Despite the vitality of Japan’s hip-hop scene at the moment, it’s rare for artists to make any dents in the consciousness of Anglophone listeners — the enduring popularity of Teriyaki Boyz’ 2006 track “Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)” notwithstanding.
Tokyo-based trio Dos Monos vaulted to the front of the pack when its debut album, “Dos City,” was released on adventurous U.S.-based indie label Deathbomb Arc last year. The secret to the threesome’s (admittedly modest) overseas success is hardly surprising: They don’t sound like the dominant modes of current American hip-hop, and are tremendously fun to listen to even if you don’t have a clue what they’re rapping about.
A typical Dos Monos track is an explosion of comic book energy, in which the musical and lyrical elements alike — courtesy of MCs Taitan, Botsu and rapper-producer Zo Zhit — seem locked in a constant tussle to outdo each other.