Seems like Massive B are following Mighty Crowns footprints and teaming up with Stüssy to release a special t-shirt for their 20th Anniversary, together with Mix CD & DVD package.
Unfortunatly the shirts are only available in Japan right now.
via Shimmy Shimmy.
Seems like Mighty Crown teamed up with Clae to design a sneaker for their 20th anniversary a while ago. Totally missed this. But the shoes look dope!
They even made a mix for this.
More pics via Sneakerfreaker.
Just found this very nice, informative Interview, Nils Kersten, from the House of Reggae Blog, did with Masaya Hayashi, the owner of Rock A Shacka & Drum and Bass Records, from Japan, about the record label and the japanese reggae scene as well.
Great read!
Was it very difficult to link up with producers like Prince Buster and Sonia Pottinger or artists like Alton Ellis?
Meeting up with them was really easy. Over there I got to know a guy called Echo Vibration. He had been running a sound system since the 60s and Jamaica’s a small place, so people who are involved in music all know each other. He introduced me to loads of people, like Coxsone Dodd. Meeting people like that in Jamaica is really easy, what’s difficult is what comes after that. Prince Buster, Alton – they were all tough to make deals with at first.
Read more over at House of Reggae.
Pirate’s Choice is the name of a radio show put on by Masa outta his record shop Rock A Shacka in Osaka, Japan. Featured below is a mix dropped by Firehouse (DK)’s Junior an’ JG outta Denmark. Nice Rocksteady rarities an’ dubplates come down like rain, with japanese comments runnin’ throughout. Be sure to check out da mix as well as the Rock A Shacka website for more podcasts an’ vinyl too.
Firehouse DK @ Rock A Shacka – Dubplates & Rarities (Pirate’s Choice #229)
John McDonnell wrote an article about the Japanese Dancehall scene for the Guardian.co.uk Music Blog.
“Reggae’s bass-heavy, rump-shaking son is thriving in Japan, where homegrown stars now outshine their Jamaican peers…” more.
via Dutch Reggae
Today we gonna take a look to the land of the rising sun and feature a very young, but yet successful sound from Japan, namely
Please introduce your Sound and all the members to the readers.
We are Yard Beat the garrison sound. We have two teams, one in Japan and one in New York. The official members are Desem, Mitch and Taka with the Holy Box Crew (Sound System engineers). Desem and Taka play in Japan at least 3 times a week. Every Monday 8pm to 10pm, Mitch plays in New York with other selector on the Xclusive Radio (FM97.5) with Tek 9 Sound from Brooklyn.
When was the founding of your Sound and since when do you djing?
Yard Beat was founded in January 2008. Desem has been dijing over 15 years. He used to play for Infinity 16 Sound before. Mitch also used to play for other sound. We have been listening to Reggae music since we are 15 years old.
Can you describe which style your sound plays mostly?
We love the sound clash because we are addicted to dubplates LOL… But we can play jugging style and sound clash style. It really depends on the vibes and line up… We juggle most of the times in New York but we have 5 clash dates in Japan next month. We can fit to anything.
Please tell me about the most important cornermarks in the sounds history, like clashes, the baddest dances, etc.
Even though we have enough experiences individually, we are still a 2 years old sound.
But we played the Global Clash 2k9 in New York.
We got defeated but it was just beginning and we are willing to take more
clash dates anywhere in the world. We never stop clashing!
Which plans do you have for your sound in the near future and what are the real longtime plans for it?
We are looking for other clash dates overseas. Just keep on doing our best and build the reputation in overseas. Get the trophy!
Which persons, sounds, artists have influenced you musicallywise?
It is extremely hard to name one but I would say Biltmore days in New York…
What was the first dubplate you ever voiced, and do you still play it?
Israel Vibration, and yes, it is our anthem.
Thank you Desem and Yardbeat Sound for the answers.
You guys can check out more of Yardbeat Sound at
Website: www.yardbeatsound.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/yardbeat
Twitter: twitter.com/yardbeat_ny
Xclusive Radio Station FM 97.5 (NY) Every Monday 8pm – 10pm Yard Beat alongside Tek 9 aka NY to Japan LINK
