dimanche 22 avril 2012
V-Pop selection of the day
What a surprise. I wasn't paying that much attention to current Vietnamese pop music (V-Pop) these last years, but I discovered on the Net some incredible joints! And of course I wanted to share them with you ;)
lundi 16 avril 2012
Tuân & Friends: Shade Sheist (PYO Entertainment)
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| Shade Sheist seen by me ;) |
Young veteran and young legendary rapper, Shade Sheist is one of the few respected artists from US Westcoast to the Far East Side. Since I had the occasion to draw the art cover of his last single "Queen" featuring Latoiya Williams, I also wanted to ask him a couple of things about his career and his perspectives for the future. Enjoy, the West is speaking.
Interview: Tuân
Tuân: Hi there Sheist, can you please introduce yourself?
Shade Sheist: For those not familiar I am Shade Sheist, a professional songwriter, recording artist and entertainer from Inglewood, California, USA.
T: Where does your nickname come from?
SS: Shade comes from "Shady," which in my case means 'Quiet,' a name given to me by my peers and Sheist is a description of the industry I work in.
You dropped your latest single "Queen" featuring Latoiya Williams a year ago. That supposedly announced the release of your new album "P.N.L.A. The Exit Strategy". When will it be available and what would the listeners expect about it?
In the summer it will be about a year since I dropped "Queen" and yes it was an official announcement of me producing a new album. I don't want to give away any details on a work-in-progress but I will say that you can expect that [Shade Sheist] I made you fall in love with in the past.
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| "Queen" art cover made by yours truly |
You come from Inglewood, a famous neighborhood in LA. How was life over there as a teen?
Pretty much what you've seen in films like "Boyz N Da Hood" and "Menace II Society".. you got the good, the bad and the in-between. My hometown cities are deceptive, they look like great exteriors but the interiors contain (some) fu*ked up shxt. But a lot of good have also come from these streets and gone on to do some major things worldwide.. I'm an example, so it wasn't all bad.
And how did you start to rap?
Elementary School.. a bright idea developed by some very impressionable minds. I was never officially taught how to rap, I literally did it myself. I guess you just have it or you don't.. I must've had it.
I heard the rumor you layed some of your first verses on some Johnny J's productions that were later featured on 2Pac's "All Eyez On Me"...
Actually, Johnny J, an early musical mentor of mine, worked with me on demos and several of the tracks we used ended up being used on Pac's "All Eyez on Me" album. No lyrics of mine were used, it was simply a case of 2Pac getting all of the good shxt when he came home.. lol
You appeared in a couple of 2Pac's video clip. Which one? And have you ever had the chance to talk with him?
"So Many Tears" and the extended edit of "Dear Mama." I got a chance to speak to 2Pac briefly over the phone while shooting "So Many Tears." He called the video's director from prison and the phone was passed around to a lot of us cast members for him to say thank you for looking out for him while he was unable to be there. That was pretty much the convo, literally.
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| Sheist & Dr.Dre |
You worked with several artists such as DJ Quik, Mariah Carey, Nate Dogg and Timbaland to name a few. Who had the deepest impact on you? Do you have any anecdot to tell us?
They all did, for their own reasons. Working with Quik was sentimental, his was the 1st gangsta rap music I had ever heard in my life. Working with Dre was an honor because.. that's Dr. Dre, the Legend. The same for Mariah. And Teddy Riley. I loved every last one of Nate Dogg's features coming up as a teen so being able to share all those hits with him was unbelievable. Working with all of these great musicians definitely made my life worthwhile.
You did work with rapper/producer Damizza for quite some times then split. What happened?
We reached our peak together at that time and decided it was best to continue exploring the industry using separate avenues. We continue to consult each other to this day, however.
Do you guys have future common projects?
Stay Tuned...
Another person you work with for many years is N.U.N.E. How did you meet him?
I met Nune through a mutual friend, we became homies and it's been on ever since. He was introduced to me as an artist but he soon showed me that he did way more than make dope records. I helped him facilitate a lot of his great ideas and he's had my back ever since.
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| Shade Sheist x N.U.N.E. |
You were previously signed to a major label then created your indie structure called Put Yourself Out Entertainment (PYO) with N.U.N.E. Since you saw both sides of the music industry, what are their advantages and disadvantages to you?
The advantages of being with a Major is really just the budget you get to work with and the promotional vehicle they can afford to drive. Then there are all of the industry connections they have. On the flip, you have to pay for all of that.. so unless you're selling Millions, you are seeing nothing for all of that hard work and effort. That's the advantage of being Independent and putting yourself out, you can and do see all of that hard work pay off.
