Tokyo Mega Late Show

Yo,

Another Temperature Check drop-off featuring our real good guy, DJ Neil Armstrong. We were able to get a lot of insight into how current activity is and what current the entertainment field might look like post-corona. Neil is a well-traveled and knowledgeable dude, so being able to pick his brain was a real gift. This recording was done in early July just to put some of the things we're talking about into context. Hope ya'll enjoy the convo,

@djneilarmstrong

@megalateshow

Ayooo!

Alonzo Mori is a Black and Japanese-American emcee from the Bay Area. Weve known of each other online and through several mutual friends but had never met before. So this episode, J the Protagonist, returns as guest host and we get to know Alonzo.

We touch on a little of everything regarding his approach, philosophy and taste in rap music. How he got started and what he plans on doing in the future. He also told us about how he has been working/ touring with the Japanese band, Ali. Who did the theme music for the anime "Beastars." Dope shit only.

Check out both his and J the Protagonist on instagram and follow the path to their music.

Next week weve got part two dropping where we play and discuss music.

@alonzomori

@jtheprotagonist

Part two with rapper emcee J the Protagonist and producer Ghostpop.

Part two always features music shares and discussions about music.

We listen to some new music J and Ghostpops got coming out soon, we each share a song from an artist that we think each other would know and J gives a us freestyle verse.

Tune in. like. share. subscribe. and go peep these cats on spotify,

Thanks in full.

@jtheprotagonist

@ghostp0ps

@tokyodopecity

"We sittin on fire right now!"

Yo new young blood. J The Protagonist is a rapper out of the DC area and currently living in Tokyo. Hes been a long time collaborator with Ghostpops and we extra happy to finally get him to the show. Together they are a crew called Colored People Time and theyve got several tracks cooked. We share one of those but tune into part two for more.

For part one we get into why the culture of hiphop is more competitive than other popular genres of music, the balance of being making music for yourself but also trying to gain a large audience, what J values in rap skils, randomly moving to Japan, being a fan of anime and run in's with the police.

What i found really interesting and refreshing is the age difference between me and J. As a reluctantly self-titled "old head" its good to be reminded where the youthful energy comes from.

Tune in. Subscribe. Rate us on itunes. Go peep J on Spotify and Instagram Also next week J is going to be rocking with us a guest co-host.

@jtheprotagonist

@ghostp0ps

@tokyodopecity

Part 2 of our conversation with multi-instrumentalist beatmaker, Nair B.

For the second part of our podcast we focus on sharing and discussing music. Here Nair and Ghostpop get into some of the technical aspects of Nairs production while i try to stop myself from vomiting from a sinus headache. We touch on a bunch of music made by Nair and Ghostpops, including some new J the Protagonist music. Nair Bs youth spent learning to play music in church, Beat Stars and the risk of uncleared samples, Nair getting his music stolen and reposted by a Vietnamese account, His new group Hilt, the contributions of Filipino turntablists in American hiphop and a lot more.

Thanks for listening. Give us a share and tell a homie.

@nair_b

@ghostp0ps

Nair B is a multi-instrumentalist beatmaker from Virginia. Since he moved to Tokyo hes been making connections, collaborating and refining his sound. His new project, Jet Black Hair, is a the culmination of the last few years of work and a love letter to his Filipino heritage.

We discuss how his Filipino roots inform his worldview and approach to music, not realizing how important learning music as a child would be, living next to old Japanese assholes with hammers, and a lot more.

Honestly its a bit of a blur because I had a crazy sinus headache during this recording. All I remember is having a lot of fun and finding out that Nair B is my little cousin.

Shout out to the live homie, Ghostpops, fka Kylo Yen (episode 55) for holding down the Co-host chair.

This joint was perfect.

@nair_b

@ghostpOps

Part two with Stupid Kozo and special guest co-host Submerse!

Go back and peep the first part where we find out who Stupid Kozo is and such.

Part two of the podcast always focuses on music. Be it music made by our guests or shit we just like. We have convos!

This one starts off with some convos about the rise in popularity of anime in rap and Japanese symbolism in non-japanese art.

And the subsequent decline of comic book bars in popular rap despite the massive popularity of Marvel comics.

We each share a track that reminds us of rainy days which leads to discussions about:

the early growth of experimental instrumental hiphop-esque beats.

The Roots Things Fall Apart being our favorite The Roots albums

&

Erykah Badu's Window Seat

They also hip me to Fujimoto Tetsuro and Sauce 81. Turns out theyre amazing.

Plus a lot a lot more.

Thanks for listening

Stupid Kozo has the best name. Pay attention. Like share subscribe. Check out Abysmal Lounge.

https://m.soundcloud.com/abysmal_lounge

Soundcloud - https://m.soundcloud.com/stupid-kozo

Finally got stupid kozo on!

Stupid Kozo is a Japanese DJ and Tokyo transplant by way of Fukuoka. Long before the covidvirus had every DJ live streaming, he was running the Absymal Lounge online radio show.

He can usually be spoted at beat shows here in Tokyo but also makes his way to Okinawa a few times a year to spin as well.

I first came into contact with Stupid Kozo and Submerse while playing Overwatch on PS4. Randomly teamed with them and got a win. So we spend the first several minutes talking about gaming and the new upcoming console generations.

After that Kozo shares how he first became interested in non-japanese music and culture, studying abroad and using rap lyrics to learn English, how useful traveling abroad was in helping him better understand hip-hop culture.

Submerse also returns to the podcast for the first time since he co-hosted the Marcus D episode. We get into a lot other random convos. Be sure to return for part two next tuesday where we talk about early beat music scene artists like Daedelus and Prefuse73.

Stupid Kozo has the best name. Pay attention. Like share subscribe. Check out Abysmal Lounge.

https://m.soundcloud.com/abysmal_lounge

Soundcloud - https://m.soundcloud.com/stupid-kozo

@submerse

@stupid_kozo

Part 2!

Music shares with our guy, film and television actor, stuntman, Lex Hunter!

Also featuring our guest co-host, original member of the podcast, Steze. Catch up on part 1 if you haven't already.

@sageofstone

Lesteze.com

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4244942/ (Lex)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5225985/ (Steze)

Ayooo

Today we got the multi-talented, film and television actor slash stunt double and occasional model, Alexander (Lex) Hunter.

Lex has been in Japan for several years learning the language, being swole, and working within the Japanese film and television industry. Of his several accolades, recently one of his projects ,Benza English, was nominated for several awards with Seoul's Webfest and the spin-off The Benza is on Amazon Prime. We discuss a lot of his experiences acting in Japan, the good and the bad. We talk about his webshow, the Ran-Dumb Show. Also what constitutes a Black film?

Joining us as guest host, is returning member of the pod, Steze! As you know Steze is a writer, actor, and film maker a well. So theres a lot of interesting perspective into the film and acting industry.

Go find all of Alexanders projects, catch his insta. And go check out this short horror film directed by Steze and starring Lex.

Heres that link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqx_WTt05k&t=83s

@sageofstone

Lesteze.com

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4244942/ (Lex)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5225985/ (Steze)