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Yuichi Iida is a Japanese-born musician, but plays a West African drum in Brooklyn as the band leader of a reggae fusion group called Brown Rice Family.

He already knew how to play the traditional Japanese drum when he came to New York in 2000, but he says he learned his West African drumming skills from a Jamaican performer on a city sidewalk.

"I saw his group playing outside in the street then I was like, 'Wow.' I never seen that kind of groovy drum and then that reached my heart," says Iida. "I was inspired strong and I was like, 'I want to be like that.'"

Iida embraced the whole Jamaican culture in his look and his lifestyle.

"How I eat, how I live, affect the sound," says Iida.

He calls his unique sound "world roots music," and says he started the band with his Korean friend Joe Jang, who he met at a sound engineering class at City College. The pair then formed the Brown Rice Family.

"We have a nine-piece band who come from everywhere all over the world - from Europe, from Africa, Jamaica, Nigeria, Korea, Japan," says Jang.

Breaking through in the music business has not been easy.

"They look to figure out what it is. But their bodies are moving already so I think they're kind of feeling it," says Iida.

But that's not enough to pay the bills. Band members record and mix for themselves, pick up gigs whenever possible and even have to make and sell soap on the side.

"It's very difficult but I think with the internet, everything is more friendly to independent musicians," says Jang. "Because they can self publish. They can do many things on their own with technology and the internet."

One magazine promotes reggae in Japan, with many New York-based features.

Pat Chin, who founded VP Records in Queens 30 years ago, distributes reggae music around the world.

"After many many years I realize so many other cultures like reggae music, especially in Japan," says Chin.

As Iida and Jang strive for mainstream success, Chin advises them to keep drumming on.

Iida says while making a living off the music would be ideal, success is measured in many ways.

"As long as we're having fun, enjoying and sharing some nice vibes with people, making everybody happy - that's success," says Iida.

The Brown Rice Family has an upcoming gig at the Brooklyn Music Festival at Floyd Bennett Field in June.