MUSIC

“BLADE N” is the long-awaited new album from Japanese rapper Karavi Roushi, who appeared on the Japanese hip-hop scene with his debut solo album “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”. This, his second solo album, is a collaborative release with Aquadab, the Japanese track maker/sound designer who co-produced “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”. The album showcases the preternatural mind-meld between rapper and track maker.

Karavi Roushi came before the public as a member of Nagoya hip-hop collective Hydro Brain Gang on Nero Imai's album “Return Of Acid King” (2017). He then launched the label Super Lights with Aquadab and released his first solo album “Kiyosumi Kurokawa” in 2019 with graphic design by Takara Ohashi. Although an unknown newcomer, the album reached #15 on the iTunes Hip Hop Japan album chart and received plaudits not only for its music but also for the artwork by Ohashi. After the album, Karavi Roushi dropped his first collaboration tune with Aquadab on “S.D.S =Zero=” (2020), a compilation of Generation Z Japanese underground artists produced during the Covid pandemic. That tune, “Tokyoite”, became a favorite of the participating artists.

"BLADE N” was created by the three-person team of Karavi Roushi, Aquadab & Ohashi. Consciously developing their musical methodology, they intentionally use instrumental tracks to interrupt the rappers' voices and flows, something which has traditionally been avoided, and explore the possibility of creating a style that puts the rapper and track maker on equal footing in complex, woven tracks. On the album, Karavi Roushi's paranormal voice, which sometimes sounds like a mutant synthesizer, adds incisiveness, and in the artwork Ohashi visually extracts the story world hidden in “BLADE N”, giving the cover art the same impact as that of “Kiyosumi Kurokawa”.

Somtam Samurai GOLD”, the ultimate hyper-enhanced mini-album featuring the very popular killer tune ‘Somtam Samurai’ featuring stillichimiya from the JUU4E masterpiece album ‘New Lukutun’ (2019), with the participation of Monaural mini-plug! The album is a mini album with a DL code! Limited release on LP with DL code!

The third album from the renowned Thai producer/rapper JUU4E is “IS”. The “be” verb. A celebration of existence and openness after the deadly constrictions and restrictions of Covid, fusing “global” hip-hop and pop rhythms with “local” Thai instruments and lyrics. A further fusion and celebration exists in the lyrics themselves, which feature a Buddhist worldview joyously infused with the emotional and physical pleasures of the world. A work of both enlightenment and dance. JUU4E, born in Bangkok, now living Khon Kaen, Northeastern Thailand, is a loved and respected Thai hip-hop OG, affectionately known as “Master JUU” among Thai hip-hop fans. This release, with songs recorded 2023-24, sees the continuation of JUU4E’s fruitful collaboration with Japanese co-producer Young-G of stillichimiya/OMK fame, who also contributes liner notes. Available on CD or digital, with liner notes in Japanese and English, and lyrics in Thai, Japanese and English. Get together with your friends, play it loud, and celebrate!