On my way home from work in Ebisu, depending on which way I take, all basically en route, I can pass 15 record stores in Shibuya, 4 in Harajuku, 18 in Shinjuku, another 15 in Shimokitazawa, and 3 or 4 more scattered along the way. These are just along my 30 min drive home, alone! The city is littered with dozens and dozens more, probably easily exceeding 100 shops, and maybe multiple hundreds if you add in all the Book Offs, and recycle shops that also sell records among their goods. It’s nuts, I know.
So I only choose a path past one on my way in basically any direction and keep an eye out for a record store bag, and within just a couple of minutes, I’ll spot somebody. Such was the case last night when I met Tatsuya as I was cruising past the cluster of shops near Manhattan Records in Shibuya. And in the spirit of racking up numbers here, I can say that Tatsuya, in addition to being super friendly and warm talking about records, had also in his scored stash more records than anybody I’ve photographed so far. Not only that, but he also has in excess of 10,000 records at home, so many that he lives in more affordable neighboring Chiba to keep them all, and commutes every day to Nakano where he runs an apparel shop @nazonomise right outside the station (which looks highly interesting and packed to the brim with underground good off all kinds! Can’t wait to pay a visit!)
Tatsuya told me that he’s been collecting records since he was 16, mostly Old School Hip Hop (notice the titles here) but also Soul, Jazz, and more. He mentioned he plays it on a vintage Onkyo (RIP) amp and some primo Sansui (RIP) speakers. Coooool. I reminisced with him about early Hip Hop, about De La Soul, Digitial Underground, Tribe, Beasties, and so on. Despite only having a knee-deep knowledge of Hip Hop, I knew many of the titles Tatsuya scored here, and I was inspired to level up my Hip Hop game in the collecting ahead. Tatsuya’s ¥100 Kurtis Blow score makes me what to not skip the 12” singles bin next time. Thanks, Tatsuya! Enjoy those records and the 10,000 more!! Looking forward to visiting @nazonomise! More Tokyo Records Style to come!
Mantronix – In Full Effect
Label: Virgin – 208 971, Virgin – 208 971-630
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1988
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Electro
https://www.discogs.com/release/62154-Mantronix-In-Full-Effect
Sequence – And You Know That
Label: Sugar Hill Records – SH-548
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
https://www.discogs.com/release/346214-Sequence-And-You-Know-That
True Mathematics – For The Money
Label: Champion – CHAMP 12-76
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: Apr 1988
Genre: Hip Hop
https://www.discogs.com/release/399899-True-Math
Twin Hype – For Those Who Like To Groove
Label: Profile Records – PRO-7270
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: House, Hip-House
https://www.discogs.com/release/118334-Twin-Hype-For-Those-Who-Like-To-Groove
Professor Griff And The Last Asiatic Disciples – The Verdict
Label: Luke Records – GR-150
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Hip Hop
https://www.discogs.com/release/916300-Professor-Griff-And-The-Last-Asiatic-Disciples-The-Verdict
Tony Rock – She Put Me In A Trance / Still Doin’ It
Label: Effect Records – E-702
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Misprint, Mispress
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Bass Music
https://www.discogs.com/release/1276352-Tony-Rock-She-Put-Me-In-A-Trance-Still-Doin-It
Digital Underground – Future Rhythm
Label: Critique – 01624 15452-1
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: Jun 1996
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: P.Funk
https://www.discogs.com/release/717019-Digital-Underground-Future-Rhythm
J.D.C. – Live And Down / I’m For Real
Label: 4 Sight Records – FS-88-5626
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: Electro
https://www.discogs.com/release/2028332-JDC-Live-And-Down-Im-For-Real
Mellow Man Ace – What’s It Take To Pull A Hottie (Like You)?
Label: Capitol Records – Y-15789
Format: Vinyl, 12″
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing
https://www.discogs.com/release/258391-Mellow-Man-Ace-Whats-It-Take-To-Pull-A-Hottie-Like-You
Kurtis Blow – Ego Trip
Label: Mercury – PRO 328-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Hip Hop
https://www.discogs.com/release/338190-Kurtis-Blow-Ego-Trip
Twilight 22 – Electric Kingdom
Label: Vanguard – SPV 68
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: Electro
https://www.discogs.com/release/43292-Twilight-22-Electric-Kingdom
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