On Billboard’s Hot 100: (1) "Laffy Taffy" – D4L, (2) "Run It!" – Chris Brown, (3) "Photograph" – Nickelback, (4) "Gold Digger" – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, (5) "Grillz" – Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp, (6) "My Humps" – The Black Eyed Peas, (7) "Don’t Forget About Us" – Mariah Carey, (8) "Stickwitu" – The Pussycat Dolls, (9) "Dance Dance" – Fall Out Boy and, (10) "Check On It" – Beyonce featuring Slim Thug.

Whatever happened to DK Tijam; 2004 "Star In A Million" finalist who almost made it to the Top Three then that included now-big names Erik Santos and Sheryn Regis?

Garnering top text votes while still in the running, many of his fans thought he would go the route of Christian Bautista who did not win yet made a lucrative career in recording anyway.

It’s not too late. Last month, DJ released his debut album under REDDMON Productions dubbed "A Different Kind." Composed of mostly R&B-inspired pop songs worked on by top names as Jonathan Manalo, Jimmy Antiporda, Arnie Mendaros and Mike Luis, the 10-track output has the ballad "Hanggang Dito" as banner single.

We recently had lunch with the 20-year old rising star and found out that he actually considers the delayed release of his album as "a blessing."

"It meant more time in choosing the right materials and being meticulous in the quality of recording," he says. "Here, I can prove to people that I am not just the ‘R&B Heartthrob’ but someone who does ballad and soul music, too. Many won’t believe this but I got the R&B vibe just a few years ago. When I was starting to learn how to sing, my heroes were not Brian McKnight nor Stevie Wonder, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera."

The quiet type, singing was not DK’s first love. As a teenager, his background was in scriptwriting and directing for theater. Even his pastimes as drawing anime’s and playing computer games do not predispose him at all to work in the limelight. It was only later upon joining a band that the half-Chinese looker discovered his singing talent.

"And it wasn’t Usher or Luther Vandross who got me excited about R&B," he says. "Actually, it was Kyla’s song ‘Hanggang Ngayon’ that did it. When I heard it, I realized that R&B can be adapted pala into Pinoy pop. Hindi pala kailangan kasing lalim ng pagkaR&B nila Usher or Mariah Carey ang R&B para ma-appreciate din ng Pinoy. Ang importante, hindi technique kundi the feelings that you put in the styling."

In "A Different Kind," DK is particularly proud of "Kay Lamig Ng Tag-Init" which he says is sort of the Tagalog spinoff to Francis M’s big 80’s hit, "Cold Summer Nights."

"It has two versions because the songwriter fashioned it ala- ‘Confessions I’ and ‘Confessions II’ by Usher," he says. "Another interesting song is ‘What If I’ that sees me doing an upbeat for once."

"Different Kind" also features revivals as "How Can I Not Love You," "Getting To Know Each Other" and "How Can I."

Remember "Sweet Soul Revue" from the ’90s? Performed by Pizzicato 5, that was the last time (well, with the exclusion of Ya Chang who….never mind) Japanese artists invaded the local music scene.

This year, similar musical invasion is in the offing with the upcoming release of the debut CD of Japanese rap artist, DJ Bell. Dubbed "Bridge The Album" under Webstar Philippines Entertainment Inc., it will feature collaborations with some of the biggest and promising names in Philippine rap scene namely Francis M, Andrew E, Dice & K9, Denmark, Chinese Mafia, Kruzzada, Gulpe de Gulat, Razzamanazz, Phat Nasty Crew (PNC), Stick Figgas and Crazy As Pinoy.

"Bridge The Album" comes at a most opportune moment in history as the country celebrates the 40th year anniversary of Manila and Yokohama as sister cities.

We recently attended DJ Bell’s free concert dubbed "Tomodachi Ko ‘To" (‘tamadochi’ means friend in Japanese) at Intramuros Clamshell where we saw just how strong the bond is that ties us Pinoys with our Japanese brothers. The venue boasted of considerable attendance by people not only attracted by the music but the Japanese items and food products being sold there.

During a brief chat with DJ Bell before going onstage, he said that he is aware of how powerful rap has become internationally not only in musical sense but sociopolitically, too. So aside from rapping just about love, DJ Bell plans to make statements about the present Philippine situation; something he can do credibly since he has been living in Manila for years now.

Growing up in New York during his college days, DJ Bell raps in ‘street’ English, too, that he imbibed from the many African American friends he made there. DJ Bell says that he sees no problem in rapping in Japanese, to, since the recent big hit by Dice & K9, "Itsumo," had Japanese lyrics for chorus!

"Japanese are similar to Filipinos in that we also keep track of worldwide happenings in music. So in ‘Bridge,’ don’t be surprised if you hear influences ranging from R Kelly, Joe, 2 Live Crew and Ice-T. ‘Bridge’ will be an album Filipinos can identify with," he promised.