AKLO X EXILE SHOKICHI Interview (English Translation)

 

AKLO & EXILE SHOKICHI Talk about rap and hip hop.
Taken from an old interview at: https://natalie.mu/music/pp/aklo02

"The best destination of Japanese Rap"  It's been about 2 years since since your highly praised 1st Album "THE PACKAGE" With more polished skill and growing live experience, AKLO released his second album "The Arrival" which exceeds the work of his first album.

Allowed to listen an absurd amount

This time's feature is AKLO, the artist I think has a wide range of people he can communicate to. Because EXILE SHOKICHI enjoys listening to AKLO's music, I offered this interview.

SHOKICHI: Yes, I was excited when I heard.

AKLO: Is that true? Thank you very much.

SHOKICHI what is you reason for taking this interview?

SHOKICHI: It was RED PILL (the single) when I began to know of him. I would say this person takes risks, when I watched his PV on YouTube I thought wow he looks so cool. That's right I also heard him on the radio!

AKLO: Ah, "INSIDE OUT!" (AKLO's radio show) How fitting! 

SHOKICHI: Wasn't it on there where you covered Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem's "Forever" in Japanese? That was risky.

AKLO: That was from my mix tape from around 2010.

SHOKICHI: Regardlessly, I was very astonished. BL's (BACHLOGIC) sound was natural, his flow was good, the balance between Japanese and English was good. I was happy this kind of smart, and cool rap could be done in Japan.

AKLO: Thanks a lot.

SHOKICHI: Sorry I spoke so openly (laughs).

 

Growing up with Hokkaido's Underground Hip-Hop

AKLO: Did you always like Hip-Hop.

SHOKICHI: Yes. I'm actually a local of Hokkaido. My upbringing was in the clubs of Hokkaido.

AKLO: Hokkaido's scene is quite hot isn't it?

SHOKICHI: Yeah that's right. THA BLUE HERB is leading the underground scene and it looks like NORTH COAST BAD BOYZ are divided into the west side scene. I was brought up listening to acts like THA BLUE HERB and MIC JACK PRODUCTION. But at a NORTH COAST event, I worked as a coatroom check. At the club's entrance, I ticket customers coats, and around the 27th or 28th hour of the event, I was able to see the live.

AKLO: Wow, with something like that you were just barely able to see the live.

SHOKICHI: Yep, I was extremely insignificant (laughs).

AKLO: How harsh. At that time did you do anything with a group of people?

SHOKICHI: At that time, I made a chorus like group with 4 people. I wanted something like a Japanese-made Jodeci, but thinking about it now we were really bad and shameful (laughs). 

AKLO: At that time you didn't rap, but there was nothing but rap in your surroundings right?

SHOKICHI: It was nothing but rap. And then I didn't know of my announcement, but I wrote lyrics and challenged myself into writing various raps.

AKLO: Is that so, that's amazing.

SHOKICHI: That's why hearing of this interview with AKLO-kun was so shocking.

Even AKLO-kun Cannot be Imitated

-From then to now, have you listed to various degrees of rap.

SHOKICHI:Yes, when new people enter I think I should listen to them. After all from there I think because the new movement has sent to me a lot of input, I've studied them.

AKLO: That's amazing. But at the time of my first single, I wasn't really in an environment like that, so things were very difficult. Alwa

ys hearing hip hop. 

SHOKICHI: That's true isn't it? In this moment too I am appreciative of being able to watch. On that subject, (AKLO's label mate) SALU is also from Sapparo right?  I went to watch SALU's Sapparo Era Team's FAKE ID freestyle battle. That team's freestyle very nice.

AKLO: That's amazing (laughs).

SHOKICHI: Everyone watching had the feeling that the group was small, thin, and was B-Boyish. Despite that, they were able to beat down the image of B-BOYS. That was an amazing feeling.

-That's a considerable head isn't it?

SHOKICHI: At that time I was a super head. (laughs)

-I think SHIKICHI san is a single lover of hip hop, what would you say is AKLO san's appeal?

SHOKICHI: Hmm, it's probably how his skill in simplicity is dangerous/risky. Even when I was doing my embarrassing rap, letting me reference it, saying and accepting this   "This nice trampling" this is impossible for AKLO san. Not being able to imitate him, even just a replication of him in unacceptable, I project, just that much.

-What per say, cannot be imitated?

SHOKICHI:Things such as his usage of English, pronunciation, his pronunciation and combination of both English and Japanese and so on. His voice at the end of his words is coarse. I really like that.  

AKLO: My voice does become coarse huh? I have that kind of voice, but i use it purposefully from time to time. 

SHOKICHI: Recently, I've been studying underground acts, imitating that kind of rap flow has increased hasn't it?

Conversely, AKLO san, what do you think of EXILE?

AKLO: I think that it's cool that they are influenced by Hip-Hop, R&B, and dance music and are number 1 in the Japanese mainstream.

