Hip Hop Clubbing in Yokohama
Hip-hop, especially of the domestic variety, is huge in Yokohama. In fact, it’s pretty difficult to avoid, blaring from the windows of newly pimped-out cars, or from the beatboxes of teenagers in over-sized sportswear break-dancing with their reflections in shop windows. J-Hop (or Nip-Hop) is the most happening scene right now. The most popular venue is the evergreen “Yokohama Bay Hall”, the place to be for fans of the amusingly-named local scenesters such as Butcher, Rude Bwoy Face, H-Man, and Moomin.
In Bayhall, you can marvel at Japan’s uninhibited hip-hop fashion at it’s most shameless. Expect lots of girls in flat-caps and terry-towelling jumpsuits, and boys in back-to-front baseball-caps, super-sized jeans and absurdly voluminous T-shirts (thanks to these guys I can buy clothes which actually fit in Japan.) A lack of restraint, and the absence of vocal “player-haters” in Japan has led to a flamboyant street-style of it’s own. It’s OTT and old-skool, and Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav, not previously respected for his sartorial taste, seems to be the style-guru of choice.
There’s an almost entirely Japanese crowd in Bayhall, but it’s a good-natured, friendly scene, despite the moody gangster affectations. Although the rappers have copied the posturing and delivery wholesale from their US counterparts, the gangster ethic has been lost in translation. Most of the lyrics are about love and life-affirmation. For example, one popular local act is called “Murder One”, but they’re more likely to be found in Tokyo Disneyland than in court for a homicide trial. I bet they don’t even litter. Real Japanese gangsters have curly perms and listen to enka.
Info:
Yokohama Bayhall
3-4-17 Shin-Yamashita, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 231-0801
(045) 624-3900
March 5, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Samples, samples, samples … where the |-|311 can we get samples of this … now why is it so hard at this “internet-age” to find those kind of thing about japan. I’m really curious to know what that sounds like.
Do they sing in Japanese or in English? Can you buy beer at the Bayhall? Is it good? How does the booze taste there?
March 5, 2007 at 7:11 pm
They sing in Japanese with the occasional English expression thrown in sometimes. You might be able to find some on Youtube. The booze at Bayhall is the usual good stuff, Asahi or Kirin beer (I can’t remember).
March 6, 2007 at 10:49 pm
The Japanese boys case reminds me the birth of hip-hop culture in my country.The beginning was quite acceptable,I’d say there has been created a kind of frantic fashion, influencing all rebellious teens,especially girls. However instead of being naked they throw their bras in “inspired”rapers direction.As everything in this world hip-hop music has transformed and of course ended up in a gutter. the reason is that rapers’ mottos were: being independent and creating for themselves.but occasionally they started to sell their music in enormous editions, loosing their credibility.
September 20, 2007 at 2:28 am
please tell me why, i’m feeling . Essa Morty.
September 20, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Hi. I don’t understand that comment!
October 22, 2007 at 4:45 am
oh when i went away for doing my first chrim. Mihangel Caiaphas.
January 18, 2008 at 8:00 am
i have to say i like this post but i LOVE this japanese reggae/ hip hop/ reggaeton and i actually like the way they dress. i can’t get enough of it. and if anyone does like it have a look for ‘fire ball - kick up’ on dailymotion or youtube, it’s a popular reggaeton song
January 18, 2008 at 8:54 am
You should go to Yokohama- pretty mch every club exclusively plays this stuff!
January 19, 2008 at 2:26 am
yeh i thought so but i’m destined for osaka (slight chance of tokyo tho). I’m sure they’ll hae some places like this