Toshio Nakanishi

Toshio Nakanishi aka Tycoon-to$h (Born Jan 13 1956 in Tokyo) is a musician and an artist who is best known as the founding member of Plastics in 1976. He was a part of techno pop fever in Japan and first pioneer of Japanese Hip Hop scene with Major Force. Also he is a painter, Jean-Michel Basquiat was a big fan of him.

He currently lives between Tokyo and London.

Career

His first band, Plastics, had a world tour with Talking Heads and The B-52's in 1980. When the band broke up in 1982, he went to New York and formed Melon with Percy Jones of Brand X, Dougie Bowne of The Lounge Lizards, Bernie Worrell of Funkadelic and Chica Sato, trying to merge funk with Japanese Group Sounds. At the same time, he formed Water Melon with Gota Yashiki and Yann Tomita, playing Hawaiian 50's exotica music Martin Denny-style. Melon signed with CBS in Japan and Virgin in UK transformation to Electro Hip Hop Funk Band. In 1987, he formed Major Force with Hiroshi Fujiwara, Gota Yashiki, K.U.D.O. and Kan Takagi. In the 1990s, he moved to London and worked with Mo' Wax. He formed a band called Sky Lab with Mat Ducasse and Howie B.

Globalized Message

Tycoon Tush is an MC, guitarist and percussionist from Tokyo, Japan. His real name is Toshio Nakanishi but he also has released music prolifically under the aliases of Toshi Skylab and Tycoon Tush. According to hip-hop scholar Mark Schwartz, during the early 1980’s this MC was “laying the groundwork for the Major Force collective with his band, the Plastics. [Schwartz, Mark. "Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National." In The Vibe History of Hip-hop, ed. Alan Light, 361-72. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999.] Furthermore, Schwartz also argues that the best hip-hop thinks globally but raps locally. [Schwartz, Mark. "Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National." In The Vibe History of Hip-hop, ed. Alan Light, 361-72. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999.] By addressing topics lyrically that pertain to issues that are relevant in an increasingly globalized world, yet remaining “real” to a local diaspora, a hip-hop artist can expect a certain degree of respect. Accordingly, scholar Robert Christgau supports this claim by stating that “in hip-hop, styles are regionally distinct, although they certainly crossbreed, and representing where you're from is the rule, especially when you're coming up.” [Christgau, Robert. "Planet Rock: The World's Most Local Pop Goes International." Village Voice, 2 May 2002.]

Discography

Obtained from the website entitled, “Tycoon To$h Kingdom”.

1979 Plastics COPY ROBOT Roughtrade 7"

1980 Plastics TOP SECRET MAN Victor 7" Plastics WELCOME PLASTICS Victor LP/CD Plastics GOOD Victor 7" Plastics Peace Victor 7" Plastics Origato Plastico Victor LP/CD The Clap Heads Sneakman Show Alfa LP/CD

