The influx of hip-hop style and substance into white America's musical consciousness has given pop music a series of bad boys who, in another era, would be hanging out at the nearest fraternity keg party.

For this, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a band with many otherwise noble qualities, has much to answer for. Luckily, the Chili Peppers' musical children are not limited to Limp Bizkit, Korn and Kid Rock.

Tokyo's Babamania starts with the basic Chili Peppers recipe of heavy funk- and hip-hop-inspired beats and bass, tongue-twisting poetic lyrics (all in English no less), and full-throttle guitar. But while the Chili Peppers are tattooed love boys to the core, Babamania cuts the testosterone with a bit of female soul, courtesy of co-lead vocalist Mari.

On their recent "EP" release, she and her male partner Genki trade off between classic rap incantations and Mari's sultry, soulful sound. On the more exuberant cuts, it sounds almost like early Fugazi. On "Pusha," the guitar mellows out, the mood becomes less hyper and Babamania displays a subtlety that puts them a cut above the usual punk-funk wannabes.

Babamania June 25 at Rock 'n' Roll, Nagoya; July 9 at Astro Hall, Harajuku, Tokyo; July 19 at Yaneura, Shibuya. For more information contact What's Up at (03) 5459-7328.

Despite rumors of fiscal disaster, Smash Productions is heroically set to launch yet another edition of the Fuji Rock Festival. It seems unlikely that this year's lineup could equal the glamour of last year's slate of bands. Limp Bizkit went to number one in the U.S. charts in the same week as their Fuji appearance, and the Happy Mondays' did one of the first of their reunion shows at the festival.

If last year's FRF was an unpredictable blend of Limp Bizkit's bros rock, ZZ Top's good old boy rock and the not-rock-at-all of the Chemical Brothers and Underworld, then this year's festival is set to be indie rock revisited.

By featuring Sonic Youth, Rollins Band, Yo La Tengo, Foo Fighters, and Morrissey and Johnny Marr (formerly of the Smiths and performing separately), the promoters of this year's festival seem almost intent on reviving "alternative" rock ca. 1988 in all its former glory. Even the hip-hop headliner, Run-D.M.C., is old, old school.

Though these veterans put on stellar shows, particularly Yo La Tengo, the lack of major foreign stars gives Japanese bands more time in the spotlight. Last year, despite the strong foreign lineup, Japanese bands made a strong show. Brahman and Eastern Youth wowed audiences and perennial favorite Hi-Standard stood its ground alongside Rage Against the Machine.

This year, Japan's rock contingent will be best represented by Thee Michelle Gun Elephant's garage blast and Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her's coy girl punk. Tokyo hardcore legends, the Garlic Boys, will also rev up audiences.

There seems to be more variety in the Japanese groups than last year when most of the must-see Japanese bands were of the loud and raucous variety. Air (Japan) should turn heads with his blend of jazzy riffs and distorted guitar as should OOIOO's quirky new new wave. Japanese hip hop will be well represented by the harsh poetry of Sapporo's Tha Blue Herb and the funky innovation of Buddha Brand.

Those looking for a festival epiphany of the ecstatic sort should head to the Field of Heaven. Last year, this was Phish territory. This year, improv trance units AOA and Soft will be keeping the hippy vibe going. Both bands specialize in head-expanding Pink Floyd-meets-Ko Phan Gan grooves.

Head expansion will also be available at Ground Swell 2000 on Niijima Island in mid-July with many of the same bands performing. Noted photographer Doug Aitkin will be producing an event at the same venue the following Monday. Scheduled artists include guitar improvisation impresario Keiji Haino and ground-blazing ambient techno DJ and musician uziq.

If Fuji has excelled in creating a multifaceted festival, then Summer Sonic is going straight after the real rock. A foreign lineup that includes Jon Spencer, the Flaming Lips, 311 and Green Day will be complemented by Japanese rockers Triceratops, Mad Capsule Markets (recently signed in the U.S.) and Japan's own answer to poppy hip hop, Dragon Ash. A notable exception is Tahiti 80, Parisian popsters who float somewhere between the Cardigans and Stereolab.