Song of the Week (4) Nas……………….( Nas Is Like)

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (play /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), who performs under the name Nas, formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He’s regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop. His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994 by Columbia Records, was critically acclaimed and would go on to be widely hailed a classic in the genre. MTV ranked him at #5 on their list of The Greatest MCs (Rappers) of All Time. Editors of About.com ranked him #4 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), making him the highest ranking rapper of his generation (ahead of The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and 2Pac).

Nas is my favourite MC of all-time.

Nasir bin Olu Oara Jones 出生于1973年9月14日， 艺名Nas. (最早的时候是Nasty Nas). Nas 是美国著名的说唱歌手和演员。他被认为是美国Hip-pop界的标志性人物之一。 他的第一张专辑“Illmatic” 由哥伦比亚唱片公司于1994年发行。

这张专辑一经发行就被认为是hip-pop的经典之作。时至今日，这张专辑仍然有很大的影响。“MTV”频道将Nas评为历史上最伟大的MC(说唱歌手)第5位。 “ About.com” 的编辑将Nas评为当代(1987-2007)“最伟大的50位说唱歌手”第4名。 这些认可奠定了Nas在他同时代说唱歌手中的霸主地位。 ( 领先于“声名鹊起”的 B.I.G, Jay-Z 和 2Pac).

Nas一直是我最喜欢的说唱歌手

Nas is Like

Grand Cafe…………….(Osaka, Japan Hachiman-suji, 2-10-21 Nishi-Shinsaibashi)

Grand Cafe is one of the more classier hip-Hop clubs in Osaka. In not only caters to you hip-hop fans but it also has a nice mix of techo/dance/electronic nights spread throughout the week. Its best nights are Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Sunday night Safari jams are not to be missed. You will hear some of the best hip-hop music in Osaka. It gets really packed inside side so if you are claustrophobic need not enter. There are two rooms in the club, one with a huge dance floor and another smaller room where people talk and mingle. I usually stay in the smaller room in order to avoid the madness of dancers bumping into me. The drinks are more expensive than in the other clubs I have discussed on my page but this is an overall better venue. The crowd is a little older so the vibe is more chill than Pure or Sam & Dave.

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Grand Café 是大阪比较高端的 hip-pop夜店之一：它不仅能满足hip-pop人群的要求， 而且在音乐方面， 融合了电子乐，舞曲， 电音等等风格。在 Grand Café,最热闹的晚上是星期五，星期六和星期日。 您绝对不能错过周日晚上熙熙攘攘的人群。在这里，你可以听到大阪最好的一些hip-pop音乐，里面也非常热闹， 但是如果你是一个喜欢安静，不善于交际的人的话，您就不必去了。Grand Café 有两个房间：一大一小—大的房间是一个巨大的舞池； 小的房间是人们聊天，社交的地方。 我一般都呆在小房间里因为我可不想一些疯狂的舞者突然出现在我面前。这里的酒比我前面提到的其他酒吧都要贵一些，但是总的来说，这是个不错的地方。 因为在这个club里的人年龄稍微偏大一些， 所以这里的气氛比“Pure or Sam”和 “ Dave” 安静一些。

Suma Beach………….Kobe, Japan

If you are ever in Kobe I insist that you don’t pass the opportunity to visit Suma Beach. Its one of the best beaches in the Kansai region of Japan. Suma Beach is a 40 minute train ride from Umeda Station in Osaka on the JR Line. The train actually stops at the (SUMA BEACH STATION) so you don’t need to worry about getting lost. Every summer they host various outdoor beach parties where foreigners and Japanese people mingle freely. Sundays nights are the best time to go in my opinion. Japanese people love Reggae music and they cater to that crowd on Sundays. If you’re not a fan of reggae they have techno/dance/pop music to fill your musical desires. The beach parties start in June and stop around mid September so make sure you make it there before then.

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Suma-ku (須磨区; Suma-ku) is one of 9 wards of Kobe City in Japan. It has an area of 30.0 km², and a population of 168,400 (2008).There is a white sandy beach in this ward, which attracts tourists to the Kansai region for sun bathing and popular events during the summer season. The same beach has appeared in the classic epics Genji monogatari, Heike monogatari, and Ise monogatari. Thus Suma is often referred as an utamakura or meisho, referenced frequently in waka poetry, Noh theatre, kabuki and jōruri.

The Beach Boys made a song titled “Sumahama” after this beach in 1970s.