You were close to Murder Inc. when Ja Rule was on top of the game, wrote for Vita and were featured on The Fast & Furious OST. What was the nature of your relationship with Irv Gotti's team?
They loved the West Coast sound and Damizza and I just were who they wanted to roll with at that time. Gotti really enjoyed the style of my records and suggested I write records with The Inc, so I did. He heard a song of mine called "If You Were My Bitch" and the next thing I know I'm on a Gold release. One day he came to the studio and said he needed a record with me and Nate for "The Fast and The Furious".. the next thing I know I'm on a hit movie and Double Platinum soundtrack. I also got to write and record with Ja Rule and we did major damage on a Triple Platinum release. I loved writing for Vita, she's ill.. same with Cadillac Tah and Black Child. Those were the days.
People know you (or don't know you) for your ghostwriting skills. Can you tell us for who you wrote?
I can't actually. Confidentiality Agreements. But I have definitely put in my work for the West's Best, a few East Coast and Southern Greats and several R&B artists.. some great, some elite. Some of my work ended up releasing and becoming Billboard hit singles. Writing has always been closely tied to the respect I receive in this industry. That's because a lot of my peers know who have hired me at one point or another.
Radios nowadays play crap music and the Westcoast scene seems to have been a bit forgotten. What's your point of view about Westcoast current state?
Exactly what you said.. it's crap. We get a "West Coast Wednesday" and we live on the West. I'm so confused by this. I don't even like to talk about it, it's a sore subject because I know where we were not so many years ago. Where we are is very disheartening.
Asia has a lot of love for Westcoast music. You did perform in Taiwan, Japan, you even have a deal with a japanese label... How do you explain that success over there and what do you appreciate about Asian mentalities?
They just know that good shxt.. lol. I can't explain my success in Asian territories, I can only say that they LOVE me and I love them back. When I release, they pick it up, they download it.. when I come out to perform, they show up every time. I got nothing but love for [that] type of mentality.
Talking about Asian stuffs, how did my artworks catch your attention? What did you appreciate about them?
It's great work! I saw what you did for some of my peers and I was highly impressed. The colors are vivid and the character representations are really on-point. I was blown away with the "Queen" finished product. It really looks like me.. in a Manga way. LoL
Do you like anime and manga?
Love It! Believe it or not, I used to draw (or at least attempt to) Anime in high school. One of my Japanese classmates taught me a few techniques and I was getting pretty good at it. I couldn't do it to save my life these days though. I used to watch a lot of Anime cartoons as well. One I distinctly remember watching often was called "Project A-Ko."
Well, anything else to say? Projects for the future?
Much Luv 2 all of my supporters.. Look out for Me This Year!
More about Shade Sheist: http://thatshxt3.com/
My Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
vendredi 23 mars 2012
Emission Rap Masters 4: SidyNamik
4ème épisode de Rap Masters avec SidyNamik en tant q'invité. Un rappeur qui parle posément sans partir dans tous les sens, ça change.
T!
jeudi 22 mars 2012
DJ Vidy - Interview sur repreZent.ch
Il est jeune, il fait parler de lui sur Genève et par extension en Suisse romande. C'est DJ Vidy, vous savez, le p'tit jeune de 16 piges qui mixe dont je vous avais déjà parlés. Il passe à la casserole de repreZent.ch et il faut avouer qu'il s'en sort pas trop mal. Accepter toutes ces critiques en fait quelqu'un de bien plus mature que la majorité des acteurs du Rap suisse...
En tout cas, ça fait plaisir qu'un média Hip-Hop suisse ose lancer des piques. Enfin.
mercredi 21 mars 2012
Tuân & Friends: Cherry Brown (Jack Rabbitz) aka Yuuyu Aensland aka Lil' 諭吉
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| Cherry Brown drawn by yours truly... |
Part of the new generation of Japanese rappers, Cherry Brown been doing his things under several nicknames and during many years. Discovered by Richee almost a decade ago and now member of Jack Rabbitz, the young and versatile artist is ready to drop his 1st album.
Tuân: Hi there Cherry Brown! Who are you, how old are you, where do you come from, why such a nickname...
Cherry Brown: I am Cherry Brown. I make music. 23 years old born in Yokosuka. My old name was Chalee Brown... I used to diss anybody so a friend told me to change my name in choosing something softer, and he said "how about Cherry"? And I was like "coooool". Damn that's a lot of questions in 1 time man...
