
(Left)
DJ Deckstream
Zight A.K.A. Sanzo
サイプレス上野とロベルト吉野 (Cypress Ueno & Roberto Yoshino)
(Right)
Low Budget Soul
India.Arie
Adriana Evans
I've recently been interested again in Japanese underground/alternative hip-hop music and for a starter I picked up the new CD from MC Cypress Ueno and DJ Roberto Yoshino, even though I didn't really know who they are or where they have come from. I tried previwing it at a CD store just because I had read an article citing them on the web a few days ago, and then I found their music so funny and funky and now really love it. In addition to the duo joints, this CD also features a guest appearance by Utamaru from legendary group Rhymester and a collaboration with rock band Sly Mongoose.
Last week, Japanese DJ/trackmaker Deckstream released his highly-anticipated second original album, Deckstream Soundtracks 2. Just as on the previous album, which featured Camp Lo, Talib Kweli and Lupe Fiasco, all the tracks are produced by Deckstream himself and performed by big-name singers/MCs, such as Mos Def, Substantial, N'Dea Davenport, Nice & Smooth and T-Boz this time around. This sophomore set also features a guest spot from L-Universe, aka VERBAL of m-flo, who is a labelmate of Deckstream and was featured on "Can You Let Me Know."
One of my most favorite R&B artists India.Arie just released her long-awaited fourth studio album, Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, which is the follow-up to 2006's Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. As preceded by the up-tempo lead track "
