b2 Music推出全新音乐合辑《VIBE PRESENTS:URBAN ASIA VOL 4》

b2 Holdings Ltd的子公司b2 Music正式宣布其最具标志性的VIBE系列音乐合辑《Best of Asian Hip Hop》第四章《VIBE Presents: Urban Asia Vol 4》于6月18日正式发行。专辑收录了16首单曲，由 亚洲顶尖及最炙手可热的新晋艺人制作，其中四首 更是只限于本专辑发行的独家曲目。

本专辑的四大亮点有蒙古当红艺人MRS M与地表最强制作人HARRY FRAUD合作的《M For Tha Money》、新加圾新晋艺人YUNG RAJA的新歌《Mami》、上海潮流达人CHARITY SsB的《Hit On My Old》和越南偶像SUBOI的热门单曲《Cho Khong》。

专辑内的作品包含各种Hip Hop风格，例如Trap、Boombap和Glitch节拍等。当中香港地 区的代表HAYSEN CHENG带来了热门 单曲《Restart》、柬埔寨代表REEZY则以一首老派嘻哈曲子《Z Back》参与其中。而日非裔美 借新贵KAZUO混合了纽约与日本的 俚语，制作出独一无二的《Watch Out!》、来自印度的KOOTHU新歌《Shaanti》极具当地 气息，其funky的旋律犹如印度玛撒拉香 料般火辣！专辑的最后，以著名Rapper MOS DEF的长期合作伙伴，明星制作人DJ PRESERVA-TION 制作的《Dragon Town》作结 尾，配合香港Rapper YOUNG QUEENZ炸裂的演译，绝对是惊喜之作！

b2董事Sean Dinsmore说道：“很高兴可以推出《VIBE Urban Asia Vol 4 》，从孟买到雅加达再到台北，我们看到嘻哈音乐在亚洲 地区的惊人增长，实在太激动人心了！ 不同的地区都开始有新兴的亚洲艺人闯出本地市场，与国际艺人的合作也 日益增多，无 论是HARRY FRAUD与MRS M的合作，或是与KEITH APE合作的CHARITY SsB， 大家的界限与差距都正在缩小，促进了VIBE系列 的跨国合作。”

关于 B2 Holdings Ltd.

b2总部位于香港，是一家艺人管理和音乐服务公司，建立与帮助艺坛红人和有潜质的亚洲人才，拓展他们在本土 市场的演艺事 业以及打进国际市场。除了亚洲艺人，b2亦与在这迅速发展的地区寻求商业机会的国际艺人紧密合作，为他们在 亚洲建立和 扩大自己的粉丝群体。此外，b2的唱片公司b2 Music亦致力于把最佳的亚洲音乐向国际展示。详情请参 见 www.b2talentasia.com。

1. M For Tha Money (Prod. HARRY FRAUD) – MRS M

Mongolia’s Hip Hop queen MRS M is back with a banger produced by New York hitmaker HARRY FRAUD – possibly the hottest Hip Hop producer on the planet right now. Building on their earlier work (he remixed her hit ‘Sugar Daddy’ last summer) ‘M For Tha Money’ is a classic Fraud gangsta beat that MRS M scorches with lines like ‘I see you coming for me/You think this shit is funny/I heard you askin’ ‘bout me/You better have my money’ regarding the early days of her career when people tried to get over on her. MRS M’s English language rhyme game has progressed leaps and bounds since her single ‘Tasty’ broke her out of Mongolia and onto the world stage – culminating in a trip to the U.S. to record at Fraud’s Wave Cave studio in Brooklyn. With a follow-up single in the clip, and new material in the works, this is a turning point for East-West Hip Hop collaboration.

2. Mami – YUNG RAJA

Singapore’s YUNG RAJA has been attracting everyone from brands (Adidas, LV, Gucci) to magazines like Elle and Esquire due to his youthful good looks and bi-lingual Indian/Tamil and English flow. Last year he signed with Def Jam SE Asia and David Geffen’s ALAMO imprint in the U.S. What’s all the fuss about? Well, his 3 singles to date have over 5 million Spotify streams and add many more millions on TokTok and YouTube and you can see the formula is working. ‘Mami’ is his latest offering and it’s a typically fun, sexy ode to beautiful Indian girls – or Singaporean girls. ‘Mami wear a sari not a skirt’ raps Raja, ‘Mami lookin’ like she sweeter than dessert’. The video is a multi-culti affair with our hero surrounded by some of Singapore’s loveliest.

