2009 saw a lot of great releases for the Japanese producer hip-hop genre. Michita’s Dawning is one of the best that I’ve heard during that year.

The style is very layered, with some tracks recalling more melodies than beats. Others are perfect for vocalists to work their style over as well. It’s a dense album with fifteen songs, each one in sequence building and constructing the tone of the album.

While some other producers are greatly influenced with a jazz style, Dawning favors the beats that mix with the melodies. All the Japanese producers are worth listening to, the similarities and differences can be huge and minute; but each one is impressive.