Dragon Ash

Dragon Ash
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Alternative rock Rap metal Hardcore Punk Drum and bass Hip hop
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Victor Entertainment
Website	dragonash.co.jp
Members
Kenji Furuya Ikuzo Baba Makoto Sakurai Bots Hiroki Atsushi Dri-V

Dragon Ash (ドラゴンアッシュ, Doragon Asshu^?) are a Japanese Rap metal group founded in 1996 by Furuya "Kj" Kenji and Sakurai Makoto.^[1] They are an icon in Japan and were one of the first groups to popularize hip hop in Japan. They brought a western flavor to Japanese music and helped to turn rap music mainstream,^{[citation needed]} with a mixture of reggae, rap, metal, punk, Spanish, and R&B influences. Some of their best known songs include "Grateful Days", "Life Goes On", and "I Love Hip Hop".^{[citation needed]} Kenji has stated in several interviews^{[citation needed]} that the reason Dragon Ash started out as a pseudo-punk band was because, at the time, punk was popular in Japan, and his handlers felt that the hip hop image wouldn't sell. He has also noted that hip hop has always been first in his book, but he did what was necessary to become successful in the industry. Dragon Ash is a member of Mob Squad, which is an affiliation with the bands Source and Endive.

History

Dragon Ash was formed by Furuya Kenji and Sakurai Makoto when the two were in junior high.^[2] In 1996, they held an audition and eventually selected bassist Baba Ikuzou to join the band.^[1] At the time, Furuya and Sakurai were still only teenagers, while Baba was 30 years old,^[3] and was likely selected to act as a mentor for the group.^[2] They debuted in February 1997 with the mini single The Day Dragged On.^[4] Later the same year, they released their first album, Mustang!. In 1999, Bots joined the group,^[4] and that March the band made their first big break with their 4th single, "Let yourself go, let myself go," which hit #7 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart, and eventually climbed to #4, selling a total of 640,000 copies.^[4][5] In May they simultaneously released their 5th and 6th singles, "Grateful Days" and "I Love Hip Hop," which debuted at #3 and #4, respectively.^[6] When these two singles debuted, ""Let yourself go, let myself go" had not yet dropped off the top 10 chart, giving Dragon Ash 3 top 10 singles at the same time. "Grateful Days" would eventually go on to #1, becoming both the first hip hop work and the first mixture band single to reach the #1 spot.^[4] The band finally reached the peak of their success when they released their third album, Viva la Revolution, in July and it hit #1 on its debut week.^[7]

The band continued to be successful throughout the turn of the century, collaborating with the hip hop group Rappagariya on Deep Impact in 2000 and consistently pulling in #1 spots on both the singles and albums charts with their new releases. In 2003 the group expanded to include it's full current roster of members, bringing in Hiroki, Atsushi, and Dri-V.^[4] In 2007 they celebrated their 10th anniversary by simultaneously releasing two best-of albums, The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.1 and The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.2. Both albums hit #1 upon their debut.^[8]

Influences

The group uses various samples, most notably from the famous American alternative rock group, The Smashing Pumpkins.^{[citation needed]} These songs include "Cherub Rock", in which they sample the bass line from The Smashing Pumpkins song by the same name, and "Grateful Days" in which they sample the opening of "Today"; they also named the song "Siva" after the Pumpkins song.

Side Projects

Dragon Ash has gained some popularity outside Japan when the song Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo was used as the ending theme for the popular Japanese movie, Battle Royale.^{[citation needed]} Kenji Furuya has also worked on several side projects in recent years, including being the frontman of Steady & Co., a Japanese hip hop and music production group consisting of himself, Bots, Ilmari of Rip Slyme, and Shigeo of SBK (Skebo King).^{[citation needed]} In addition to Steady & Co., Furuya has also collaborated with other Japanese hip hop artists on the Mob Squad album and subsequent label.^{[citation needed]}

Members

• Kenji "Kj" Furuya – vocals, guitar
• Ikuzo "Iküzöne" Baba – bass
• Makoto Sakurai – drums
• Bots – DJ, samples, joined in 1999
• Hiroki – electric guitar, joined in 2003
• Atsushi – dance, joined in 2003
• Dri-V – dance, joined in 2003

Awards & nominations

2002

• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Artist (Winner)
• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Group
• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Live Performance
• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Website

2003

• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Video - Fantasista

2004

• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Video - Morrow
• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Group Video - Morrow

2007

• MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best buzzASIA Japan - Ivory

Discography

Albums

• 1997: Mustang!
• 1998: Buzz Songs
• 1999: Viva La Revolution
• 2001: Lily Of Da Valley
• 2003: Harvest
• 2004: Harvest Remixes
• 2005: Río de Emoción
• 2007: Independiente
• 2009: Freedom
• 2010: Mixture

EPs

• 1997: The Day Dragged On
• 1997: Public Garden

Singles/maxi singles

• 1997: "Rainy Day And Day"
• 1998: "Hi Wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu"
• 1998: "Under Age's Song"
• 1999: "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go"
• 1999: "Grateful Days"
• 1999: "I Love Hip Hop"
• 2000: "Deep Impact"
• 2000: "Summer Tribe"
• 2000: "Lily's E.P."
• 2002: "Life Goes On"
• 2002: "Fantasista"
• 2003: "Morrow"
• 2004: "Shade"
• 2005: "Crush The Window"
• 2005: "Yuunagi Union"
• 2006: "Ivory"
• 2006: "Few Lights Till Night"
• 2006: "Yume de Aetara"
• 2008: "Velvet Touch"
• 2008: "Tsunagari Sunset"
• 2009: "Unmei Kyoudoutai"
• 2010: "Ambitious"
• 2010: "Spirit of Progress E.P."

Digital download-limited singles

• 2009: "Callin'"

LPs

• 1998: Free Your Mind #33
• 2000: Deep Impact
• 2000: Summer Tribe
• 2000: Episode 2
• 2000: Amploud
• 2000: Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo
• 2004: Harvest Remixes

Compilation albums

• 2007: The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.1
• 2007: The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.2

Split albums

• 2003: Mob Squad

VHS

• 1998: Buzz Clips
• 2001: Lily Da Video
• 2003: Posse In Video

DVD

• 2001: Buzz Clips
• 2001: Lily Da Video
• 2003: Posse In Video
• 2005: Video de Emoción
• 2007: The Best Of Dragon Ash With Changes

External links

• Official website
• Mob Squad
• AOG Market

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Dragon Ash Official Website : BIOGRAPHY 1996" (in Japanese). Dragon Ash Official Website. http://www.dragonash.co.jp/biography/?y=1996. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Mills, Ted. "Dragon Ash biography at Allmusic.com". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dragon-ash-p484032. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
3. ^ "Dragon Ash（ドラゴンアッシュ）-　原点回帰ではない今のDAの音 - インタビュー" (in Japanese). Excite! Music. http://www.excite.co.jp/music/close_up/interview/1012_dragonash/?lead=2. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dragon Ashのプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/7046/profile/history/. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
5. ^ "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=js&types=rnk&year=1999&month=3&week=3&submit4.x=17&submit4.y=17. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
6. ^ "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=js&types=rnk&year=1999&month=5&week=2&submit4.x=15&submit4.y=10. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
7. ^ "検索結果-ORICON STYLE アーティスト/CD検索" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php?kbn=ja&types=rnk&year=1999&month=7&week=5&submit5.x=22&submit5.y=15. Retrieved 2010-12-22. 
8. ^ "Dragon Ashのベスト2作が初日1、2位独占！" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/47573/. Retrieved 2010-12-22.