3. Hit On My Old – CHARITY SsB

Straight outta Shanghai comes genre-bending rapper CHARITY SsB, who’s collab’ed with the likes of KEITH APE and MIRAISENSHI and is also known for his design label Diminish. ‘Hit On My Old’ is a simple, yet effective Trap workout with druggy, futuristic touches in the production and has a video that’s a grimy adventure through the back alleys of Seoul, where Charity parties with a set of gender-morphing cool kids. The track is spooky and atmospheric, and his rhyme borders on schoolyard simplicity – yet you’ll be hitting rewind to figure out what he just said.

4. Restart – HAYSEN CHENG

Shanghai born rapper HAYSEN CHENG has been quietly building an intensely loyal fanbase since his critically acclaimed album ‘Durags and Chopsticks’ was released in 2019. Between then and now, he has put out a number of freestyles and singles, including ‘Two-Step’ with fellow Hong Konger DOUGHBOY. His trademark gravelly baritone makes him instantly recognizable on the Chinese rap landscape, but don’t sleep on his lyrics. They are full of real-world wisdom. Especially for a 21-year-old. His latest single ‘Restart’ is typically gritty and direct, talking about maturing and growing as an artist through everyday things, like wanting a pair of ‘Brons or a feature from another rapper. Now, with more experience and game, he has the confidence to say he was ‘Born rich had to start again from the gutter’ as an artist. His recent freestyle ‘The Price of Hate’ blew up the message board on liftedasia.com ‘s FREESTYLE SUNDAYS feature, and ‘Restart’ is gaining praise from media outlets like Hip Hop DX and others.

5. Cho Khong – SUBOI

Vietnamese Hip Hop queen SUBOI has accomplished more than most Asian rappers, and did it before them! Since 2015 SUBOI has been garnering attention in and outside of Vietnam, and it accelerated after she freestyles for US president Obama in 2016. Since then she’s released an EP ‘2.7’ and a string of successful singles that garner millions of YouTube views. ‘Cho Khong’ is an playful rhyme about who she is and where she is in life after fame – seemingly in a good place, and happy. Set to a up-tempo RnB beat that will work on any dancefloor, SUBOI rhymes her verses, sprinkling in breathy singing for emphasis – along with sung choruses. It makes for a super catchy Rap-dance track reminiscent of Doja Cat or Missy Elliott.

6. Z Back – REEZY

REEZY is Cambodia’s best known rapper, and is part of the influential Klap Ya Handz label there. The 25 year old joined KYH in 2018 and has since had a string of hits that have millions of YouTube views. ‘Z Back’ is an old school Hip Hop party style track, complete with fun sing-a-long chorus and playful lyrics ‘I’m back ba-dack ba-dack back!’ The groove is straight out of early Hip Hop jams from the late 80’s when it was all about dancing, partying and having fun – before everyone had to be a gangster to sell records. REEZY take us back!

7. Dude – FRαNKIE阿法

FRαNKIE阿法 is a newcomer on the Taipei Hip Hop scene, and has recently moved forward into the finals of Taiwan’s MTV The Rappers show. His slick flow and easy bi-lingual lyrics make him a crowd pleaser who comes from a strong background as a battle rapper. ‘Dude’ is a Trap banger that showcases his vocal dexterity, from English to Mandarin bars, and singing – all with the same confidence. ‘Dude that’s Fire!’ is one of the most common things you’ll hear from Hip Hop kids when hearing a new track, but seldom is it as true as on this single. FRαNKIE阿法 has a big future ahead of him!

8. Watch Out! – KAZUO

Another bi-lingual beast is Japanese-African American rapper KAZUO, who was born in Japan but grew up in New York. His perspective is unique due to his Black and Japanese heritage, but his bars are legit, and he honed his craft doing open mic nights across New York City, so he’s got real street cred. ‘Watch Out!’ is a typical relentless and irreverent outing from this 20 year old. He raps about flying to Japan, where he now lives in Yokohama. Also, about his unique ability to be black or Japanese – or both. He says ‘I’m the new face of J-Rap’ only half kidding. He may actually be the biggest thing to hit the Japanese Hip Hop scene in a long time.

9. Blue Faces feat YZ – YOUNG DRAGON

YOUNG DRAGON burst onto the scene in 2018 when MIGOS called his performance ‘Too turnt’ at the Rap of China USA in Los Angeles. The top 10 finisher has gone on to release a string of singles and establish himself as one of the dopest Chinese MCs on the scene. The LA based rapper was born in China and moved to the US at age 15 – so he easily straddles both worlds and can rhyme bi-lingually. ‘Blue Faces’ (Hundred dollar bills) is a hard 2 minutes of pure fire that features DRAGON and Taiwan OG YZ trading bars over a distorted guitar riff that could be from a Kung Fu movie or a Spaghetti Western. This track is ILL!

