Black Enka Singer Jero Takes Japan by Storm

The American-born Jero learned Japanese, and developed his love of Enka, from his Japanese-speaking grandmother while growing up in Pittsburgh. If you're not familiar with Enka, it's a syrupy, occasionally ululating over-the-top genre of Japanese love ballad, usually sung by an over 50-year old- basically, the opposite of cool. Jero takes the antiquated music, adds a beat and some real cheesy, out-of-place hip-hop moves, and sweeps over Japan. Funky. In all honesty, though, besides the ridiculous clothing and backup dancers, the guy's got an amazing voice, and it's great to see another foreigner succeed in a very traditional area of a traditionally xenophobic culture.