A Note on Anime

Callon B still performs as a solo hiphop artist, most recently appearing at the SXSW festival back in March. Much of his solo work centers around anime rap or nerdcore. “It’s an underground community of people who make a lot of online content about pop culture things,” explains Callon. “It usually is centered around the realms of comic books, anime, manga, stuff like that. I found it on Twitter mostly by following things that I enjoyed.”

Inspiration for new music might come from specific shows, characters, or story lines. “I rap around things I enjoy and was already making casual references in my work anyway,” adds Callon. “When I found out there was a whole niche community, I got into it.”

Because of the online connectivity surrounding similar interests, there is a ready-made audience. Callon joined with other anime rap artists under the name Otaku Underworld. “It’s like the Wu-Tang Clan of anime rap,” says Callon.

Callon has spent time in Texas which has become the hub for American anime. And Otaku Underworld is gearing up for a tour in July.

“It is another fun way for me to make music around things I enjoy,” adds Callon. “I’m able to build a different fanbase across the country online and make an income from my music. I’m even finding a great response from Europe and the UK where it’s very popular.”

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by D IXIE LYNN