“ウソツキ” (Usotsuki, liar) is the latest single from rap-rock outfit REAL’ (レアルダッシュ, real dash). Some of the song is sung as a conversation and while “Usotsuki” rocks plenty on its own, it’s the PV that really brings the ‘story’ it to life. Not giving away too much, the PV involves cute little kids, relationships, and the subject of cheating. Even better is the fact that the PV includes English subtitles! Dare I say it’s a must-see?

“Usotsuki” comes out September 2nd. Visit REAL’s official site for more info.

“Moonlight” is the latest from dynamic acoustic hip-hop duo AKLOと空 (AKLO to Sora). That’s an interesting blend from an interesting pairing. MC AKLO is Mexican-Japanese and has lived in Mexico, Japan, and the USA and guitarist Sora studied extensively in England.

I really dig the chemistry between the vocals and guitar. Check out their official MySpace and I’m excited to hear more!

“Believer” is the latest PV from Nagoya-based rockers, Hundred Percent Free. It’ll be on their upcoming second mini-album, Reboot, which comes out on May 20th. The band is currently signed with Magnifique Label (the same label as Jeepta). For more tuneage, check out Hundred Percent Free’s official MySpace page.

Show Notes:

Featured Artists
BUGA KINGZ – “友酒 Like?”, Wikipedia Page
Loptimist – “Hidden Agenda” (feat. Braille), Official MySpace
Verbal Jint – “1219 Epiphany”, Official MySpace
Jerry.K – “Free Yourself”, Official MySpace

Other Stuff
Man it was hard to pick just four songs for this. Maybe that’s why it took so long =P

[audio:http://sparkplugged.net/podcasts/pod7.mp3]

The up-and-coming rapper released his debut album this summer. An 18-track mixtape, I Just Wanna Rhyme kicks with tight beats, quick rhymes, and provocative lyrics. Though his lyrics are primarily in Korean, English interjects does interject. I Just Wanna Rhyme features collaborations with Dok2, Beatbox DG, Jerry K, Lady Jane, Rocky L, Basik, and more.

Many prominent rappers have featured Simon Dominic on their releases. Simon Dominic has collaborated with Dynamic Duo, Outsider, Loptimist, and The Quiett just to name a few. (My introduction to him came with his appearence on “Hyper Soar” by Outsider from his album Soliloquist)

Simon Dominic was born in 1984 and his from Busan. His real name is Jeong Gi Seok.

There are no Simon Dominic MVs but here’s a “Rap Medley” performed by him. The boy’s got mad flow:

Info about I Just Wanna Rhyme by Simon Dominic on Hiphop Playa (Korean)

To check out the title track, go here.

“ロマンチスタ” (Romantista) by IHL came out in late April.

“Romantista” is an optimistic love song that tells a story. It looks to the bright future and how much one is needed for that to happen. While the playful synth only plays in the intro, it sets the rosy tone for the rest of the song. Those lines give way to the guitar and bass which back up the positive lyrics even more.

“Romantista” is a much more laidback change of pace from IHL’s past singles, which were straight-up for the club.

The second track on the “Romantista” single is “I HAVE LOVE 2008″. The song was featured as an ending theme on the long-running Beat Takeshi show “たけしの誰でもピカソ” (Takeshi no daredemo Picasso, Anyone Can Be Picasso).

The initials IHL stand for the band’s amusing full name and former moniker: Illmatic Headlock. The initials also unofficially mean “I Have Love”.

IHL is TARMY (MC), MASATO (MC), Ho-Z (guitar), MAD-K (guitar/synth), ATSUSHI (bass), and MACHILLDA (drums). The guys’ variety of musical influences contributes to the no boundaries vibe of their work.　Their ‘street rock’ sound is a crossover of rock, hip-hop, funk, breakbeat, electronic and more.

IHL first got together in 2000 and began playing shows across Japan. They released a limited single at Tower Records in 2006. In March ’07, IHL’s debut single with Def Jam came out. “Romantista” is their third single with the label and the first that has them credited as IHL rather than Illmatic Headlock.

The PV for “Shall We Dance ?”, their second single, was featured on the now defunct IMF (International Music Feed) TV channel.

