Joe Wong does stand up comedy at RTCA dinner

Joe Wong does stand up comedy at the Annual Radio & TV Correspondents’ Dinner (RTCA). Vice president Joe Biden was at the dinner on Obama's behalf, who could not make it. There's something about Wong's vulnerable stage presence that seems to draw people to him. His material is very innocent and "cute". Watch for his debt collector joke. That one's a killer!

Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva on AlJazeerza's Frost Over the World

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand's current Prime Minister says he is "open to talks" of fresh elections. I think that's what the red shirts are rallying for and throwing their own blood over.

Now the question is, will he have fresh elections?

Chinese Netizens are all over Zhang Lu, Wen Jiabao's female translator

Zhang Lu, Wen Jiabao's translator
(NetEase)

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao's translator, Zhang Lu (张璐) is now an internet celebrity in China. After translating accurately Wen Jiabao's quotation of classical Chinese poetry, she won the hearts of the Chinese media rose to stardom overnight. She is currently one of the top top search queries of people on China's search engines baidu and google.cn.

Here's some of Zhang Lu's quick-witted translations (via NetEase):

1. “亦余心之所善兮，虽九死其犹未悔。”

For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart,I'd not regret a thousand times to die.

2. “人或加讪，心无疵兮。”

My conscience stays untainted in spite of rumors and slanders from the outside.

Zhang Lu was born and raised in Jinan and is in her early 30's. In her formative school years her nickname was "class flower". She is also the chief translator for the Chinese President, Hu Jintao.

More pictures of Zhang Lu:








(NetEase)

Not bad, not bad. She looks well-poised and elegant. What's up with the bowl bob cut? I thought that went out in the 60's? Lol, I kid, I kid.

Read more about Zhang Lu at ChinaHush.

Rest in peace Nujabes

Nujabes in the summer of 2009
(yosuke moriya)

It was announced on Shing02's website that the Japanese hip hop producer Nujabes has passed away in a fatal car accident in Tokyo, Japan on February 26, 2010. He was 36 years old.

Nujabes was definitely one of the best that ever did it. Thank you Nujabes. You are a true inspiration and blessing. Your music will live on. Rest in peace brother.

via E22 (Shing02's website)

Today, I have very somber news for the international hip hop community, especially fans of the independent hip hop scene, and those who have followed my career.

It has been announced that Jun Seba, aka Nujabes, Japanese hip hop producer extraordinaire, passed away late February. Official statement from the label (in Japanese) here:
http://hydeout.net/hydeout/2010/03/_hydeoutproductions.html

We deeply regret the loss of a unique talent and a close friend. Through his soulful music, Nujabes has touched so many people around the world, even beyond his dreams. He was a mysterious character to most as he avoided the public limelight, rarely conducted interviews, so only a few got to know the man behind the signature production. Yet it continued to amaze me how young listeners of all backgrounds learned of his enigmatic name, and expressed support for his music.

As I write now from Japan, I had been leaving him messages the past couple of weeks, trying to get in the studio together, so the news could not have come any more unexpected. Even last week, I passed by his house and called him thinking he was still home.

I met Nujabes around 2000 and as an upcoming MC, I was fortunate to work on tracks such as Battlecry, F.I.L.O, Luv(sic) parts 1, 2 and 3. We had been working on the next trilogy of Luv(sic) over the past year (which we're determined to see through). The last time we talked in January, Nujabes emailed me to wish Jeff Resurreccion, a 19-year old beatboxer who had just passed way from cancer, his heartfelt condolences.

While we continue to respect the privacy of his family, we will work to preserve his legacy, and pay tribute to the body of work, some unreleased, that he has left for us to enjoy. Jun Seba will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and fans worldwide.

in peace,
Shing02

Snapper feat. D-Coy at The Mosaic Music Festival Singapore 2010

Snapper feat. D-Coy at The Mosaic Music Festival Singapore 2010

Mosaic Music Festival showcases the music across Asia. It is a 10-day Music Festival ranging from different genres such as jazz, world music, indie-pop, techno, hiphop, rock and more. This year, D-Coy and the Beatmathics represents the Philippines.

