Chip Chop: Music: Da Mouth
Da Mouth <大嘴巴>
Da Mouth is a brand new Taiwanese "hip-hop" group who made their debut in November 2007. The group comprises of four members: MC 40, DJ Chung Hua, male vocalist Harry and female vocalist Aisha. Half-Chinese, half-Japanese, Chung Hua is an award-winning scratch DJ, while American-Chinese MC40 is a polished rapper. Harry is a natural dancer who is one-quarter Korean, and Japanese-born Aisha is a wildcat of a singer. The group write their own material and are signed to Universal's Taiwan branch. Their self-titled album is their first release under the label.
Da Mouth starts off with a bright, vibrant sound. "Come Over Here" <靠過來> (Track 02) starts off with a R&B beat which melts into a hip-hop beat that has a large, big-band feel. It's refreshing to hear Aisha rap also because there are very few female artists out there who would attempt to try their hand at rapping, let alone do it quite well.
The leading track from this album is "What Happened Then?" <結果咧結果咧> (Track 05). The lyrics were written by MC 40 and the track is jam-packed full of new slang curbed by some up-tempo beats. The lyrics are matched with an easy to remember refrain which is so catchy, it's hard not to join in with the song! Added into this are the scratches and mixes from DJ Chung Hua, which switches up the track into an energetic and playful song.
Track 05: "What Happened Then?"
"It's You I Like" <我就是喜歡你> (Track 08) is a contemporary ballad. It's not the average Mandopop ballad. Written by Harry and MC40, this track follows an R&B beat. Harry carries this song well, although he has a rather nasal voice.
"Big Mouth" <大嘴巴> (Track 10) is a funky mish-mash of hip-hop and rock. It has a great rousing feel to it, with empowering lyrics and strong off-beats.
"119" (Track 11) is also written by Harry and MC40. The track has a light-hearted, swing feel that evokes an air of mystery in among the R&B beats. However, paradoxically, this track is also very sexy and hip-swinging (good for a bump and grind on the dancefloor).
Da Mouth have a new, fresh and hot sound. It's rare to come across such a unique group in Asia. The last successful group to trail such a blaze was F.I.R. However, rest assured, F.I.R. have no competition here. Each group has such a distinctive sound that they are strictly incomparable. Hip-hop is a massively under-represented genre in the Asian market and there are high hopes for Da Mouth to make it big.
The only problem with this album is the actual definition of the music. Da Mouth are supposed to be a hip-hop group, however this album doesn't sound like hip-hop should: it sounds like a pop and R&B album. Considering the array of talent in the group, it's a bit of a disappointment. Yes it sounds refreshing and different, but it just isn't hip-hop.
Also, new artists are particularly vulnerable to the fickle attitudes of the listening public. So, pray to God that Universal know how to nurture Da Mouth, because even though they don't yet make good hip-hop as the marketing guys may claim, it would still be such a shame if they disappeared from the music scene. These guys have potential.[S]
Review by Weng Yu and Jenny Tran
Da Mouth <大嘴巴>
Da Mouth is a brand new Taiwanese "hip-hop" group who made their debut in November 2007. The group comprises of four members: MC 40, DJ Chung Hua, male vocalist Harry and female vocalist Aisha. Half-Chinese, half-Japanese, Chung Hua is an award-winning scratch DJ, while American-Chinese MC40 is a polished rapper. Harry is a natural dancer who is one-quarter Korean, and Japanese-born Aisha is a wildcat of a singer. The group write their own material and are signed to Universal's Taiwan branch. Their self-titled album is their first release under the label.
Da Mouth starts off with a bright, vibrant sound. "Come Over Here" <靠過來> (Track 02) starts off with a R&B beat which melts into a hip-hop beat that has a large, big-band feel. It's refreshing to hear Aisha rap also because there are very few female artists out there who would attempt to try their hand at rapping, let alone do it quite well.
The leading track from this album is "What Happened Then?" <結果咧結果咧> (Track 05). The lyrics were written by MC 40 and the track is jam-packed full of new slang curbed by some up-tempo beats. The lyrics are matched with an easy to remember refrain which is so catchy, it's hard not to join in with the song! Added into this are the scratches and mixes from DJ Chung Hua, which switches up the track into an energetic and playful song.
Track 05: "What Happened Then?"
"It's You I Like" <我就是喜歡你> (Track 08) is a contemporary ballad. It's not the average Mandopop ballad. Written by Harry and MC40, this track follows an R&B beat. Harry carries this song well, although he has a rather nasal voice.
"Big Mouth" <大嘴巴> (Track 10) is a funky mish-mash of hip-hop and rock. It has a great rousing feel to it, with empowering lyrics and strong off-beats.
"119" (Track 11) is also written by Harry and MC40. The track has a light-hearted, swing feel that evokes an air of mystery in among the R&B beats. However, paradoxically, this track is also very sexy and hip-swinging (good for a bump and grind on the dancefloor).
Da Mouth have a new, fresh and hot sound. It's rare to come across such a unique group in Asia. The last successful group to trail such a blaze was F.I.R. However, rest assured, F.I.R. have no competition here. Each group has such a distinctive sound that they are strictly incomparable. Hip-hop is a massively under-represented genre in the Asian market and there are high hopes for Da Mouth to make it big.
The only problem with this album is the actual definition of the music. Da Mouth are supposed to be a hip-hop group, however this album doesn't sound like hip-hop should: it sounds like a pop and R&B album. Considering the array of talent in the group, it's a bit of a disappointment. Yes it sounds refreshing and different, but it just isn't hip-hop.
Also, new artists are particularly vulnerable to the fickle attitudes of the listening public. So, pray to God that Universal know how to nurture Da Mouth, because even though they don't yet make good hip-hop as the marketing guys may claim, it would still be such a shame if they disappeared from the music scene. These guys have potential.[S]
Review by Weng Yu and Jenny Tran
Comments:
Advertisement
POPULAR TODAY
INTERVIEWS
'I was just baptized'
Sowing The Seeds Of Rap In HK
TVB's brightest star answers our questions
'I was just baptized'
Sowing The Seeds Of Rap In HK
TVB's brightest star answers our questions
FEATURES
Celebs Do Charity
Daddy Cool
The Radiant Joey Yung
Celebs Do Charity
Daddy Cool
The Radiant Joey Yung