Formed in 1997, Sapporo-based trio Tha Blue Herb are one of Japan's premier hip-hop acts, with a hard sound and political edge that provide a refreshing alternative to the commercial sheen of many of their peers. Speaking the night after their storming two-man set at Rising Sun on Saturday, frontman Boss The MC gave The Japan Times a local's view of Hokkaido's biggest music festival.
How was Rising Sun for you?
It was great fun, as always. It's our fifth time to play there. I think we were the only band on the bill who come from and still live in Hokkaido, and the Hokkaido people in the audience seemed to really appreciate that, which whipped up a great atmosphere.