Check out Mosaic Music Festival: http://www.mosaicmusicfestival.com

D-Coy with The Beatmathics (The Philippines)

Mix the west coast and the east coasts sounds of hip-hop together with that unmistakably fiery Filipino flavour and you have yourself D-Coy and the Beatmathics. Delivering hip-hop like no other, these guys promise a little bit of new school, a little bit of old and a whole lot of fun.

http://www.myspace.com/beatmathics

---excerpt from Mosaic Music Festival Website

Source: http://www.mosaicmusicfestival.com/2010/microsite/nms.html#dcoy

About Snapper

Snapper's spectacle of her ability to merge her passions into her work. Her imagination perplexing STREET FASHION and MUSIC. From Hiphop culture to Asian fashion, her fetish and love for fashion and music began early. Growing up in the City of Angels (Los Angeles, California). In the mid-90's, she was receptive of the whole party scene and distinguish different crews wich portray unconventional attire, influenced by the entire Westcoast Gangsta Rap Music she fell in love with Hiphop.

Now Snapper is studying at School of Fashion and the Arts Manila to extend pursuing and establish the First Female Urban Clothing Line in the Philippines. Working on her SOLO ALBUM entittled "You Can Nevah Fade Diz."

Hiphop heroine will soon ascent in the Hiphop scene with her promising album. Collaboration with Philippines legendary producers and artists.

---words excerpt from Snapper Facebook

Check out more of Snapper: http://www.youtube.com/user/MiZZxSNAPPER

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJsOSHz6xRU

Posted by madshock, blogging from the Philippines. Props to Royal of Asian Rap Worldwide. Also check out Rapista @ www.rapista.blogspot.com for other Pinoy Rap updates.

Thailand's Red Shirts spill their own donated blood in protest

Anti-government protesters in Thailand - known as the Red Shirts - have spilt blood on the prime minister's office.

They drew it from their own veins, but in the end it was nowhere near the amount they'd promised.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports

Is it just me or does the pouring of the blood at the gates kinda reminds of you the first Passover as depicted in the Bible? You know, at the time when the Hebrews poured blood on their doorposts so the Angel of Death would passover their house and not kill their firstborn? Yeah I know the pouring of blood for this particular incident has a different purpose, but heh, Passover was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw it.

The blood that the red shirt are pouring is supposed to be a symbol of the 2006 coup d'etat that ousted the government of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Interesting way to protest... but I think its a bit unhygienic to pour blood, not to mention gross! Let's hope the people of Thailand can come to a peaceful resolution from this political crisis.

Ghost Style - Love Affair feat. Maggie Hou MV

Love Affair promo

Check out the newly released music video for Love Affair by Ghost Style featuring Maggie Hou.

Far East Movement - I Party MV feat. IZ & DB Tonik

Far East Movement - Animal

The Far East Movement's music video for I Party featuring IZ & DB Tonik was released last week. Its a pretty cool computer animation video produced and directed by Choz Belen. One funky thing about this video is that right in the middle of it, the guy in the video starts trippin out and sees a vampire girl. Let that be a lesson to you kids. Watch what goes in your drink! LOL.

N.Y.F.P. - New York Roots feat. Jaman & Pinoy District (MTV)

Title: N.Y.F.P.
Artists: New York Roots feat. Jaman & Pinoy District
Produced by: Paro Paro Beats
Directed by: Rolando David Jr. (Dreamz Production/Sigaw ng Tundo)
Album: Bago Ang Bagong Luma Album (Coming this March 2010)
Check out the original source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHJiq1pgOsc

Props to Butchoy of Dreamz Production & Sigaw ng Tundo
Check out Dreamz Production: http://www.youtube.com/dreamzprod

Please also check out Paro Paro Beats on Beats of the Beats III

Original source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhDZu0lvAuo

Check out Paro Paro Beats: http://www.paroparobeats.blogspot.com

Download NYFP for Free: http://tinyurl.com/nyroots

Posted by madshock, blogging from the Philippines. Props to Royal of Asian Rap Worldwide. Also check out Rapista @ www.rapista.blogspot.com for other Pinoy Rap updates.

