Hot 97 International

So I was in a shop in Harajuku the other day and what was on the radio but Hot 97--live from NYC. I didn't realize it at first but as soon as I heard that dude who does all the drops (the whitest guy on the station next to Peter Rosenberg) I knew it was Hot. I asked the guy in the store how he was listening to NY radio in Tokyo and he tried to explain it but I didn't really understand. I know that Hot doesn't stream online and he said you have to pay for it over here. After doing some googling back in my hotel, I discovered that Hot 97 is apparently "heard by large audiences in Japan through an exclusive cable stream reflecting its appeal beyond its core tri-state listenership." According to an article published just two weeks ago, Emmis is launching Hot 97 International this year, which is to include an online stream of the station! Granted it's 90% repetitive garbage but we need Hot 97 around the world for the mixshows (i.e. Mr. Cee, Flex, Ciph, Green Lantern, Cocoa Channel, Peter Rosenberg, etc). Anyway, Japan never ceases to amaze... Of course they have Hot 97 over here... I shouldn't have even been surprised. Check out this article for more.

Spacelab Yellow, Tokyo

Konichiwa [bitches] from Japan! Everything is going great out here on the Riverdance tour. Tokyo is an incredible city on par with NYC in a completely different way. The nightlife over here is insane and never stops, which brings me to Spacelab Yellow

I've been there twice this week, on Tuesday for Miguel Migs with Lisa Shaw live, which was great. I'm not sure if it can top last night's marathon set by DJ Spinna, who played everything from classic Gangstarr, ATCQ, and Wu Tang, to James Brown, to Masters at Work, to Larry Levan. The crowd was so ready to get down with whatever he played, and for good reason. Admission was about $25 with a free drink ticket and I was drinking $7 JD and Coke all night. Find me a deal like that at any club in NYC! Unfortunately, Spacelab Yellow will be closing in July, so I am lucky that I got to experience the vibe at this amazing venue before it no longer exists. Even though I have to be up super early on Sundays, I might just have to go to the Shelter Japan tour with Timmy Regisford on Saturday night in a couple weeks... Below are videos from Tuesday and Thursday nights inside Yellow. Enjoy...

DJ SPINNA DROPS "AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH" LATE IN THE NIGHT


LISA SHAW PERFORMS "LET IT RIDE"


LISA SHAW PERFORMS "CHERRY"


MIGUEL MIGS GETS TECHED-OUT