如果你有机会去神户的话，那么我建议你一定不要错过去Suma 海滩的机会。Suma 海滩是 日本关西地区最好的海滩之一。 如果你乘坐新干线，Suma 海滩距大阪的Umeda车站只有四十分钟的路程。列车将在“Suma 海滩”站停车，所以你根本不用担心找不到目的地。每年夏天在Suma 海滩有各种各样的户外沙滩派对， 这也是外国人和日本人交流和认识的好机会。 在我看来，周日的晚上是去Suma 海滩的最佳时机。 日本人很喜欢加勒比风格的音乐， 所以每个周日Suma 海滩上都会聚集大批的此类音乐发烧友。 如果您不是加勒比风格音乐的发烧友的话也没有关系， 他们也有 电子乐， 舞曲和流行乐等其他风格的音乐来满足您对音乐的要求。这些沙滩派对一般会从6月开始，一直持续到9月中旬。所以您一定要在这些派对开始之前赶到Suma 海滩。

SAM & DAVE …………Osaka, Japan

SAM & DAVE is a great venue to listen to hip-hop music if you are ever in Osaka. You can occasionally hear the odd old school rap song but in general it’s catered to the new school brand of hip-hop. The crowd is diverse with a mix of expats and Japanese people. The Japanese people I met in S & D were friendly and enjoyed talking to foreigners. There is a spacious dance floor but also booths to sit in if you just want to chill. I’ve been to Sam & Dave’s many times I don’t remember it closing. Rumors are that it actually closes at 8am. To be honest, I can’t verify that. I usually left after the sun was out and the dance floor was still packed. There are S&D’s in Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka. My personal favourite is the Shinsaibashi branch. It’s in close proximity to other bars in the area which makes in a great after hours spot if you’re not done partying. Drinks are affordable and people actually dance which makes it a great place to check out.

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如果您有机会去大阪，SAM&DAVE 绝对是您听Hip-pop音乐的好地方。你会偶尔听到奇怪的校园Rap音乐，但大多数时候你还是会听到新派的校园风的Hip-pop音乐。去那里的人很多是居住在当地的外国人， 当然也包括本地的日本人。 我在SAM&DAVE见到的日本人都很友好，喜欢和外国人交谈. 这里有宽广的舞池，如果您只想静一静，这里也有相对安静的小房间。我去过SAM&DAVE很多次，我不记得这里什么时候会关门。据说这里早上8点才结束营业，我对此不得而知。我基本都是日出后才会离开，那时候的舞池里还是挤满了人。在京都，大阪和福冈都有SAM&DAVE的分店，我个人还是最喜欢Shinsaibashi的分店。它离周边其他的夜店很近，所以如果您意犹未尽的话，从这里也可以很方便的转战其他的店。价格公道的酒水，跳舞的人群都使得这家店成为必去之地。

Club Pure: Osaka, Japan

One of my favourite places to hit when Im in Osaka. Its all you can drink, all night. Its a little more expensive than other all you can drink spots in Asia but this place actually serves real alcohol. Some of the best Hip-Hop you can hear in Osaka is at Pure and the people are friendly. I had some of my best nights in Japan in this Club. Friday nights are a little more chill if you dont wanna fight a crowd. Saturday night is when everybody comes out. If you hit Osaka and like hip-hop I definitely recommend reaching this spot until the a.m. It right off of Shinsaibashi Street in Namba.

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CLUB PURE INFO

Song of the Week (3) In my lifetime…………………Jay-z

Jigga

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, businessman and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving thirteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations.

Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40 Club, is part-owner of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and is also the creator of the clothing line Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the three founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, and the founder of Roc Nation.As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200. Jay-Z also has had four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist.

Video Link: In My Lifetime

Shisaibashi & Dotonbori………….Osaka, Japan

Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) is a district in the Chūō-ku ward of Osaka, Japan and the city’s main shopping area. It centers around Shinsaibashi-suji, a covered shopping street, that is north of Dōtonbori and parallel and east of Mido-suji street. Associated with Shinsaibashi, and west of Mido-suji street, is Amerika-mura, an American-themed shopping area and center of Osaka’s youth culture. Major stores and boutiques concentrates are found around the area. Shinsaibashi is easily accessed via the subway.

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Todai-ji Temple………….Nara, Japan

Tōdai-ji (東大寺, Tōdai-ji, Eastern Great Temple),is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden), the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu (大仏).

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The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”, together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara. Sika deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely.

Song of the Week (2) Stressed Out Remix: ATCQ

Without question the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s, A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the hip-hop alternative to hardcore and gangsta rap. In essence, they abandoned the macho posturing rap music had been constructed upon, and focused instead on abstract philosophy and message tracks.

ATCQ

The “sucka MC” theme had never been completely ignored in hip-hop, but Tribe confronted numerous black issues — date rape, use of the word nigger, the trials and tribulations of the rap industry — all of which overpowered the occasional game of the dozens. Comprised of Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Phife, A Tribe Called Quest debuted in 1989 and released their debut album one year later.

Check out the video link below.

Stress Out Remix

Song of the Week (1) Shutterbug…….Big Boi

Antwan André Patton (born February 1, 1975), better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo’s hiatus, he and André 3000 each announced plans to release a solo album. Big Boi’s solo debut Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was released in July 2010 to respectable sales and critical acclaim.

Big Boi

This is the beginning of the SONG OF THE WEEK at BLL. We will be taking all of your suggestions for the best hip-hop song each week into consideration.

Click the video link below.

 

Shutterbug