It is hard to say whether Japanese Hip-Hop is “real” or not. In Japan, there are famous rap artists out there, like DC MURK and SIMON. In fact, they are so popular In Japan, that they are even making a break In America. For Instance, SIMON was even recognized by the popular American rapper 50 Cent. Hip-Hop’s beginnings In America originally told stones of struggle and survival with African-Americans growing up In the slums and ghettos of crowded scales, varying from the East Coast to the West Coast. Even then, there were varying differences in both styles and beats pending on the location of each rapper.
On the other side of the world, however, countries like Japan and Korea have to develop their own styles as well. No matter how much they choose to “imitate” the original, there will always be something different about Asian Hip-Hop in comparison to American Hip-Hop-?the language barrier being Just one aspect of it. This day in age, Asian Hip-Hop has become very popular, and in my opinion, Japanese Hip-Hop music can be considered “real. ” Although there are a lot of artists in Salsa who Imitate American rap music, I believe that Imitation helps teach creation.
From there, Japanese HIP-HOP artists and other Aslant artists can learn to make their own creative styles with rap music. If Asians weren’t able to understand America’s style, maybe then, their songs are Just Imitations, and awful Imitations at best. Of course, at first, because of the language barrier, most people will already think of Japanese Hip-Hop as a poor imitation; but if you can get past the barrier and really focus on the music, you can get an appreciation for the different styles presented in Asian music.
Hip-Hop is still a relatively young style of music, introduced to America in the late sass. Through rap and its various styles of poetry and storytelling, the African American youth told the reality of their situations, I. E. Living conditions, prejudice from the authorities, being poor and/or homeless, the selling and distribution of drugs, etc. Over the years, Hip-Hop’s popularity began to Increase nationally, but was still considered to be strictly African-Americans’ own kind of music. However, In the ‘ass, white rap artists Like The Beastie Boys and Mine started to grow In popularity s well.
Today, Mine is one of the best selling rap artists, despite not being an African-American. Having said this, if people from other races in America can gather an understanding and their own identity of Hip-Hop, why can’t people from Japan or Korea or any other Asian country do the same? I also think that young people these days are can easily define themselves by the kind of music they listen to. It’s kind of like a double-edged sword, where it has both positive and negative effects. Kids are very easily impressed by what they see on TV r what they listen to on the radio.
Through entertainment, and especially music, the younger generations clothing style, speech patterns, and behaviors can all change based on what they are exposed to. For example, If we see someone wearing an overly large T-shirt and a backwards hat, people might Judge him by trying to have this cool, young rapper kind of look. This Is very common In my own culture In Korea, as well as Japan, especially when it comes to our style of hip-hop music. But here, so at all. This Just shows how a style can grow and become universal.
It doesn’t tater if you’re American or Japanese or Korean; the style has grown to be one and the same. Therefore, music can be influenced by people who both listen and appreciate this fun and interesting style. Globalization helped bring American rap music to the other side of the world, and allowed it to develop within the Asian cultures. Even now, popular artists in America turn to Asian artists and producers and exchange different takes and styles on this genre of music. It is very amazing in my opinion, and I expect us to have even more culture and influence exchanged with each other.