C.R.E.A.M. TEAM RECORDS' Second Single "There's No Single Answer" Liner Notes

C.R.E.A.M. TEAM RECORDS' Second Single "There's No Single Answer" Liner Notes

C.r.e.a.m. Team Records' second single "Kotae wa Hitotsunai Hazu ga Nai" (DJ MITSU THE BEATS feat. KOHEI JAPAN), released on September 21, 2022. As with the previous one,Started working as a writer in 1996, writing primarily for hip-hop magazines such as "blast."The liner notes for this song were requested from Kiwamu Omae.

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Following the release of the single "Memento" in June of this year (2022), a collaboration between DJ MITSU THE BEATS and Shing02, C.r.e.a.m. Team Records, which focuses on 90s hip hop, will release its second single, "Kotae wa Hitotsunahazugai," featuring KOHEI JAPAN.

KOHEI JAPAN, a member of the hip-hop group MELLOW YELLOW, which debuted in the mid-90s with two MCs and one DJ, has also released four original albums and one best-of album under his own name. He has led a remarkably diverse career spanning approximately 30 years, including activities with the unit Funky Lemonade alongside DJ KIYO, launching the K.J. project under a different alias, and making guest appearances on tracks by a wide range of artists from indie to major labels. He is also widely known among hip-hop fans as the younger brother of Mummy-D from RHYMESTER. Let's begin by discussing the relationship between KOHEI JAPAN and DJ MITSU THE BEATS.

・「MELLOW YELLOWSource: Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/MELLOW_YELLOW

・Funky Lemonade (Dj Kiyo & KOHEI JAPAN) – RHYME THERAPY

The two first met around 2000, when KOHEI JAPAN released his first solo album, "The Adventures of KOHEI JAPAN." GAGLE, who had not yet debuted at the time, served as the opening act for KOHEI JAPAN's live performance in Akita. This episode is later recounted in the lyrics of GAGLE's song "Constellation" (included on the album "BIG BANG THEORY"), which features KOHEI JAPAN. Both of them still clearly remember that time.

The first thing that surprised me was HUNGER's rap. It was different from the Japanese rap we had been creating up to that point, and it was overflowing with originality. The track from that live performance was incredibly jazzy and highly polished. I still have the GAGLE demo tape I received then, and it's one of my treasures. The tracks had a feel of jazz loops with solid drums, which is exactly the prototype of GAGLE today. You can really feel that they haven't strayed from that direction since then.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN
They really reacted to HUNGER's perversions, like, "What the heck, you guys are weird?!" I used to listen to MELLOW YELLOW because I thought they were cool, just like RHYMESTER and RIP SLYME. I thought the contrast and balance of KIN's voice was great, and I was just a regular fan.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats

Their first collaboration was on the song "If I Had a Son...", included in the compilation album *Change The Game*, released in 2002. *Change The Game* was a charity album planned to deter child abuse, which was a social issue at the time. KOHEI JAPAN, who was asked to contribute a song, approached DJ MITSU THE BEATS to participate as a producer.

Since GAGLE debuted from Next Level the previous year (2001) and we became labelmates, I thought, "Maybe I should ask him?" Even though it was a sudden request schedule-wise, we quickly had Mitsu (DJ MITSU THE BEATS) come all the way from Sendai to a studio in Tokyo. That's how "What If I Had a Son..." was born, and it became a song we played at every live show afterwards, occupying a very important place among my own songs.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN
At the time, it became a song that was like my trademark, and I'm truly grateful. The song has a very strong message and is meaningful. I also realized that a song that becomes a representative hit isn't just about putting in a lot of time. Like GAGLE's "Shikabane wo Koete," the things that are born spontaneously in that moment are really important.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats

"Moshimo Musuko ga Dekitanara..." was later re-recorded as a bonus track on KOHEI JAPAN's solo album "Family," released in 2007. The following year, DJ MITSU THE BEATS created his own 2008 version for "Family E.P.," and this version is available for listening via streaming services. To go back a bit, after the original "Moshimo Musuko ga Dekitanara..." was released in 2002, KOHEI JAPAN made a guest appearance on GAGLE's major debut album "BIG BANG THEORY" (released in 2005), as mentioned earlier, resulting in the creation of a song called "Constellation."

All the members of GAGLE love Kohei. He's a senior they respect, but also very approachable, and he treated us like an older brother. When we decided to make an album with a major label, his name came up right away, and we were all eager to work with him.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats

The relationship between GAGLE and KOHEI JAPAN has become even tighter due to "Constellation," and the opportunities for them to perform together on stage have increased. However, surprisingly, the only songs featuring both KOHEI JAPAN and DJ MITSU THE BEATS are "Moshimo Musuko ga Dekita Nara..." and GAGLE's "Constellation." Outside of released works, the only other collaboration is the image movie "SHIRAKO Life Style" for Shirako Town, Chiba Prefecture, released in 2019, for which DJ MITSU THE BEATS provided the tracks and KOHEI JAPAN handled narration and rap. Therefore, this single, "Kotae wa Hitotsu Hanazunai," marks their first release in 14 years, even when including the 2008 version of "Moshimo Musuko ga Dekita Nara...".