10. Bat Nhac Len Feat. Harmonie – HIEUTHUHAI

Vietnam’s HIEUTHUHAI is part of the Gerdnang (Nerd Gang spelled backwards) crew, coming out of Ho Chi Minh City (AKA Saigon). With his funny real-life songs that combine hooks, nerdiness and the ability to sing or rap, HIEUTHUHAI was one of the winners in last year’s RapViet TV show. His handsome boy next door looks don’t hurt either. ‘Bat Nhac Len’ features a simple organ melody and bouncy beat with the hook sung by HARMONIE’s smooth, girly vocals. When HIEUTHUHAI comes in with his slightly nasal, rapid fire baritone bars it’s game over. His voice is full of character, and his rhyme is tight. It may be Pop rap, but it’s the very height of it.

11. Go Hok Feat. RachYO – TARVAETHZ

Signed to Def Jam South East Asia, TARVAETHZ is part of the new Thai rap scene. He is distinctive for his raspy, deep voice and the ability to flip between Thai and English. On ‘Go Hok’ (Liar) he weaves a story of breakup and a cheating ex without it going too far onto the Emo side of things. For the track he enlisted fellow Bangkok MC RachYO and then got Thai superstar DABOYWAY from Thaitanium to direct the video. So all the ingredients are in place for a hit.

12. Bicycle Thieves – TRE ESS x GRAVITY

The Indian Indie Hip Hop scene is on fire. Since the massive success of Hindi language ‘Gully Rap’ exploded into the mainstream in 2019, it seems every corner of the country suddenly has its own Hip Hop scene – often with rappers rhyming in their own dialects. TRE ESS is a great example, coming from the northeastern state of Jharkhand, one of India’s most turbulent regions. On ‘Bicycle Thieves’ he rhymes in English and enlists fellow MC, GRAVITY for the second verse in Hindi. Through the power of the internet, young rappers are exposed to the world of Hip Hop, and this track feels like it could have been a Jazzy hit by Digable Planets or A Tribe Called Quest back in the day. It’s minimal, jazzy and blue – perfect for rapping about your place in time.

13. Go Away – SHUWU

SHUWU is a new rapper on the Mongolian scene who’s coming out of MRS M’s camp with a hot new single that’s Emo Trap with a big singing hook. SHUWU switches between English and Mongolian easily and has youthful good looks – in his video he’s dancing around in a designer straight jacket with close cropped dyed blonde hair. He rhymes, ‘I’m sick and tired I’ll keep trying, I’m so sick and tired of fake smiling’. This track hits anyone who is fed up with fake people and pretending to be happy.

14. Shaanti – KOOTHU

Beatsmith and producer KOOTHU has delivered a beautifully funky 8 song EP on the 4NCY label that pretty much hits on all cylinders if you’re into Lo-Fi Hip Hop instrumentals with lots of South Indian masala. The tracks contain spoken word snippets, live field recordings, Indian cinema samples and some moog-y gurgling that keeps it analog feeling – all this with a heavy dose of Detroit inspired production. ‘Shaanti’ is just a funky, uplifting joyride of Indian grooviness. It vibes hard, and guaranteed you’ll be bobbing your head or dancing around the room.

15. Cascades – OWLIST

OWLIST AKA Nitesh Jhurani is a beatmaker, finger drummer, producer, and voice-over artist from Jaipur, India. He’s performed alongside some of the biggest names on the Indian electronic scene, and his music has been used for VH1 and Fashion week. His sound is described as Lo Fi or Broken Beat, but there are also elements of Jazzy Boom bap and Chillout. He describes it as ‘Experimental’. Using a drum machine, chopped up samples and filters he has created some trippy soundscapes like ‘Cascades’ that will make you want to stop everything and put headphones on.

16. SPECIAL BONUS TRACK: Dragon Town Feat. YOUNG QUEENZ – PRESERVATION

As a DJ, PRESERVATION has toured the world with YASIN BEY AKA MOS DEF. As a producer he’s worked with everyone from WU TANG CLAN’s RZA and RAEKWON to MF DOOM and KRS ONE. ‘Dragon Town’ is from his 2020 album Eastern Medicine, Western Illness, and features Hong Kong rapper YOUNG QUEENZ. The album is made up entirely from samples and sounds he found digging through vinyl crates in Hong Kong record shops. The track is a moody, but funky Boombap groove – and YOUNG QUEENZ’s raspy rhyme provides a perfect balance to the Chinese melodic instruments and spoken word snippets. This track dropped last year and deserves another look!