Dusty Groove

So I found this new record store online/Chicago that seems to be the bomb. It has everything Jazz, Hip-hop, Soul, Funk, and even a bunch of Japanese stuff. I guess I need to check out the actual store soon and quit being a loner on the internet.

See for yourself here:

http://www.dustygroove.com/

Thank You Illa J...Dilla

So for the past 2 weeks I cannot stop listening to Illa J's debut album "Yancey Boys." Not only are all the beats done by his older brother J. Dilla but the rapping of Illa J isn't half bad which on a Dilla track can be insane. My favorite song on the album is "We Here" which was also released on the 12". All I have to say is that they better come out with the instrumental for this or there might be a lot of angry Dilla maniacs calling for Illa J's head.




Oh, Also I heard they released Pay Jay on vinyl in Japan, which is a complete shock because it only leaked on the internet here in America. Crazy! Got to get back to Japan quick and try to pick that up.

and...Finally to stay on the topic of the Yancey family, this is most likely the dopest shirt I have ever seen. Too bad it is also in Japan. Damn, I need to start making some money!

Red Bull DJ Table

This is most likely the most interesting dj table I have ever seen. Red Bull has apparently got into the night club game and they started off on most likely the wrong foot. Their table not only has many unconventional features but also a very "bro dude" style design. Look at the second picture to understand what I am talking about.

Recent Stuff

It has been months since I wrote on this so I figured I better get back in the habit of doing something productive. I have just finished an amazing 3 weeks of my family visiting, Danny visiting, Djing at a club, and traveling all over the country. It has been by far the most tiring and most fun time I have had in Japan so far. It was so nice just traveling to Kyoto, Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka(twice). It was really nice to get out of my daily routines and get of my city for a nice breath of fresh air. Also it was really rewarding to translate between Japanese and English. It turns out that I am not too bad at Japanese after all(even though my grades say something different).

Last Sunday I made my turntable Dj debut at Club Wall here in Nagoya. It was a really cool relaxed event. There were 5 djs and about 30-40 people there. It was a really chill hip hop vibe. Just people kind of sitting around drinking and bobbing their heads to some good tunes. Here are some pictures and my full setlist. Thanks to everyone that showed up and to everyone else see you next time

Look At This Face (Oh My God They're Gorgeous)- Handsome Boy Modeling School
Passing Me By- The Pharcyde
Book of Life- Common
Big Bang Theory- Gagle
The Love Song- K-OS
Da Two- Pete Rock
Ghetto Love feat. Truth Hurts- J Dilla
Stakes Is High- De La Soul
Strings- Giant Panda
You're A Customer- EPMD
Astronomy (8th Light) - Black Star/Mos Def/Talib Kweli
My Mind Spray- Jeru The Damaja
Dramatic Tactic- Gib Barbee
The Place- Akil/Chali2NA
We Run Things (It's Like Dat)- Da Bush Babees
Slow Down- Brand Nubian
Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)- Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz
To Whom It May Concern- Black Sheep
Games- Lost Boyz
Improvise- Jurassic 5

Heyoo

Hey everyone just checking in. Not much going on here recently, just the same ole stuff. We started the second half of the semester this past week and I now have cornrows. Thats pretty much everything that is new. I just needed a change because I have had pretty much the same hair for 3 years and I am bored. Anyways I am not sure if anyone actually reads this blog so if you could leave a small message or comment that would be awesome so I can see that I am not just writing to myself.


I Miss You,
Richard H.

Hiroshima

I just returned to Nagoya from Hiroshima yesterday and it was a really fun trip. Seeing the site where the atomic bomb hit was really crazy. We studied that exact place in school for as long as I can remember and it always seemed so foreign, but to be in the area and see it in person was a really wierd thing. It was almost unreal to think about what happened in that exact spot on the earth. Its pretty depressing to think about.

After we went to the museum and saw the dome, we ended up going to dinner and actaully went to a few clubs in Hiroshima. We went to a salsa dance bar and a hip hop club. Even though the hip hop club only had maybe 20 people...it was so fun! We ended up not getting home until 4 and waking up at 6 the next morning to go to Himeji.

We ended up going to Himeji castle which was awesome! It was unlike any other castle I have been to, because it was not restored like Nagoya castle. It is in the same shape that it was when it was in use hundreds of years ago. I thought it was very interesting because of this.

The trip was only 2 days long but it really had an effect on me. It was really cool to see things you only read about in books. I hope I have the opportunity to go to more of these places in my lifetime. Hopefully there will be more to come in Japan as well. I have a few pictures here from Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Himeji.

Enjoy!

Love,
Richie

Hello All!

みんなごめん英語だけ。。。

So I have been living in Japan for a little over 2 months and things couldn't be better. I have met so many awesome people both Japanese and from all over the world. The only regret and that is a could be doing a bit better in school. I might be having a little too much fun but I will be picking it up this next week as it is the start of the second half of the semester. I have been partying, making friends, and having a great time with everyone. I moved to a new apartment about a month ago and I am living on my own now. I really love it, because I am able to have anyone over and I don't have a curfew like I did in the dorms. I couldn't believe that I had one!!

So tomorrow I am heading to Hiroshima for a school trip and I am nervous being an American. I think it will be a very emotional trip and I hope a rewarding one too. I will post some pictures and tell you all about it here in a few days. I have been so behind on updating everyone on anything, because I just got internet here TODAY! Sorry everyone!! I miss everyone back home so much, but I am having a blast here so I can't worry too much. Oh ya my Japanese is improving daily because I am always talking with friends and going to class. Hope everyone is doing awesome and please shoot me a comment or an email on here or facebook or whatever.

I love you and miss you,
Richie