So half the world are focused on Japan at the moment with the huge earthquake which hit Japan a few weeks ago and at 8.9 on the richter scale and an epicentre only 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo. the tsunami that followed was devastating, as you'll know unless you've been sitting in a hole.
Takashi Murakami at the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain
Loads of people have been getting involved, rappers, designers, singers and it really made me think Japan has such a rich hip hop culture.
It seems so long ago that fashion in hiphop was a do-rag and a giant tshirt but from Kanye West using
Takashi Murakami for his Graduation cover to Nigo's Bape and Pharrell's
Billionaire Boys Club, Nicki Minaj our very own Harijuku Barbie and magazines like
i-D constantly doing Japanese spotlights it's pretty clear that in fashionable street culture Japan has been there from the start.
How different would hiphop culture today be without this little island which has changed the scene so much.
It's difficult to say when Japanese culture and Hiphop became so intertwined, I can't say when it started but the first wave of truly fashionable rappers bought it mainstream, Kanye, Pharrell, Kid Cudi; anyone else noticed everything they seem to do has an asian edge, a certain eastern twist. It's almost ironic now that Kanye West wearing a coloured polo and Louis V backpack (a la
This Way) back in 2004 was such a fashion statement. But if we wanna go way back and trace the route of the Japanese edge, it was Pharrell who pushed Japanese fashion in Hiphop at the start.
Pharrell has always been known for his Skate Boy P stylee, bright coloured polo shirts, bowties, clear wayfarers, and
Nike SBs. Heralding from Virginia, lead singer of N.E.R.D. and one half of the production team The Neptunes since he co-founded the
Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream Brand with Nigo in 2005 (Japanese designer and creater of BAPE) he pushed luxury streetware to another level bringing it well and truly stateside. Following the example of sister company BAPE there production is limited and prices are high.
Then there's Kanye West, you only have to look at Graduation to see the enchantment with Japanese culture. Getting Takashi Murakami (commonly sighted as a Japanese Andy Warhol) you only have to look at the cover, combining traditional Japanese elements with an anime style twist. Take the video for
Stronger filmed over 9 days in Japan which features Japanese Katakana symbols repeating the words of the song amongst others (イマオマエガヒツヨウダ 'I need you right now' if you're interested) set between shots of the city and chaotic Frankenstein like sci-fi sequences.
For the girls Niki Minaj has always been one for Japanese streetfashion following the likes of Gwen Stefani she takes influence from the street fashion of Japan's Harijuku girls. Calling herself the Harijuka Barbie for her she says it's not just the fashion she can't get enough of, it's the expression and freedom of self. And you only have to look to the collaboration with Will.i.am and Cheryl Cole (
Check it Out) to see how it's influenced her music....poppy, happy, slightly iritating.....
Kanye West in Bape campaign/Bape Store Harajuku/ Nicki Minaj/ Joel Silver, Pharrell Williams, Nigo, Kanye West, Takashi Murakami
What do you think, has Japan really influenced hiphop that much, or has hiphop and street culture just influenced Japan? And if it has, good or bad?
