Shing02 “Homo caeruleus cetinus” Album Review
I’ve been on a Nujabes kick lately. I have a Modal Soul review coming down the pipeline that I’m taking time on because the album has come to mean an incredible amount to me. Through Nujabes, like many people in general and especially folks outside of Japan, I discovered Shing02.
Shing02’s command of the English language as a rapper gradually improved over the course of his career, and was never bad, but wasn’t, and isn’t, particularly impressive either. What is impressive, is how well he grasps it as a rapper who was raised in Japan speaking Japanese as his first and native language. What he lacked in technical skill when rapping in English, he could make up for in songwriting, which while occasionally stumbling over cliches, was undeniably poetic, heartfelt, and excellent stuff.
However, these criticisms of Shing02 completely disappear when he raps in his native tongue. Though I can’t understand what Shing is saying because I don’t know how to speak, listen to, or read Japanese at all, as a consummate fan of hip hop, I can detect the technical brilliance Shing brings to the table as an emcee. The way his able to stress and omit syllables to contort Japanese words into bars is astounding. The kind of lyrical dexterity that technical wordsmiths such as Eminem, Pharaohe Monch, and Ghostface Killah are known for, is exemplified in the dizzying lyrical skill of Shing here, who if his Japanese songwriting is anything like his English songwriting, is likely packing these technically dense bars with meaty lyricism.
Aside from this however, is the production on this thing. What a wild ride this was. One of the most experimental, batshit crazy hip hop albums I’ve ever heard. It’s extremely long and I do feel like, musically, it could have been trimmed the slightest bit, but as a full package this is one of the most innovative, bold hip hop albums I’ve ever heard. It lends itself to going under the radar to non-Japanese-speaking audiences, but any fan of hip hop, experimental hip hop especially, needs to check this out right now. The technical skill on display and the completely indescribable production are something anybody can appreciate.
Shing02 is one of the greatest rappers of all time if you ask me. Not only is he one of the nastiest technicians on the microphone I’ve truly ever heard, he is a musical visionary and can rap well in English. The Japanese Hip Hop scene is absolutely remarkable, and may be my favorite place outside of the United States where hip hop has ever been made. It’s either there or the United Kingdom. Highly recommended and definitely an entry into the all-time great experimental hip hop albums whether you’re aware of it, or understand it, or not.
