STEVE INSKEEP, host:
And today's last word in business takes us into a niche music market. Maybe you'd even say a niche of a niche. The niche market is Japanese-American rap. And here we're going to talk about Japanese-American underground rap.
The last word is: "Luv(sic) part 4."
(Soundbite of song, "Luv(sic) part 4")
SHING02 (Rapper): (Rapping) Snowflakes in January, heart warm like February. I wouldn't ordinarily March to the drum, play a fool like April, May the best dance in a Juno bridal...
INSKEEP: It's a new song, out this week on iTunes. It's from the Japanese-born, California-based Shingo Annen. This program owns the international rap story this particular week. Also known as Shing02, the bilingual rapper had been collaborating with a Japanese producer on a series of tunes called "Luv(sic)," all of them romantic rap tunes.
(Soundbite of song, "Luv(sic)")
SHING02: (Rapping) Remember the time that you told me that cold night to relax, but all I knew was to hold tight.
INSKEEP: We're sorry to tell you that Shingo Annen's producer died in a traffic accident last year. But he left behind several tracks, among them this week's new release. After hearing "Luv(sic) 4," one follower of the Japanese hip-hop scene wrote: My night is complete.
That's the business news on MORNING EDITION, NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
LINDA WERTHEIMER, host:
And I'm Linda Wertheimer.
(Soundbite of song, "Luv(sic)")
SHING02: (Rapping) Oh, I wonder if you remember. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.