Tuân & Friends: Cherry Brown (Jack Rabbitz) aka Yuuyu Aensland aka Lil' 諭吉

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!

T!

More about Cherry Brown on:
http://cookieorbiscuit.blogspot.com/ & http://www.rs-enterprise.net/

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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.

T!

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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.

T!

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Tuân & Friends: Richee (RS Enterprise/Hood Sound Inc.)

Sketch of Richee drawn by yours truly

Straight outta Yokohama, Richee been representing the Bay Side for years alongside his Hip-Hop groups such as Ghetto Inc. and Tha DSC. The Smooth Operator is now back with the upcoming 2nd album of his new group Jack Rabbitz. Since I had the opportunity to draw the album cover, it was a good occasion to ask him some questions. Ready, set, go!

Can you please introduce yourself? Who are you and where are you from?

They call me RICHEE aka Smooth Operator from Yokosuka city Japan. I'm da Smooth Operator since everything I do is smooth (laughs)!

How did you discover Hip-Hop culture and how did you start to rap?

As a kid, I grew up listening to Hip-Hop. I was a skater during those ages and had a boom box going while we was skating. I never thought I would be a rapper during the time, but around 1994 or so I started to try freestyling but was just fooling around... I actually really got into rapping around 1999.

Your big brother Big Ron sings and you rap. Did your passion for music started at the same time?

BIG RON was a very big influence for me to start in the music world. I started to feel the passion when I seen him on stage for the first time. After that I said I may be able to do it also! And I just started to write my raps.

Big Ron

Westcoast Rap music and especially G-Funk style been huge in Japan for years (NB: it's so popular that Japanese G-Funk is called J-Funk). Why do you think Japanese people feel these types of Rap? And where do your interest for this genre comes from?

Westcoast scene in Japan now has become fairly large in the Japanese community. When we first started, it was never easy because there was a whole bunch of other style rappers around and they got their props at the time. DS455 was one of the Westcoast style pioneers and the smooth beats DJ PMX was making just was easy to get into. They got the verses and the hooks came with singers singing on them. I guess the melody was very nice and easy for the Japanese people to get into. My interest of this genre came automatically since I was located on a military base. Always been listening to Westcoast music starting from NWA!

Favorite artists so far and influences?

Too many to name but it got me when Dr. Dre came up with "The Chronic". Snoop Doggy Dogg, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Eminem, etc. I just love their shit!

How different is Yokohama Rap scene from other japanese cities?

Since there are many American bases around in our town and also the outlying cities, the scene in Yokohama was much more prone to the music overseas. The culture of lowriding started way back when I was a kid. I used to go to Yokohama around a large park called Yamashita where all the lowriders where bumping their music and doing all kinds of stuff. My interest at the time was to hit on the honeys who be chillin' in the same park! Anyways, the difference is just the style because most of the JP Rappers were just influenced over the Eastcoast style and there wasn't too many of them also. The Westcoast style actually got popular within this 15 years I think.

How do you consider Hip-Hop's evolution in Japan thru the years?

It's great! The scene grew as time fled and now many artist are starting to get recognized. The next step is to take it to another level so we can get more people to listen to many of the music we make.

You're part of different groups and structures. How did you connect with Hood Sound, Ghetto Inc., Tha DSC, etc?

I started out my career with Ghetto Inc.! I was leader of the group and we got instrumentals of songs already out and started rapping to it. Got hooked up with DS455 after Big Ron started to work with them. I went solo for a bit, then made a group called Jack Rabbitz since I had Cherry Brown and Knux around my crew. Tha DSC was formed around 2 years ago since we just went to perform all over Japan as a crew all the time!

You created RS Enterprise in 2009 if I'm right. What were your wishes and objectives through it?

Reason why I made RS ENTERPRISE was mainly because I wanted to do more things that was different from all the past projects. Another reason is that I wanted to make my own studio (G-Studio) so we can make everything at our own spot.

One of your recent project is the creation of your new group Jack Rabbitz alongside Cherry Brown and Knux (formerly of Trill Grillz) who represent the next generation of rappers in Yokohama. Why that choice and how did they catch your attention?

Simple. As a large group called HI-RISE, we had a very large number of people who wanted to be a rapper or singer. I first met Cherry Brown when he was 16 years old and he brought me a demo. I thought he had a different flavor from others and just caught my mind. Ever since he was a close member of the team. I met Knux afterward when Cherry started to kick it with his peeps in Trill Grillz. I heard several of his songs and thought he had a very nice style of singing at the time.

Richee, Cherry Brown, Knux

An interesting thing's that you have 25% of Japanese blood and 75% of American blood. Is it difficult to represent a new generation of Japanese people with mixed cultures?

It's never been easy to be mixed or being a foreigner in Japan. When I was a kid, there was so many negativity that I don't even want to get into details about... Now, it's very different because the new age people mind have changed and see everything differently. It's just starting to get better but who knows how it will be! Gotta see how it goes.

How come there are so many halfu in Yokosuka?.. Because of the US army?

I think the fact that the military base is around is a huge reason for people like us to be seen a lot!

You often go to Thailand with your group and label mates. How do Thai people show you love out there?

Thai is great.  We are linked up with the artists in Bangkok (Thaitanium and the family) and everytime we go there we have fun times. Just wait till all the fun coming up with the Asian music scene.

Upcoming projects and desires for the future?

Jack Rabbitz 2nd album coming soon. Has been postponed for a bit but it will be out. I'm working on my 2nd solo album and Ghetto Inc. 2nd also. Hope we can keep making great music for all ya ears!

Last question: why Sakura Sena (laughs)?

Oh boy... just look at her and her body!!!!!! She old now though... (laughs)

Sakura Sena aka Monster Body

Would you like to say one last thing?

Thanx for reading!! Listen to our music and hope all will enjoy.

Thanks a lot for answering my questions!

T!

Purchase Richee's and Jack Rabbitz latest releases on http://www.rs-enterprise.net/

My official website: http://www.tuan-hollaback.com/
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French Montana x Three 6 Mafia x Project Pat "Cocaine Mafia" (Free Mixtape)

Damn, I forgot to listen to that "Cocaine Mafia" tape when it dropped! But it's finally done and I didn't regret it. So when French Montana of Cocaine City meets Three 6 Mafia and their long time friend Project Pat, the result is explosive. Go get it!

My rating: 3.5/6

T!

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Rick Ross "Rich Forever" (Free Mixtape)

Who's the only American rapper who has so much buzz in dropping a simple mixtape? Mister Rick Ross of course. So here's his last tape, "Rich Forever", not very original but definitely good. That's the MMG style after all.

My rating: 3.5/6

T!

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Sistar19 "Ma Boy" (Video Clip+Dance Practice)

It's Monday, it's cold outside, nobody wants to go back to work... But you have to! I sincerely hope these 2 videos will help you to feel better (at least you guys)!

One love to Sistar19, and especially to Hyorin ^^

T!

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