Unfortunately lots of people ignore music from foreign countries. Sometimes because they don’t understand the lyrics but sometimes also because of plain ignorance. The Find Magazine got readers from all over the world, but this month I will highlight some artists from Europe and Japan, which most of you consider as ‘foreign’.

Hocus Pocus
Link: www.myspace.com/hocuspocushiphop 
Preview: Hocus Pocus – Vocab! (ft. T Love & The Procussions)

hocuspocus

I have to admit that I prefer music in a language that I can understand, but Hocus Pocus is one of the few exceptions. Hocus Pocus is a group from France consisting of DJ/rapper 20syl, bass-player Hevré Gogard, Matthieu Lelièvre on fender rhodes, Antoine Saint-Jean on drums and DJ Greem. The group is unique because of their (in my eyes excellent) combination of Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul and Funk. The lyrics are in french but that doesn’t matter to me as someone who does not understand the language at all. The music is truly amazing and the chemistry between all instruments and the lyricist is a very positive factor as well. Normally I like it to hear what a rapper’s saying, but in this case it isn’t even important. They accomplished in combining Hip Hop with some other great musical genres  and that’s all what matters to me. I highly recommend this group, especially when you are a fan of jazzy Hip Hop and if you’re open to foreign music, what you should be.

If you are more into turtablism, check out C2C. A project by 20syl,DJ Greem, Pfel and Atom. They won the DMC Team World Championship Turntablism three times in a row, what is unique thus far. I highly recommend their video’s and live-sets.
Next to that there’s Beat Torrent, who’s live-sets are incredible. Atom and Pfel mix Hip Hop with other genres and spin more Electro-orientated than the other side-projects. Definitely recommended and if you ever have the chance to see them live – GO!

To keep on linking, I also recommend Drum Brothers. It’s a project by Atom and friends Arshitect, Guan Jay and Permone. They released their 12” Live & Uncut earlier this year and it’s truly amazing. Some nice jazz-influenced turntablism with real rhymes on some of the tracks. I found out about this 12” a few months ago but I am still listening to it every now and then. Especially the track Take It Back, which became the anthem of the summer!

Samon Kawamura
Link: www.myspace.com/samonkawamura
Preview:Samon Kawamura – All About You

samonkawamura

In two sentences we move from France to Japan. The land of the rising sun, the land of jazzy hip hop. It doesn’t surprise me when kids don’t get to hear bedtime stories at the evening, but jazzy hip hop instead. I do not want to generalise, but lots of great jazzy producers have their roots in Japan. Samon Kawamura, Shingo Suzuki, Uyama Hiroto, Himuki, DJ Mitsu The Beats and DJ Krush to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, of course there are more skilled producers from all over the world, but when it comes to a ranking of countries; Japan is definitely on the number one spot.

I got familiar with Samon’s music by his first album named ‘Translations’. It’s an instrumental album with jazzy beats and a soulful touch. Really nice to listen to on a sunny day with a beer in your right hand – but that’s the same for every other jazz-influenced album. This year Samon Kawamura released his second album, Unfold. Again, he did a great job on the productions with this time some guest-appearances by respected artists like Aloe Blacc and Kev Brown who really add something with their vocals. Trust me, you won’t regret it when you buy one, or even two, of his albums.

Words by: Danny

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