J-Rap CD Review: キングギドラ (KING GIDDRA) 「空からの力 (SORA KARA NO CHIKARA)」

Artist (Japanese) キングギドラ

Artist (Romaji) KING GIDDRA

Album Name (Japanese) 空からの力
Album Name (Romaji) SORA KARA NO CHIKARA
Album Name (Translation) Strength from the sky

Release date 1995/12/10
Label Pヴァインレコード

Tracks 14

Total Runtime ~50 Minutes

Tracklist

1. 未確認飛行物体接近中(急接近ミックス)
(Romaji: Mikakunin hikou buttai eskkinchyu)
(Translation: An unidentified flying object is drawing closer (Kyusekkin Mix))

When you hear this Track, the Intro of the Album you know that you instantly know that you are listening to an all-time classic. The flow? Spot on.
I have to say that to his day i always preferred K-Dub Shine over Zeebra (not only because Zeebra pretty much sold out when he went mainstream, whereas K-Dub Shine always stuck to his abilities on the mic. However, the way Zeebra and K-Dub Shine take turns at the mic to a simple old-school Beat by DJ Oasis is dope. Instant classic, nothing fancy, just two MC's exchanging awesome rhymes.
Runtime 3:57
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

2. 登場
(Romaji: Toujyou)
(Translation: Entrance)

-.
Runtime 1:42

3. 見わまそう
(Romaji: Mimawasou)
(Translation: Increasing view of life)

This song is so 1995-ish. If anyone asks me how old-school japanese rap and oldschool american rap differs, you can either refer to SOUL SCREAM's Album "THE DEEP" (Review to that one is coming soon, by the way) or this Beat. This is a simple, classic laid-back kind of Beat.
And Zeebra is killing it on this one. K-Dub Shine goes with his usual "bad guy" kind of flow. You can really sense his facial expressions throughout his verses, that's what i love about this guy. But Zeebra, especially during the second part of his verse, he shows that he can also double-time like a boss.
And we also have pretty def scratching by DJ Oasis at the end.
Yep. That's a classic japanese rap track for ya.
Runtime 3:42
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

4. 大掃除
(Romaji: Oosouji)
(Translation: Major cleanup)

This is exactly what you think of when you hear this Song: A "Major cleanup."
Seriously: If you are fed up with the current mainstream music (just wanted to state that i haven't listened to any music out of the states for about... 3 years, i think,) just pop this tune in.
Current rappers can't take it on with this great piece of music.
This characteristics of this beat are a pretty cool piano tune in the back, whipping drum hits and K-Dub Shine and Zeebra "primally" ripping the mic apart. A classic track with insanely crisp mic work.
Runtime 4:23
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

5. コードナンバー0117
(Translation: Code number 0117)

Now it's getting just ridiculous. Is it even possible for DJ Oasis to produce a beat that isn't an instant classic?
The highlight of this track is definitely the scratching from DJ Oasis at the beginning followed by the rough entry lines from K-Dub Shine. Nedless to say that Zeebra also doesn't take shit from nobody during his verse.
Runtime 4:22
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

6. フリースタイル・ダンジョン
(Translation: Freestyle dungeon)

When i first listened to this Album, this track was my favorite track. I could play this all day long without getting bored.
For about 5 Minutes, Zeebra shows how freestyling works. The deep baseline and Zeebra's slow paced flowing really draws an image of an empty storage facility at night, where Zeebra stands on the stage, flowing each and every of his enemies to the ground in your head. Awesome track.
Runtime 4:58
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

7. 空からの力(インストゥルメンタル)
(Romaji: Sora kara no chikara)
(Translation: Strength from emptiness (Instrumental)

-.

8. 同(パート2)
(Romaji: Dou)
(Translation: The same (Part 2))

Don't get me wrong: I think that DJ Oasis, Zeebra and K-Dub Shine worked like crazy on all Tracks on this Album (hence the high rating for this album so far) but it feels like they put some extra effort on this track. This Track is pretty much flawless: Awesome lyrics, a really, really well-made Beat (pretty dark, which underlines the topics they cover in their tracks) and tremendous mic work by K-Dub Shine and Zeebra.
If someone considers himself a fan of japanese hiphop and he doesn't have this track among his favorites, then i wouldn't consider him an actual fan.
Runtime 4:47
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

9. 星の死阻止
(Romaji: Hoshi no Shisoshi)
(Translation: Star (Or suspect) death prevention)

Those are the kind of beats that i like: We have a slight tune in the back, we mostly hear the drums. That's it. The Beat mostly consist of drums only, which means that the focus is on the MC's and their abilities on the Mic.
And since Zeebra and K-Dub Shine are beasts on the mic, you can pretty much sense the awesomeness of this Track, can't you?
Runtime 3:58
Rating ★★★★☆ 4/5

