Bingkai karya – RHYME SO, a duo comprising Japan’s leading dance-music producer/MONDO GROSSO member Shinichi Osawa and Australian poet, DJ, trackmaker and performer RHYME, have released a lyric video for ‘UNFOLLOW YOU’, taken from their 2023 album ‘IAFB’. he song includes samples from the 1982 classic hit single ‘Akai Sweet Pea’, which was originally performed by Seiko Matsuda, with lyrics by pioneering Japanese rock musician and Happy End member Takashi Matsumoto, and music by singer-songwriter/national treasure Yumi Matsutoya. This is the first time a Seiko Matsuda song has ever been sampled, which was made possible by Osawa sending letters directly to lyricist Matsumoto and composer Matsutoya to personally request their permission. The chorus to ‘Akai Sweet Pea’ features the lyric “I will follow you”, which back in 1982 was meant as an expression of affection for someone special. In the modern age of social media, a “follow” is simply a number to show popularity. RHYME SO’s track leans into this wordplay to warn of an era in which human beings and entertainment alike are at the mercy of the cynical pursuit of follows and likes.
Tracklist:
1. ACT THE SAME
2. #ITSME
3. DONT’ VIDEO ME
4. PIC ME UP
5. SILENT
6. SHIBUYA PARAPARA
7. IMAIYAM
8. PICTURESQUE
9. CINORTCELE
10. UNFOLLOW YOU
11. I’m Sooooo (interlude)
12. I AM FUCKIN’ BRILLIANT
13. IAFB MATSURI (outerlude)
RHYME SO is a dance music duo consisting of Shinichi Osawa, who is one of Japan’s leading DJs and music producers, who also performs as MONDO GROSSO; and Australian poet, performer, DJ and trackmaker RHYME. Combining beats based on Osawa’s ample experience rocking dancefloors with RHYME’s witty lyrics that sharply interpret modern life, the duo have an avant-garde club sound that has heralded a new era of electronic sound. RHYME SO’s 2019 debut single ‘Just Used Music Again’ was released by 88rising, and also included on 88rising’s compilation album ‘Head In The Clouds II’. The track was added to influential playlists on multiple streaming services, and attracted the attention of media around the world. In 2020, they released ‘Fashion Blogger’, a disco track featuring RHYME’s irreverent and cynical lyrics. The music video depicting a fictional figure-skating contest featuring drag artist Milk from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ has been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube. During the pandemic, they released the singles ‘Psyche’ and ‘HOT’, while their recent single ‘POSEABLE’ was released on 88rising’s new imprint 88infinity. RHYME SO continue to transmit cutting-edge music from Tokyo to the world.
