PROFILE
Miss Monday rocks the mic. I've known Miss Monday for over a decade, and I have always been struck by the energy she brings to her shows. Her engaging
personality, her upbeat attitude, and her indomitable stage presence make her one of the most exciting artists in Japan's vibrant hip-hop scene.
Her lyrics challenge orthodox understandings women's place in Japan. She stakes out a new vision of personal fulfillment through straight talk and infectious rhythms. Her teenage fans look up to her as a role model for finding one's own path in a rapidly changing Japan. And her words ride on banging beats driven by the talents of a wide range of producers coming from Tokyo, LA, and Kingston (Jamaica).
Monday's appeal doesn't stop at the border. She is part of a new wave of Japanese performers who are making their mark in the global arena. In March 2007, Monday performed to an overflow crowd at the legendary Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts (near Boston). The energy of the club was palpable, as the audience bounced and shouted and cheered. Even when they couldn't understand what she was saying, they couldn't get enough. That's talent and powerful presence, and that's what Monday brings every time. As they say in Japan, Miss Monday is "maji yabai" (seriously cool). Definitely, "chekku shitokubeki" (you gotta check her out).
Ian Condry
author, Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization
Associate Professor
MIT
Her lyrics challenge orthodox understandings women's place in Japan. She stakes out a new vision of personal fulfillment through straight talk and infectious rhythms. Her teenage fans look up to her as a role model for finding one's own path in a rapidly changing Japan. And her words ride on banging beats driven by the talents of a wide range of producers coming from Tokyo, LA, and Kingston (Jamaica).
Monday's appeal doesn't stop at the border. She is part of a new wave of Japanese performers who are making their mark in the global arena. In March 2007, Monday performed to an overflow crowd at the legendary Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts (near Boston). The energy of the club was palpable, as the audience bounced and shouted and cheered. Even when they couldn't understand what she was saying, they couldn't get enough. That's talent and powerful presence, and that's what Monday brings every time. As they say in Japan, Miss Monday is "maji yabai" (seriously cool). Definitely, "chekku shitokubeki" (you gotta check her out).
Ian Condry
author, Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization
Associate Professor
MIT