When searching the world for some good new hip hop to listen to, Japan may seem like the last place someone would start. However, Tokyo based MC bay4k’s debut album “I am…” has been generating positive reviews from Japan and abroad alike.

Bay4k first gained major recognition when he appeared on the Japanese comedy show “Lincoln.” He came on the show along with a crew whose name is a bit too dirty too write here, but he actually belongs to SCARS, a group that has been around since the late 90s. In the popular segment, he mentored a shy comedian by teaching him how to diss other MCs and write rhymes that come from personal experience. He and the crew led the comedian to success and let him perform his original rap during one of the crew’s festival performances.

One would expect no less from bay4k, who follows his own advice 2007’s “I am…” Many of the fourteen tracks contained on his debut album deal with his strive for recognition and his love for his craft. Also, most of the members of his crew are featured on this album which keeps it feeling interesting and varied. His straightforward style and raw passion offer up a refreshing break from the sappy and unoriginal style of soft hip hop that is all too popular in Japan right now; take Shonannokaze’s excruciatingly long sap-fest “Pure Love Song” or Ketsumeishi’s saccharine smash hit “Cherry Blossoms” for example.

Bay4k’s passion is clearly fueled by his unusual background. Bay4k is a third generation Zainichi Korean, or a permanent ethnically Korean resident of Japan.  Effectively, a foreigner in his native country. This served to ostracize him when he was young, causing him frustration and resentment toward his heritage. However, he turned that frustration into creative energy, and is now proud of who he is. In “Manifest,” my favorite track on the album, a sample of an audience cheers him on while he explains who he is and where he’s going. He proudly exclaims that he still wants to be Zainichi when he is reborn. It is this kind of confidence that lets his simple music tracks and smooth lyrics shine.

It will be interesting to see where bay4k goes from here. “I am…” is a strong debut album, but I would like to hear something a bit more complex on his follow-up. With a bit of work, I believe bay4k can achieve the goals of which he so often sings. In the meantime, you can listen to his single “Game Maker” on Youtube here.

 - Lara