Bastard Jazz is happy to give a first look at mainstay Japanese producers Aru-2 & Kzyboost's  full length album "Hot Pants" (August 13) with a special 7" showcasing a couple of favorites from the album. On the A side is "Shooby Dooby", a slice of future funk with a bubbling analog synth bassline and Aru-2's signature talkbox vocals, while on the B-Side "Boost Step" takes things a little more downtempo into instrumental hip-hop territory, still rife with funk vibes, and synth solos. 

Aru-2 and Kzyboost are both Tokyo-based producers, known for their work in the Japanese underground hip hop scene. Aru-2 got his start producing for prominent J-hip hop artists like ISSUGI, SENNINSHO, Tamaki Roy, and KID FRESINO. His first EP, “Arµ-2,” arrived in 2013, and was featured in OkayPlayer, while the collaborative album “TANHÂ,” with Lee (asano+ryuhei) came out in 2014 and was critically acclaimed by Pitchfork. Kzyboost specialises in the talk-box and is one of the best known talk-box artists in Japan. He’s released two studio albums, “Callin’ U” (2019), and “Keep Smoovin’” (2020, fusing West Coast hip hip, and 90s R&B and soul. The two artists bonded over their shared love of music through sessions at Aru-2’s home studio, resulting in the upcoming collaboration.

“Shooby Dooby / Boost Step” is due out on Brooklyn’s Bastard Jazz Recordings in July, ahead of the duo’s debut LP “Hot Pants” in August.

Aru-2 & Kzyboost - Shooby Dooby

You’re taking a dreamy late night drive down the purple and star lined streets of Shibuya. Through the speakers deep grooves and chunky drums compliment the neon signs passing by in time with the swinging hi-hats as Aru-2 & Kzyboost’s new LP “Hot Pants” bounces out of the stereo. Sometimes rich and dense, yet other times stripped back and direct, the duo’s productions make the perfect accompaniment for Kzyboost’s trademark talkboxing as they effortlessly fuse modern funk grooves with classic hip-hop & beat scene elements, not to mention a generous dose of 90s R&B sensibility. 

Hailing from Tokyo, Aru-2 and Kzyboost are both known for their work in the Japanese underground hip-hop scene. Aru-2 got his start producing for prominent artists like Issugi, Senninsho, Tamaki Roy, and Kid Fresno. His well-received 2013 debut EP “Arµ-2,” was featured in OkayPlayer, while his 2014 collaborative album “TANHÂ,” with Lee (Asano and Ryuhei) was lauded by Pitchfork. Kzyboost’s instrument of choice is the talk-box and as such is one of the best known talk-box artists in Japan. He’s released two studio albums, “Callin’ U” (2019), and “Keep Smoovin’” (2020), that fuse West Coast hip-hop and 90s R&B. The two artists bonded over their shared love of music across sessions at Aru-2’s home studio, resulting in their first collaborative album - the  “Hot Pants” LP.

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