T: What did you release so far and what's coming up next?
CB: I released 5 mixtapes as Cherry Brown. This year finally releasing an album.
How did rap music come to your ears for the 1st time?
My father likes Westcoast Gangsta Rap and he was just bumpin' it when I was in my mother's stomache.
You rap as Cherry Brown, but also produce as Lil' 諭吉 (Yukichi) and Yuuyu Aensland. These different identities represent different musical universes. Can you tell us more about them?
Cherry Brown = Idol/Rapper (I guess)
Lil' 諭吉 = Hip-Hop beatmaker
Yuuyu Aensland = Club music beatmaker, remixer, DJ
Did you start to rap and produce at the same time?
No I started rapping first. But there was nobody around me who could make a beat so I started making them myself.
What's Cookie & Biscuit Mafia?...
My label.
You used to rap with Knux (also from Jack Rabbitz) and Christy (related to XXXXXL Inc. and Hood Sound) in a group called Trill Grillz. How did you meet and did you split?
Well... There was a DJ who made the group, we knew each other through him. We split because I had a beef with the DJ and quit the group. And after that they split too.
You're part of the new generation of Japanese rappers and doesn't necessarily have the same influences as your predecessors (G-Funk, etc). So what musically inspires you and what differentiates you from them?
Rappers from the Dirty South. Three 6 Mafia is my idol and I learn a lot from Soulja Boy.
You're close to "new school" rappers such as Klooz. Who impresses you among the new cats?
Fuck everybody else! I fuckin' hate rappers and rapers.
In Europe, where most people talk about "real Hip-Hop", it's almost impossible to mix musical genres such as Rap and Pop music. How can you explain the fact J-Rap can meet J-Pop without being criticized by so-called Hip-Hop purists in Japan? I remember seeing you in Aoyama rapping on J-Pop beats.
There is alot of wack shit over here, Rap and Pop... It's fuckin' horrible... Yeah I rapped on some J-Pop music but those shits are fucking cooool as fuck.
Since you're from Yokosuka and "hafu", did you also grow up on a military base like your groupmate and friend Richee?
Yes I did. I was born inside Yokosuka base and went to the United States, came back to Japan, went to the States, then Hawaii, and back to Japan!...
You're one of the few half black, half Japanese I know. Knowing the conservative state of mind of many Japanese people, have you ever been victim of racism?
Yeah when I fought with some of my classmates they always told me to go back to my country (laughs). And everywhere I go, people look at me with those strange eyes... I always hate that shit.
You're a member of Jack Rabbitz alongside Richee. He told me he met you for the first time when you were 16 and gave him a demo. What were your expectations at that very moment?
I dont know... I just saw him and I was like "oh shit, that's Richee, I know him" and just talked to him and said I rapped too! And he said "give me your demo" so I rapped over J-Kwon, Methodman, T.I. instrumentals and sent it to him. I thought nothing would happen.
By the way, where does the name Jack Rabbitz come from? From the rabbit making mochi on the moon?
Richee chose that name.
You seem to be a very big fan of idols, eroge, cute girls with high socks, etc. Why such a fascination?
I don't know... I just like it (laughs).
Who's Shiorin? The only one I know is the supa dupa hot rapper of the korean girls band Sistar19.
She is a member of and idol group called Momoiro Clover Z. Her full name in Tamai Shiori. She is sooo fuckin' cute, she is my daughter.
Well, I think we're almost done. Thanks man, much love to your mustache! Anything else to say?
Nothing but much love to my mustache??? That shit is super gay!...
Hahahaha!
My Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
samedi 17 mars 2012
Emission Rap Masters 1+2+3
Fraîchement débarquée, Rap Masters est une nouvelle émission dédiée au rap suisse qui peut être vue sur TV Bourdo (une chaîne de la région lausannoise) ainsi que Youtube. Animé par M.E.X., Seven Sunz et DJ Idem, le show se laisse regarder avec grand plaisir. Un peu de professionnalisme dans le rap suisse, voilà qui surprend en bien et qui ne se refuse pas.
Je vous laisse avec les 3 premières émissions dédiées aux rappeurs Eriah, Sig Sauer et Chakal.
My Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Join me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
jeudi 15 mars 2012
De la Grèce Antique au Grec-frites: "La Vengeance" de Morsay
"Quitte à se taper un ego trip, autant le faire sous forme de film vu que je ne sais pas rapper". Ça doit être l'éclair de génie qui a frappé le cerveau de Morsay, divinité franco-algérienne du Panthéon Truand 2 la Galère. Régnant sur les puces de Clignancourt à Paris tel Zeus sur le Mont Olympe, Morsay tient toutefois plus du Roi Midas que du Roi des Dieux. Tout ce qu'il touche se change en or comme ses CDs de (mauvais) rap, ses t-shirts (moches) et maintenent son film "La Vengeance". Ce dernier se serait vendu à plus de 30'000 copies en moins d'une semaine. On nage décidèment en pleine mythologie.
Mais toute bonne légende naît dans la douleur. Notre bon Midas 2 la Galère se retrouva fort contrit lorsque Marine le Pen et son Front National essayèrent d'empêcher la sortie de son film ; c'est du moins ce que disent certains oracles. La conspiration dont a été victime "La Vengeance" aura cependant eu le mérite de faire patienter et divertir les fidèles que nous sommes. Les justifications relatives au retard du film étaient si hilarantes que certains espèraient même qu'il soit retardé ad eternam afin de profiter continuellement des communiqués de Morsay. C'est qu'on l'aime bien notre Roi. Malheureusement, toute bonne chose à une fin.
Mais "La Vengeance" c'est quoi? Un fabuleux récit dans lequel on retrouve deux mortels, Morsay et Zehef, qui s'essayent à la maïeutique sur les bancs de leur Cité. Leur quotidien s'en trouve chamboulé le jour où la garde s'en prend gratuitement à eux. Nos pauvres citoyens se retrouvent injustement jetés en cellule pendant 6 longs mois. À sa sortie, Zehef, déterminé, décide de vendre des t-shirts très vilains. Notre héros Morsay, quant à lui, développe un sérieux complexe d'Oedipe lors de sa captivité et ressent l'irrésistible besoin de niquer tout ce qui ressemble de près ou de loin à des chattes de (grand-)mères. Sinon, entre deux insultes, Morsay donne de l'argent aux SDF, ratatine des néonazis, aide des femmes voilées dans le RER, vole des Pepito au Ed du coin, franchit des murs trop hauts pour la police, donne des coups de pied à des miss pour les faire descendre de sa voiture, vend du shit tout en disant que la cocaïne c'est mal... Un emploi du temps dont même John McClane ne pourrait s'acquitter. Vous avez dit confus?
Et oui, "La Vengeance" c'est un peu plein de choses sans réellement être quoique ce soit. Tous les clichés du rap et de la banlieue s'y bousculent en un joyeux méli-mélo où les lieux communs sont presentés comme parole d'Evangile. À ce titre, Cédric Vincent, le grand méchant, arbore fièrement sur son torse une croix gammée maladroitement gribouillée au stylo. Son statut de big boss/flic ripou ne suffit pas. Il est également le meneur d'une bande de skinheads dont les répliques se limitent a "bougnoul" et "zieg heil". C'est aussi un cocaïnomane qui fait des pogos dans son squat sur fond de hardcore. Waouh. Le flic est pas gentil, les racistes sont partout, le système c'est qu'un con... Des stéréotypes finalement plus bêtes que méchants. Un peu comme les personnes qui sont à l'origine de cette Vengeance.
D'une certaine manière, "La Vengeance" de, avec, par et pour Morsay nous ramène moins aux thèmes de l'immigration et du racisme que du manque de culture et d'exigeance malheureusement tant présent dans le milieu rap. Prenez un soupçon de la Haine, une dose de ma 6-T va crack-er, un zeste d'American History X, le tout à la sauce T2G, et on obtient cette improbable tambouille. Un film, ou plutôt une tentative, qui se cherche en brassant à l'aveuglette des références vues et revues et qui, de surcroît, a la prétention de révolutionner le genre. On n'invente jamais de rien, et Morsay le prouve bien. Nous passerons outre la réalisation catastrophique du film ou encore le jeu d'acteur très approximatif. C'est simple, on a l'impression de regarder ce fameux film de potes fait durant de mornes vacances d'été. Une dynamique qui, après tout, correspond bien à Morsay et ses sbires.
Mais le plus triste à dire est que le film rencontrera certainement son quota de fans. On ne peut demander à des philistins sans exigeance d'en avoir ; chacun ses standards après tout. Morsay réussira une fois de plus le pari de transformer n'importe quoi en or, comme le fit Midas. Il aura au passage bien participé à l'abrutissement d'une génération qui ignore déjà que la Grèce ne se limite pas qu'au grec-frites du coin de la rue.
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