This time, the reason KOHEI JAPAN participated in the second single from C.r.e.a.m. Team Records was initially due to the strong desire of the label owner, who is a big fan of Funky Lemonade. DJ MITSU THE BEATS himself also agreed with this opinion and extended the offer. Naturally, KOHEI JAPAN readily accepted the offer, and a track produced with KOHEI JAPAN's rapping in mind was sent to him.

The drums weren't perfectly quantized, and at first, I found it a little difficult to grasp Mitsu's unique groove. I thought, "He's brought a beat that's too difficult for this old man" (laughs). But once I tried rapping over it, it felt really good to rap, you know. That was due to the way the sounds were produced, and the placement of the beats was exquisite, I guess. I just thought, "He's so good!"
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN

When I first heard "Kotae wa Hitotsu ja Nai," I was surprised by the arrangement where the drums were boldly omitted in the first half, but it turns out this was actually directed by KOHEI JAPAN.

That was entirely Kohei's idea. You don't really see that from other rappers, but Kohei gives really spot-on advice. In that sense, it feels like we truly collaborated and created it together.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats
The first thing I received was just the basic loop with the beat from the very beginning, so it felt really simple. My rap is also simple, so I thought maybe I should make the arrangement more bold. I had Mitsu send me the loop without drums, and after I cut and pasted it on my computer and sent it back to Mitsu, he respected that.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN

This track strongly evokes the taste of 90s hip-hop with its drum beats and simple sample loops. However, the most important point here is the emotional guitar tone.

Thinking about what would suit Kohei, I figured it would either be a funky track or this more emotional direction. So I made the track using guitar samples. If you listen to it, you'll understand, but actually, this track is a bit of an homage to "If I Ever Have a Son..."
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats

In the lyrics, the part about his mother also gave me a personal connection, making me think, “If I had a son...” However, the “one and only” theme, which is universal even in hip-hop, also present in the hook, actually existed before this project.

I had a demo song that I originally made for my solo album. There was a time when I was overthinking things and went through a slump. That's when I realized, "Well, I am who I am," and was able to overcome the slump. I hadn't really had many songs with that kind of theme, so I recorded a demo with the idea of ending it with a message like, "Everyone else is like that too." However, the demo track was too grand to be released, so it was left in limbo. I rebuilt it, adjusted the fine details, and put it on Mitsu's track to create this song.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN
When I first heard it, honestly, I was really happy. It was such a great theme, and everything exceeded expectations. The way he rapped, his original flow, and his original lyric writing style. I thought his absolute originality, which no one else can imitate, was truly amazing.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
DJ Mitsu the Beats

Exactly 20 years after the release of the original "Moshimo Musuko ga Dekita Nara..." in 2002, "Kotae wa Hitotsu Tsuruga Nai" has been completed. The absolute chemistry between the two is still present this time, and it can be said that this song has the potential to become a new classic for both artists. Finally, we asked KOHEI JAPAN for his thoughts on this collaboration.

Mitsu's beats are so minimalist and efficient that they really test your rapping skills. Plus, they're so intricately mixed even at the demo stage, with hooks that make you want to rap, that it really draws rappers in. Also, like the guitar this time, there's something in the chord progressions of the material that grabs you and pulls out your emotions. I'm really glad I got to work on this again after so long.
”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records
KOHEI JAPAN

Incidentally, KOHEI JAPAN has been working on his next solo album for several years, and he already has quite a few demo songs. We are looking forward to his new release since "Otona Challenge" (released in 2010). Also, DJ MITSU THE BEATS mentioned in this interview that he feels ready to create an EP or an album with Kohei. We can secretly look forward to the possibility of them collaborating on a project in the future.

”Created by Everyone” 90s Hip Hop Specialty Label | C.r.e.a.m. Team Records

Download liner notes as a PDF

＜本文終わり＞

By Kiwamu Omae (大前 至)

Music writer. Began writing in 1996, contributing to publications such as the hip-hop magazine "blast." Moved to Los Angeles in 2003, where they covered the underground hip-hop scene, including artists like Stones Throw, while also writing about fashion, art, and other fields. Returned to Japan in 2015 and continues to work as a writer for various magazines and web media, focusing primarily on hip-hop.

 
C.R.E.A.M. Team Records

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