SHOKICHI: Other members too have similarities to my career. We're a gathering of people that always been in group activities. I'm glad that we can convey something like that.

AKLO: They look like a greatly stoic and professional group and their image is strong. "Entering an Oxygen capsule" and, listening to talk you can train, is amazing. Is that something you wanted to enter into?

SHOKICHI: Well, Actually I was recovering from a hangover (laughs).

AKLO: Hahaha! So that's the reason (laughs)

Rap That Sticks to People of Other Countries 

-However, Exile is a something that has big influence and belongs to hip hop delving into  the influence of independence music is the hope isn't it. In this current era, major and independent don't really have anything to do with one another. 

SHOKICHI: Just as you said, I think the underground and overground scenes are different. Their aren't Enemies inside the Japanese scene, I think everyone is huddled together and it's the people outside who want us to battle. That's why I really respect everyone and want to be able to listen to various things.

AKLO: Yep, It definitely seems that way. Since listening to my songs they are English like, when foreigners listen to my songs I want them to have to have the feeling that this is "Cool." That's why  a person with what looks like where my skills stand coming out of Asia,I want thin to think that person is cool don't want them to give up.

SHOKICHI: Rap that can reach people of other countries is cool. Even though we can't really speak english, I think it's fun to listen to to American rap. I think just as that music can cross over and be enjoyed by others, Japanese rap too holds that power. But I don't think that the approach of those people is proof against this. That's why I want AKLO-san to go to America in the future.

AKLO: I wonder if it is still difficult to present one's capabilities to America. But I think the rap of Tokyo, Japan holds an essential …. I think that is cool that it can be said that Japanese Hip Hop is worldwide. 

Featuring K DUB SHINE was a huge success

-With this current album, did you have "I think People Will Receive Japanese Music as Cool" in mind?

AKLO: Yes that is right. This time I tried even harder at my musical approach. For example, in relation to my flow, I wondered if the flow was new, if it sounded interesting, and so on.

SHOKICHI: I was pleased to listen to the album, but I thought of things recently, but the beat was nostalgic, the arrangement of the words were extremely pleasant, and the listening experience was fun. Rather than nervousness it was fun.

AKLO: Everyone wanted me to do my best , Thinking happily of that, I was able to give all of the beats.

SHOKICHI: Was your producer HOBO BL-kun?

AKLO: Out of the 12 songs, he produced the fist 7. After that, JIGG jun, saltwater, and Gaius Okamoto participated in the production.

SHOKICHI: And K DUB SHINE-san. I was surprised.

AKLO: Oh that's right. Originally, I just did that song (RGTO) with just my verse and hook, because of the song's theme, I thought a featuring would be interesting. With that, I invited SALU-kun, and received about a 3 hour recording session. The track felt like there should be one more person, and as a result of all of our thoughts was K-DUB-san. There were various factors, but thinking of a person who's rhyme was solid and interesting,  K-DUB-san came to mind.

SHOKICHI: It has a feeling that the style matches the present more than the past.

AKLO: Thank you very much. By myself, I thought it was a great HAMA. That's why, this time's featuring became a huge success. 

 

You did it! You're an American rap star!

-As for AKLO san, 2 years ago you released your first album "THE PACKAGE' compared with "The Arrival" what kind of work do you think it is?

AKLO: The package, is my 1st album, but as for rap I had a 10 year career before then. The content and being able to write was a lot, the result, my rapping approach something i want to do I had all kinds of feelings. Moreover, when figuring what to do during my second album, I didn't want to betray the expectation of " I can do Japanese rap in this cool way," and I think I evolved.

SHOKICHI: Yes.

AKLO: That's why this time I evolved and experimented.  I wondered about doing that kind of musical approach. For example, Up until now, I wrote lyrics naturally, but this time, I thought "Because I snared here, next time" I thought of one picture. My flow too had the feeling of designing a map, so I forced myself to try a new flow.

SHOKICHI: Well, I want to listen to it once more while intently reading the lyrics. That seems like fun.

AKLO: The lyrics of the 1st and 2nd have that, if  I heard an instrumental beat I liked I downloaded it, and the lyrics would come to me. "A guy with that kind of feeling." Because I received entirely different music from my producers, I found ways to rap over and over again. That's why the degree of ideas that I had made me unsure of the parts I would do. If I said, " I want to ride a beat like this" the song would be completely different, but the BPM became almost the same. 

 

Do remixes have the feeling of writing over again?

AKLO: Yes it is like that, I have had to rewrite for a remix once. 

SHOKICHI: Despite finishing 1 production in a considerable amount of time.

AKLO: Ordinarily, I, write while recording. While the track loops, on the mac of the PC I place before me, I  let out the words that come to me, type, and put the finishing touches on it. 