First Filipino Rap Battle League - Fuego vs. Protege (English Conference Battle)

First Filipino Rap Battle League

(English Conference Battle)

Fuego vs. Protege

The first I’ve watched these videos I was laughing;

Can you see in the end they are both laughing;

They’re sick with brains like mad scientists;

At the end of the video all I can do is throw up my fist.

---sorry if my rhymes are lame haha... i just got carried away by the video.

This is the English Battle Category for The First Filipino Rap Battle League. It showcases the freestyle rap talent of some of the finest Underground Rappers in the Philippines. It has both English and Filipino (Tagalog) Categories. Check out the battle.

Check out FlipTop Battles: http://www.youtube.com/fliptopbattles

Posted by madshock, blogging from the Philippines. Props to Royal of Asian Rap Worldwide. Also check out Rapista @ www.rapista.blogspot.com for other Pinoy Rap updates.

D-City - Feelin Like Whatever MV

D-City - The Remedy

I remember about 2 or 3 years ago I saw a Caucasian high school kid wearing a black t-shirt with the words "D-City" on it. Up till then have never heard of the term D-City so I was curious and so I asked him what or where is D-City, because I'm thinking, aren't we in Vancouver aka VanCity? What does D-City stand for then? He told me D-City was a hip hop group and he was real excited to tell me about it too. Back then, I was pretty much under the dark about Vancouver's local hip hop scene (I still am pretty much). So I just shrugged off whatever he said.

Then flash forward to mid-February this year and I came across this music video called Feelin Like Whatever. Wow. I thought the song was pretty dope. The lyrics and production are on point. Heh, and what do you know, its done by D-City. Now I know what the kid was talking about! And from Vancouver too? Hey, that's a bonus.

D-City is a hip hop duo from North Delta comprised of Pinoy cousins Spot and Ess. The track Feelin Like Whatever is off their second album The Remedy (2009).

Steve Yoo Seung Jun with Jackie Chan on Asia Uncut

Yoo Seung Jun with Jon Nierrman, the host of Asia Uncut
(Asia Uncut)

Any of you guys remember Yoo Seung Jun the Korean singer/rapper that got kicked out of Korea because he wouldn't do the mandatory military service back in 2002? Well, he is now trying out his luck to be a star in China. Yoo Seung Jun is starring in a new Jackie Chan movie that was released last month called Little Big Soldier, which takes place during the Warring States Period in China. Yoo Seung Jun plays the villainous role of "Prince Wen". It really sucks for him that he can't come back to Korea, but hey, finding work in China and being signed to Jackie Chan isn't that bad of a deal.

Yoo Seung Jun also did a little promotion along with Jackie Chan for Little Big Soldier on an episode of Asia Uncut (an English talk show based in Shanghai, China) which aired on February 10th. Yoo Seung Jun does a pretty cool entrance with the dancing with the nunchucks. Wow, he's still got it. The man can really dance! Yoo Seung Jun will be releasing an album this April. I think the album will be Chinese as he's trying to break through the Chinese-language market.

MastaMic - 09 HK Rap Up MV

MastaMic has just released his 09 HK Rap Up music video where he plays a news reporter relaying all the major Hong Kong news from 2009.

It looks like MastaMic has a new bowl hair cut. He now looks like one of the long lost members of Fama.

Check out MastaMic's 08 HK Rap Up from last year.

Tablo from Epik High disses allkpop on Twitter

In Kpop news today, Tablo from Epik High tweeted some nasty messages about allkpop for everyone to see. Tablo is pissed off that allkpop leaked out Epik High's new music video and put up their latest album Epilouge up for stream.

The tweets:



What an EPIK tweets.......!!! I wonder how allkpop will address the situation.