Watch the PV for “Romantista”:

Buy “Romantista” or the CD+DVD Limited Edition by IHL

THE THREE is celebrity guitarist/actor Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰), rapper KREVA, and producer and Tokyo Jihen (東京事変) bassist Seiji Kameda (亀田誠治). One of these guys making a theme song is enough to turn heads but the three together? WOW.

The THREE teamed up to perform the theme song for the film 隠し砦の三悪人: THE LAST PRINCESS (Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: THE LAST PRINCESS, The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress), a remake of the 1958 Akira Kurosawa movie The Hidden Fortress. The song, titled “裏切り御免” (Uragiri Gomen, Pardon the betrayal?) came out on May 7th and the film is in theaters May 10th.

Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: THE LAST PRINCESS is directed by Shinji Higuchi and stars Jun Matsumoto, Masami Nagasawa, Hiroshi Abe, and Daisuke Miyagawa.

The original The Hidden Fortress was of course directed by Akira Kurosawa and starred none other than Toshiro Mifune.

The name of The THREE refers to the the three villians of the hidden fortress.

The “裏切り御免” single features four variations of the song. A “spinoff HOTEI VERSION”, “KREVA BEAT MIX”, and instrumental accompany the regular version. The single debuted inside the top 10 of the Oricon charts.

Watch the dark and sexy PV for “裏切り御免” by The THREE:

The THREE’s official site

The movie’s official site

KREVA’s “best collection”, appropriately titled クレバのベスト盤 (KREVA no Best Ban, Kreva’s best record) is out March 19. Featuring 16 tracks of KREVA goodness, the album is packed full of catchy beats, rhymes, and hooks.

KREVA no Best Ban includes all 12 of his singles, a couple tracks from his second album, and a worthy b-side. Doing the math, that’s only 15 tracks. So what’s the 16th?

The album’s last track is fresh new tune.

The DVD that comes with the limited edition release of KREVA no Best Ban contains some cool videos. From TV spots to an interview, the DVD adds to an already kickin’ release.

“THE SHOW”, “国民的行事” (Kokuminteki Gyouji), “Have a nice day!”, “くればいいのに” (Kureba Iinoni), “ストロングスタイル” (Strong Style), it’s all so good. Whichever of KREVA’s singles you like most is totally subjective with so many outstanding and different songs to choose from. The strength in KREVA’s work is lyrical and notable in each tracks’ editing and mixing. A “best of” release and I still can’t get enough.

KREVA no Best Ban is one of the most consistent “best of” works in quite some time.

As for the album cover, KREVA makes quite the fashion statement wearing yellow rubber gloves with the “K”.

Tracklisting:
01. ストロングスタイル
02. ビコーズ
03. くればいいのに feat.草野マサムネ from SPITZ
04. アグレッシ部
05. THE SHOW
06. Have a nice day!
07. H.A.P.P.Y
08. It’s for you
09. 国民的行事
10. スタート
11. イッサイガッサイ
12. ファンキーグラマラス feat.Mummy-D from RHYMESTER / マボロシ
13. ひとりじゃないのよ feat.SONOMI
14. 音色
15. 希望の炎
16. あかさたなはまやらわをん

Watch 2 CMs for KREVA no Best Ban:

Buy KREVA no Best Ban CD+DVD or KREVA no Best Ban CD

Check out KREVA’s official YouTube channel

The popular hip-hop trio’s latest single is “旅立ち” (Tabidachi, starting a trip) which comes out on March 26.

Rappers Funky Kato (ファンキー加藤) and Monn-kichi (モン吉) bring smooth rhymes to the verse and harmonious lines to the chorus. It all comes together with beats courtesy of DJ Chemical (DJケミカル).

“Tabidachi”, an uplifting song accompanies its meaningful PV. The PV’s story tells of friends detached and one’s attempts to cope. It isn’t all chin-in-hand pondering though. Some humor is peppered throughout the rather weighty tale.

The hilirious parts of the PV come when we see the trio. Funky Kato and Monn-kichi rap in character with the theme, obliviously, while DJ Chemical wacky dances behind them.

Buy “Tabidachi” by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS