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Konishiki
slams a fine
debut CD

Former sumo superstar
delivers a mix of soft rap
and urban ballads

"KMS" by Konishiki (Pioneer PICP-1668)

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

SALEVAA Atisanoe -- better known as retired sumo superstar Konishiki -- isn't the first athlete to go for a career as a recording artist but his debut album on Japan's Pioneer label is one of the more promising ones. It should do quite well for him in Hawaii, where he grew up.

The basic format is a blend of soft rap and commercial urban slow jams. Executive producers Jimmy Varner and Forest Hamilton worked with several teams of writers and producers in assembling the collection of moody narratives and somnambulant love songs.

Guest work by Layzie Bone on the lead track adds credibility but Konishiki proves himself a legitimate mainstream rapper in his own right. Although not specifically identified in the credits, his raps ring true throughout.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Konishiki (Yo Fantasy) Family Love Sumo Gangsta I Keep Comin' Quicktime | MPEG-3 info

asiainfor@125th.com

In Japan, Konishiki is a high-profile retired ozeki (champion), but Americans with no prior knowledge of his accomplishments will have no problem distinguishing him from the hundreds of other rappers and urban crooners.

There's a lesson here for local artists seeking to crack the mainland pop and urban markets. The tracks are commercial one-size-fits-all creations that neatly fit national expectations and could be slipped under almost any aspiring star, but Konishiki and his production team establish his individuality throughout.

"I Keep Comin' " speaks his experiences as one of the first foreigners to pursue a career as a sumo wrestler in Japan. Several others are vignettes of his life here or in Samoa.

Snippets of several languages add details to this musical portrait. A rap number in Japanese should delight his fans there.

And, in the event that local radio stations have no room for Konishiki's mainstream rap and urban ballads on their playlists, they'll find that "I Keep Comin' " has a reggae beat made to order for Hawaii's "island music" and "island rhythms" radio formats.

Konishiki's recent appearance "wrestling" with Todd Newton in a swimming pool on the E! Entertainment Channel's "Wild On Waikiki" showed that the retired sumo star has a sense of humor. This album will appeal most immediately to those who know him as a Japanese sports legend but it shows he's a credible recording artist as well.

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