Rip Slyme

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Rip Slyme
Origin Kanagawa, Japan
Genre(s) Hip hop
Years active 1994–present
Label(s) Warner Music Group
Website Official website
Members
Ryo-Z
Ilmari
Pes
Su
Fumiya
Former members
(DJ) Shige
(DJ) Shouji

Rip Slyme is a Japanese hip hop group. It is composed of 4 MCs; Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes & Su, and 1 DJ, Fumiya. Their sound derives its influences from old school hip hop and other Hip Hop such as The Pharcyde, De La Soul, Public Enemy, Jurassic 5, the Beastie Boys, DJ Premier, Leaders of the New School.

Contents

[edit] Members

  • Ryo-Z: Ryouji Narita (成田亮治 Narita Ryouji), b. July 15 1974
  • Ilmari: Keisuke Ogihara (荻原恵介 Ogihara Keisuke), b. June 17 1975
  • Pes: Masatsugu Chiba (千葉昌嗣 Chiba Masatsugu), b. December 27 1976
  • Su: Kazuto Ootsuki (大槻一人 Ootsuki Kazuto), b. November 20 1973
  • Fumiya: Fumiya Takeuchi (竹内文也 Takeuchi Fumiya), b. March 14 1979

[edit] Biography

The group was formed in 1994 by Ryo-Z and Ilmari, who were later joined by Pes (he attended the same school as Ilmari). The RIP in Rip Slyme stands for their initials. Slyme was a popular children's toy at that time. Their name is also a pun on the phrase "lips' rhyme". Winning an amateur rapping contest "Young MCs In Town", they started their musical career with their first album Lips Rhyme in 1995. Later they added DJ Fumiya (who had studied under East End X Yuri's DJ Yoggy) and Su (previously a backup dancer for East End X Yuri). In 1998 they released their second album, "Talkin' Cheap" and also took part in Dragon Ash's Total Communication event.

They became ever more successful and signed to Warner Music Group in 2000. By then they had release several indie singles include their EP "Underline No. 5" and "Mata Au Hi Made" which had received the help of Fantastic Plastic Machine. "Mata Au Hi Made" was released on Warner Music Group's Indies label. Their first major single was "Stepper's Delight" released 22nd March 2001. The title was a play on The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight".

In general, Fumiya composes most of the music, while Ryo-Z, Pes, Ilmari, and Su write their own lyrics. However, before Fumiya became a member, Pes composed most of the songs. Each member except for Ryo-Z has tried their hand at composing music for Rip Slyme, and Pes occasionally plays guitar on some tracks (Such as Home and More & More, for example). Allegedly, Pes was in a rock band before being introduced to hip hop music by Ilmari and Ryo-Z.

In 2002 they received MTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Hip-hop Group".

The same year they released a big-budget album "Tokyo Classic", which became Japan's first million-selling hip-hop album, with a sound compared to James Brown's soul and funk. Two singles from the album, "Funkastic" and "Rakuen Baby" collected MTV awards in 2003. "Super Shooter", featured as a B-side to their single "Galaxy". "Super Shooter" is the theme song for the anime Gantz.

To date they have released 6 indies singles with 11 major singles. They as well have released 2 indie albums, 5 major albums, 1 live album, 1 indies collection album, and 1 best of album.

From late 2005 (after the release of Good Job in August) through 2006, DJ Fumiya has been on extended break, citing illness. For performances, a friend of the band by the name of DJ Soma has been standing in. Fumiya's break has led to several interesting side projects and collaborations from other members. Fumiya is supposed to have returned to activity for concerts in late summer 2006. He has returned for the latest Rip Slyme release, Epoch.

On 7 July 2007 Rip Slyme performed their single "Nettaiya" at Live Earth in Kyoto, Japan.

Some of Rip Slyme's songs, such as "Dandelion" and "Joint", have been featured in animutations.

[edit] Collaborations

Ilmari had been a member of a short lived unit Steady&Co with Dragon Ash's BOTS & Kenji in 2001. He as well helped launch singer Salyu, collaborating with her for the first single Valon in 2004.

Ryo-Z and DJ Fumiya both in 2003 formed their side project named O.T.F. (Oshare Track Factory), their efforts are best known for forming pop duo HALCALI whose lyrics feature many pop culture references.

Ryo Z and Ilmari also formed another project called Teriyaki Boyz, with Verbal from m-flo, Wise, and DJ Nigo from Bape Sounds. They released one album Beef or Chicken.

Pes became the driving force of clothing label Optimystik, wearing the clothes for many concerts.

In 2006, they collaborated with popular rocker Tomoyasu Hotei for MTV's mash up project. By combining Funkastic with Battle Without Honor or Humanity, they created Battle Funkastic.

In 2006, they were chosen by Japanese film director Yoshimitsu Morita to create a theme song for his upcoming movie The Mamiya Brothers.

Rip Slyme had covered one track, Nonstop to Tokyo in the tribute album for Pizzicato Five, Music and Words of Pizzicato Five.

In July of 2006, Rip Slyme collaborated with Quruli to make the singles Lovi and Juice. The music was written by members of Quruli, while Rip Slyme provided (and sang) the lyrics.

Rip Slyme as a group and Su individually have appeared on tracks by the bands Breakthrough and Fantastic Plastic Machine.

In 2007 Rip Slyme collaborated with computer company SONY in the music video for "I.N.G.". Extensive product placement of the VAIO type C was incorporated.

[edit] Rip Slyme: J-Pop or Hip-Hop?

Rip Slyme is arguably the most popular contemporary Japanese hip-hop group in Japan. They have won numerous awards for their music, including multiple Space Shower Music Video Awards, they receive tons of radio play, and they have even released a greatest hits compilation entitled Good Job!. [1] By 2002, the year that the group released their best-selling Tokyo Classic album, Rip Slyme had reached total sales numbers of around $35 million (3.7 billion yen). [2] All this success brings up an important question: Is Rip Slyme truly a hip-hop group or are they a J-pop version of hip-hop? To answer this question requires a deeper look into the group's history and style.

In addition to releasing a greatest hits album and selling millions of copies of their records, another sign that Rip Slyme is becoming increasingly popular is the placement of their music in Japanese advertisements for companies such as Nike, Sony, and Namco. [3] Companies often use J-pop as the music in their commercials in Japan, but this is not similarity between Rip Slyme and J-pop artists. Like many J-pop singers and groups, Rip Slyme uses English phrases in their songs to rhyme with Japanese words, and the imagery in both their lyrics and their music videos also draws comparison to the ideas and images present in the work of J-pop singers. [4] These are just some of the many complaints that some hip-hop fans have about the legitimacy of Rip Slyme as a hip-hop group.

Despite the common criticism that Rip Slyme is too poppy to be hip-hop, the group has a history that is similar to many other Japanese hip-hop artists. Rip Slyme "spent many years performing in underground clubs" before they reached their current level of stardom, which gives the group "a fair amount of legitimacy in the eyes of many hip-hop artists in Japan." [5] The group, founded in 1993, spent about seven years in relative obscurity before being signed to Warner Music in 2000. [6] The effort they put into their music before they became big demonstrates to many the authenticity of the group Rip Slyme.

The debate over whether Rip Slyme is more representative of Japanese hip-hop of J-pop will go on for as long as Rip Slyme remains relevant. Even within the same article, there can be contradictions about what Rip Slyme really is: according to an article of cdJapan, Rip Slyme is "more than just authentic" hip-hop, while at the same time the group "is an essential band to any fan of Jpop." [7]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Indie singles

  1. [1996.12.28] 白日/真昼に見た夢 (Hakujitsu/Mahiru ni Mita Yume) Reissued under the title Hakujitsu xxx on 2001.08.30
  2. [1998.02.06] FADE AWAY/AT THE LOUNGE
  3. [1998.08.22] TONES/風に吹かれて (TONES/Kaze ni Fukarete)
  4. [2000.05.13] UNDERLINE No.5 Reissued on 2000.07.28
  5. [2000.09.14] UNDERLINE No.5 REMIXIES
  6. [2000.11.23] マタ逢ウ日マデ (Mata Au Hi Made) Under Warner Indies & reissued on 2001.08.29

[edit] Warner singles

  1. [2001.03.22] STEPPER'S DELIGHT
  2. [2001.06.27] 雑念エンタテイメント (Zatsunen Entertainment)
  3. [2001.10.11] ONE
  4. [2002.03.27] FUNKASTIC
  5. [2002.06.26] 楽園ベイベー (Rakuen Baby)
  6. [2002.11.27] BLUE BE-BOP
  7. [2003.06.18] JOINT
  8. [2004.03.17] Dandelion
  9. [2004.07.07] GALAXY
  10. [2004.10.06] 黄昏サラウンド (Tasogare Surround)
  11. [2006.01.25] Hot Chocolate A limited edition of 5000 vinyl records along with 7 inch CDs made entirely of chocolate were given for Meiji's 100% Chocolate Cafe Promotion
  12. [2006.04.26] Hey, Brother This was written as the theme song of Mamiya kyodai, a movie directed by Yoshimitsu Morita.
  13. [2006.10.25] ブロウ (Blow)
  14. [2007.07.25] 熱帯夜 (Nettaiya)
  15. [2007.11.07] 「スピードキング(Speed king) 」

[edit] Indie albums

  1. [1995.10.21] Lip's Rhyme

[edit] Warner albums

  1. [2001.07.25] FIVE
  2. [2002.07.24] TOKYO CLASSIC
  3. [2003.02.26] ORCHESTRA PLUS A recorded album completely of orchestraic compositions & poetry recitals from famous celebrities.
  4. [2003.07.16] TIME TO GO
  5. [2004.11.03] MASTERPIECE
  6. [2006.11.29] EPOCH #4 1st week Sales: 78,012 [8]
  7. [2007.11.28] FUNFAIR

[edit] Live albums

  1. [2002.07.25] O.T.F. LIVE AT BUDOKAN Limited Release

[edit] Compilation albums

  1. [2003.10.10] YAPPARIP compilation of indies tunes
  2. [2005.08.31] グッジョブ! (Good Job!) A best of album
  3. [2005.12.07] グッジョブ!CHRISTMAS EDITION (Good Job! Christmas Edition)

[edit] DVD releases

  1. [2003.03.26] shortcuts!
  2. [2005.04.13] ROUGH-CUT FIVE
  3. [2007.05.23] Cut it now!

[edit] Photobooks

  1. [2002.05] RIP STYLE
  2. [2003.04] 届かぬ思い (Todokanu Omoi) Limited Release

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Rip Slyme." cdJapan. 2008. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/rip_slyme/
  2. ^ Condry, Ian. Hip-hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2006.
  3. ^ "Rip Slyme." cdJapan. 2008. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/rip_slyme/
  4. ^ Condry, Ian. Hip-hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2006.
  5. ^ Condry, Ian. Hip-hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2006.
  6. ^ "Rip Slyme." cdJapan. 2008. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/rip_slyme/
  7. ^ "Rip Slyme." cdJapan. 2008. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/rip_slyme/
  8. ^ アルバムウイークリーＴＯＰ５０補完スレ

[edit] References

[edit] Connections

[edit] External links