J-Urban artist. I'm probably not making much sense.