10. 地下鉄
(Romaji: Chikatetsu)
(Translation: Subway)

-.
Runtime 2:10

11. スタア誕生
(Romaji: Star tanjyou)
(Translation: Star birth)

As you can already guess from the name of the track, this one is a bit of a more slow-paced laid-back kind of track. Not only beat- but also flow-wise.
Not one of my favorite tracks, but it doesn't only fit the style of the MC's it also brings some variety to the album.
Runtime 4:32
Rating ★★★☆☆ 3/5

12. 行方不明
(Romaji: Yukuefumei)
(Translation: Missing)

Another rather laid-back kind of track. Once again, not my cup of tea, but the lyrics are great (which is normal for KING GIDDRA) and the flow, as well.
Runtime 3:45
Rating ★★★☆☆ 3/5

13. 真実の弾丸
(Romaji: Shinjitsu no dangan)
(Translation: The truth bullet)
I didn't say it yet, but i'll say it now: If you want to compare Japanese HipHop Groups with American HipHop groups, then i'd say that "KING GIDDRA" is the "NWA" of Japan. Why? Lyrics.
Yes, my japanese is still lackluster, but thankfully there are many nice guys on the internet, which basically means that you can find this very track on the internet. With english subs. There you go:

Do i have to say more other than: A perfect song name- Beat- and Flowwise? I don't think so. 
Runtime ?:??
Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

14. コネクション
(Translation: Connection)

-.
Runtime 1:51

Final Rating

Most Favorite Track

8. 同(パート2)

Other favorite Tracks

1. 未確認飛行物体接近中(急接近ミックス)
3. 見わまそう
4. 大掃除
5. コードナンバー0117
6. フリースタイル・ダンジョン
8. 同(パート2)
9. 星の死阻止

Artwork  ★★★★★ 5/5

You don't have to be a Rap enthusiast to guess what you are about to get into when you take a look at the artwork of this album. The sepia filter on the photo of all KING GIDDRA members gives it away: You are about to listen to an oldschool masterpiece. An all-time classic. It's nothing too fancy it's simple, plain and underground. And that's what you get. No messing around, no death of music (Autotune) no cheap pop crap, you get crisp, clear underground HipHop. That's what the artwork tells you.

Flow & Beats ★★★★★ 5/5

Crisp. I mixed these two categories together for one reason: For the reason that DJ Oasis, K-Dub Shine and Zeebra (KING GIDDRA) is a perfetly oiled machine, which basically means, that DJ OASIS is able to hit the nail on the head with every single beat on this Album. Every Beat doesn' only match the topic of the Track, but it also matches the MC's. K-Dub Shine and Zeebra are killing it on every beat they are on. I mentioned that in almost every track, so i don't think that i have to say much more. What defines a great album is how the MC's work on the Mic and how well produced the beats are. And this track is the blue print for how it's supposed to be done.

Choruses ★★★☆☆ 3/5

THAT is kinda the weak spot of the Album. The lyrics of the tracks are awesome and socially relevant (plus, some tracks don't have a chorus to begin with.) That's the focus of KING GIDDRA, so the choruses are kinda... not that good i should say. Or some of them are pretty old-school, aka you get some scratching from DJ Oasis.

However, the only memorable choruses may be the ones for 見わまそう, 大掃除 and 同(パート2.)

But as i said: The thing that you remember from this Album aren't the choruses, but the crisp mic work and the awsome beats from DJ Oasis.

Features ☆☆☆☆☆ -/5

Another reason why this is a classic album: NO features. I explained it during the KILLahBEEN Review: Features are good, but sometimes you think "That's okay, but i bought the Album to hear that artist and not 20 other ones."
Aside from that, KING GIDDRA consists of 2 MC's who have great chemestry on the mic, so you don't need to hear any other MC's in the first place.

Overall Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

It's crystal-clear: From top to bottom this Album is an instant classic. I want to quote a guy on a forum who said "Should be like the first stop for anyone new." And i think this sums it up perfectly.
If you decide to take a glimpse at japanese rap, everyone who introduces you to this great music, will (or should) refer to this all-time classic album. You may not like it that much at the beginning, but i can assure you: The more you listen to japanese rap, the more you'll enjoy this album.
Oh and if you thought that KING GIDDRA is only considered an all-time classic in Japan, then you are dead wrong. They even have an international wikipedia article. More about that a bit further below.
So overall this album is def. Everyone who is interested in japanese rap, give it a listen. I'm sure you'll find most of the tracks on YouTube, by the way.

Links

An english wikipedia article about KING GIDDRA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ing_Giddra