CNNGO interviews Utamaru from Rhymester

Utamaru from Rhymester
(CNNGO)


Patrick Macias from CNNGO has interviewed Utamaru, one of the OG's of the Japanese hip hop scene from the group Rhymester. This is a really great read about Utamaru's view on the development of hip hop in Japan and how he compares it with American hip hop.

Rhymester has been part of the Japanese hip hop scene since the early 90's and they are one of the more conscious rap groups that have been rapping about political issues and socio-economic issues affecting Japan. They recently released an album called Manifesto in February and a single called ラストヴァース (Last Verse).


Rhymester - Manifesto




via CNNGO

CNNGo: How has Japanese hip-hop changed since Rhymester debuted in the early 1990s?

Utamaru: It's been over ten years since Rhymester collaborated with (U.S. hip-hoppers) the Beatnuts and Buckwild. Back then, a lot of people wanted to emulate American hip hop, so it was a big deal that we got to work with them. But soon afterwards, I started thinking that Japanese hip hop needed to start developing its own style by itself. That feeling became stronger and stronger, and I started moving more in that direction.

CNNGo: After the 1990s, were Japanese kids becoming less interested in Western culture?

Utamaru: That happened too, but it wasn't necessarily the case with hip hop. There are still a lot of people who like American hip hop, myself included. But we needed to stop trying to copy it and compete with it. My generation thought hard about the problem of "How can we, as Japanese people, make rap music?" But the young kids today don't have that kind of issue. Some of them are much more influenced by the Japanese hip hop than American hip hop. Some of the artists in the underground scene, like SEEDA, sell lots of records even though they're not on major labels and don't get much promotion.

CNNGo: Are any of them thinking about targeting the foreign market?

Utamaru: There are some hip hop musicians in Japan have ambitions like that, but they're looking more towards the rest of Asia. To do Japanese hip-hop in America… maybe that's impossible.

CNNGo: Do you think hip-hop made by Japanese people isn't 'real' enough for Americans?

Utamaru: Well, we have to define what's real. Does being real just mean being really poor? If that's what's real, do I need to travel all the way to Rwanda just to rap? (laughs)

Back when I was starting out, I decided to make lyrics that were a reflection of my life and the people who listen to them. After all, that's what hip hop is all about.

Recently, Japan has changed. It's become much poorer than before, and poverty itself is increasing. There are people who live in places with no way to survive and with no hope or expectation for the future. So it's possible to experience a hard life like an American hip-hopper. Of course, there have always been people like that, but society denied their existence. Even poor people would deny that they were actually poor. But now, it's getting harder and harder to ignore. Look at the kind of crime (idol singer) Maki Goto's younger brother committed. He got arrested for stealing electric cables from a construction site to resell them. That's so ghetto! And he himself used to be an idol too!

CNNGo: What's your impression of the current idol scene?

Utamaru: You can't really say "I like idols" out loud in Japan. The only time you could was during the 1980s when idols were popular. But after the 1990s, it became real outsider culture. Now, there's probably more train otaku in Japan than idol otaku. Hardcore male fans are only interested in unpopular idols. They want to feel like, "I'm the only one supporting this girl or this group. Nobody else. Just me." Idol groups like AKB48 and Perfume have gotten so big recently. Their fans are now ordinary schoolgirls. So their original fans have had moved on to try to find even more niche, unpopular idols to follow. So it's impossible for this scene to become mainstream.

CNNGo: What do your fans think when you talk about idols?

Utamaru: Basically, I have two kinds of fans: Those that support me because of my music, and others who know me as someone who talks about pop culture. The two groups don't really mix. Even so, it's not normal in Japan for a musician to follow idols. Everyone thinks I'm weird. One time, I tried DJ-ing some idol music as a pre-show at a Rhymester concert. That was the coldest reception I've ever gotten on stage. I was thinking, "Hey! You guys are supposed to be my fans! Can you at least try a little bit to understand where I'm coming from"?