SHOKICHI: You did it! You're an American rap star! (laughs)

AKLO: Ahahaha! (laughs)

SHOKICHI: That's something amazing I long for, but it's probably impossible. 

AKLO: Writing lyrics in silence?

SHOKICHI: Yes, and the melody.  While walking outside.

AKLO: On the contrary, that is enviable. Isn't that cool. That's the reason to go out (laughs). If as soon as you see " I wonder what that person is like," the the truth is the feeling called artistic behavior is nice you know?  

REASON for writing lyrics about boasting

-Personally, I thought it was great that the album "The Arrival" began with the lead track "Break the Records" My favorite part is the head line, "What you were waiting for is unfolding, what the hell is this, it's the second coming" I thought it was great that you came out like this with such force.  As much as to say "Rightfully everyone was waiting for my second album" 

SHOKICHI: I Definitely waited.  

AKLO: What you call boasting lyrics has become what is mainstream in America and the outlook of the world. That is, In America's small group, there are people who  are full of the appeal that "I am king." Probably with Negritude, I think people have the appeal of "I am amazing."

SHOKICHI: That's right.

AKLO: However, when I began to rap seriously in Japan it seemed liked "Emo Hip-Hop." With being hurt, the style of singing with one's own emotions became popular. At that time, there was a sense to increase the styling of music of "I'm great you know." Thereafter, I am convinced that "this seat is mine" and took on writing boastful lyrics. This time, because I was valued I thought to make use of it and thought about boasting and felt it a little more. 

SHOKICHI-san, as for EXILE, when performing, since your favorite thing is to inspire, are you aware of any boasting?

SHOKICHI: No, it's not there. In the first place, EXILE is not a piece, but a unit. There was a theme HIRO wanted to convey at the forefront. I took on the name EXILE and cannot enter unsuitable things into that theme.

AKLO: Was that theme always the same?

SHOKICHI: Yes it was.

AKLO: What kind of theme was it?

SHOKICHI: It was a theme of Love, Dream, and Happiness. With that it could be said that "With music Japan can become energetic. The theme HIRO-san composed  became important to me and became the theme of the kind of music I wanted to create.

Wanting hip hop to grow wider

AKLO: Inside that, did you keep that them even while you were solo?

SHOKICHI: After all, with the name "EXILE SHOKICHI" as for being in EXILE, the original theme did not change. But " I think that it came that if I kept an image like the music of EXILE that my solo activity could grow wider. For example, if  I threw and opened the amazing offshore net, I could catch various fish. People of many genres feel EXILE itself can liven things up. I think of something like that  while working. 

AKLO: In that sense, is that what rap is. 

SHOKICHI: I wanted the rap that I did, and the hip hop I longed for with dazzling eyes, to reach the Japanese mainstream, in order to infiltrate it I wanted to become a tool. That's why I've been taking that kind of approach recently. That way many people will know that cool music exist, and will want to hear more and more hip hop. If young people are brought up in Hip-Hop, wouldn't the Japanese music scene become wonderful after how many years? The entirety of Japanese music has many forms, but I want there to be more, creating music while thinking of the music fans. 

-As for AKLO san you would say the fundamentals are the same too right?

AKLO: Yes that's right, I think that. It would feel amazing if Hip-Hop could grow wider. 

 

Born near the same wave of SANPIN

-To the Hip-Hop SHOKICHI-san loves and wants to convey, how is it reflected in the current Japanese scene?

SHOKICHI: I think it is coming to rise a lot. I think that there are people who say " the older days were better" but it can be seen well in the current scene, that things are evolving and rising up to a new level. I always get great excitement from new things. 

-AKLO san, how is the scene of the forefront from your position.

AKLO: I think that too. I have the feeling that things are rising to a new level when I perform live. At this moment I went to an event sponsored by ZEBRA san and heads gathered and things were rising.

SHOKICHI: Wow! What a thing to miss.

AKLO: With a meaning like that, it felt similar to the wave of young SAN PIN (CAMP), I think things can be born greatly if people ride things like that. For example, at the event, one of the big waves was a high school rap champion. Did you know that?

SHOKICHI: Yes.

AKLO: Haha, that's great (laughs) Super head.

SHOKICHI: I watch intensely. It's fun isn't it? (laughs)

AKLO: From there a star called T-PABLOW was born, his unit with his twin brother YZERR  was contracted with Zeebra san's label. 

SHOKICHI: Wow!

AKLO: It's amazing isn't it?

SHOKICHI: That's delightful. 

AKLO: Still, someone like an unknown high school student, has a bunch of people gathering to watch his battles. If that continues, there is great possibility that more and more children like the high school rap star could be born.

SHOKICHI: Both rap and dance are rising to a new level and becoming quite hot. From here on out, things look really interesting.

*Notes: "SAN PIN" is a gathering of rap artist from the 90's. 

A "head" or "super head" is a big hip-hop/rap fan.