Ryukyu Underground

Souljazz, Inc. DJ Keith Gordon and Jon Taylor are Ryukyu Underground, a duo that combines traditional Okinawan folk music with ambient, hip-hop, trip-hop, dub, and drum'n'bass. Along with other artists from Okinawa like Nenes, Rinsho Kadekaru, and Misako Ohshiro, the fusionist duo's "Tinsaga Nu Hana Dub" appeared on 2001's The Rough Guide to the Music of Okinawa. A year later, they followed with a self-titled full length on Riverboat Records. ~ Andy Kellman