1981 Plastics WELCOME BACK Victor LP/CD Melon 戦争反対 Alfa LP/CD

1982 Melon Do You Like JAPAN? Alfa LP/CD Melon P.J./Eddie Spaghetti Alfa 7" De Melon TRA No.2 TRA TAPE Toshio Nakanishi 土屋昌巳 / RICE MUSIC Epic LP/CD 1983 Melon / Water Melon Group ピテカントロプスの逆襲 Alfa LP/CD Melon TRA 503 TRA TAPE 1984 Water Melon Group COOL MUSIC Alfa LP/CD 1985 Melon SERIOUS JAPANESE CBS/SONY 12" Toshio Nakanishi MUTE BEAT / No.0 Virgin Dub TRA TAPE/CD 1987 Melon Deep Cut CBS/SONY CD/LP Melon HARD CORE HAWAIAN CBS/SONY 12" Melon 日本之扉 CBS/SONY 12"/7" Melon FUNKASIA Epic 12" 1988 Tycoon To$h & Terminater Troops COPY'88 Major Force 12" Tycoon To$h & Terminater Troops GET HAPPY Major Force 12" 1989 (The Orchids) YES,WE CAN CAN Major Force 12" (The Orchids) LIFE IS A SCIENCE Major Force 12" Tycoon To$h & Terminater Troops GUESS WHAT Major Force 12" Tycoon To$h T.P.O. / PUNK INC Major Force 12" Tycoon To$h & Terminater Troops KOOL DJ RED ALERT & MAJOR FORCE POSSE / PROP MASTER'S PARTY Major Force 12" Sexy T.K.O. Touch Me, Take Me Major Force 12" Tycoon To$h CHINASYNDROME Major Force 12" 1990 Sexy T.K.O. TRIBE of LOVE Major Force 12" Toshio Nakanishi GORGEOUS GIRLS Down 2 Earth CD 1991 Sexy T.K.O. THE 1st KISS Down 2 Earth CD (Natural Calamity) DOWN IN THE VALLEY Down 2 Earth CD K.U.D.O. & Tycoon Tosh SANDII:COME AGAIN Toshiba EMI CD/12" Toshi& K.U.D.O. SANDII:JOGET TO THE BEAT Toshiba EMI CD 1992 (Natural Calamity) LET IT COME DOWN Down 2 Earth CD (Natural Calamity) NEAR MOUNTAIN Down 2 Earth VT Group of Gods GROUP OF GODS Down 2 Earth CD (Tamap Iijima) DASK'TIL DAWN Down 2 Earth CD (高木完) Grass Roots Ki/oon Sony CD Melon DEEP CUT REMIX Sony Records CD Melon DEEP CUT VIDEO REMIX Sony Records VT/LD 1993 Love T.K.O. EP Major Force CD Tosh& K.U.D.O. 高木完 / Heavy Duty Vol.1 Ki/oon Sony 12" Major Force Productions GRASS ROOTS DUB Major Force 12" Love T.K.O. Tongue in your Ear Major Force West 12" Love T.K.O. FOR WHAT IT WORTH/DESERT SONG Major Force West 12" Love T.K.O. FOR WHAT IT WORTH Major Force 12" 1994 Love T.K.O. HEAD TURNER Major Force CD (Natural Calamity) SUN DANCE Down 2 Earth CD Major Force BOMB THE BASS / DARK HEART Island CD Skylab #1 SEA SHELL L'Attitude CD Skylab vs Dom.T RIVER OF BASS L'Attitude 12" Mo'Wax vs Major Force Mo'Wax VS MAJOR FORCE Mo'Wax 12" Love T.K.O. Monday Michiru: Maden Japan Kity CD 1995 Tosh & Silver Arks CLEOPATRA & NOAH'S ARK Major Force CD Skylab OH! Skylab L'Attitude CD/12" Skylab EXOTIKA ASTRALWERKS 12" Love T.K.O. UFO/ Multidirection 2 Polygram CD/LP Toshio Nakanishi & Natural Calamity x-rex File Records CD 1996 Love T.K.O. 古畑任三郎 ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK REMIX Pony Canyon CD/12" Toshio Nakanishi ユーリ ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK Victor CD Jenny Devivo MY DAD L'attitude 12"/CD Hale, Nakanishi, KUDO SWEETBACK / SWEETBACK Epic CD Typhoom Tosh KODAMA & GOTA / SOMETHING REMIX Sony Records CD Skylab Silent Poets / Firm Roots Remix Toy's Factory CD Major Force SUKIA / CONTACTO ESPECIAL CON EL TERCER SEXO Mo'Wax Japan CD Skylab The Trip Eye Q CD/12" Derrick Carter vs Skylab The Trip Eye Q 12" M.Ducasse& T.Nakanishi DAVID HOLMES / MY MATE PAUL GO! DISCS CD/12" 1997 Skylab DAVID HOLMES / Lets Get Killed GO! DISCS CD/12" Water Melon Out of Body Experience Major Force CD/12" Water Melon Out of Body Sessions Major Force CD/12" Tycoon To$h MAJOR FORCE REMIXES Major Force 12" Love T.K.O. ORIGINAL LOVE / Tyrannosaurus WONDERFUL WORLD 12" Water Melon / Typhoon Tosh Fish Smell Like a Cat Pussyfoot CD/LP Nakanishi & Bernstein / Love T.K.O. / Typhoon Tosh Pussy Galore! Pussyfoot CD/LP Major Force CATH COFFY / Mind The Gap ISLAND CD Melon Shinjuku BladeRunner Alfa CD Melon Terimakashe File Records 12" Plastics All Across The U.S.A. 80 Live Alfa CD/LP+VT Typhoon Tosh Band ears / SNAKE MAN SHOW enfants No.9 CD Skylab BITE THIS ! Eye Q 7" Skylab JUDAS ! Eye Q CD/12" Skylab ? Eye Q CD/12" Skylab Depeche Mode : HOME MUTE CD Skylab OFFBEAT : A RED HOT SOUND TRIP WAX TRAX CD Skylab Alisha's attic / indestructible remixes Mercury Records 10" 1998 Skylab RED HOT + Rhapsody ANTILLES CD Skylab Baxter / Baxter Warner Bros. CD Skylab Magenta Eye Q CD/7" Love T.K.O. Suck It and See Pussyfoot CD/LP Toshi Skylab Curve / Come Clean UNIVERSAL CD Patrina Morris & Tosh sitting on the edge of the world APEMAN 10" 1999 Tosh & Kenji Jammer Black Velvet wea japan CD/12" Tosh 'POSH' Skylab WELCOME TO PLASTIC WORLD Epic CD Water Melon Field Trip Major Force CD Tosh& Kenji Jammer JAPANESE NOISE BAND APEMAN 10" Generic Skylab Nickers Of a Girl / Sumo Riders Eye Q 7" Skylab #2 : 1999 "Large as Life and Twice as Natural" Eye Q CD/12" Water Melon RUTA DE EVACUACION Major Force CD/12" Major Force STILL/THE JOINT: SUGARHILL REMIXED SUGARHILL CD Major Force West MAJOR FORCE WEST 93-97 Mo'Wax CD Tycoon Tosh NIGO / APE SOUNDS Toy's Factory CD Tycoon Tosh PRMX / LICENSE OF SKILL Epic CD/12" Tycoon Tosh NIGO / KUNG' FU FIGHTIN' Toy's Factory CD/12" Tycoon Tosh NIGO / Making of KUNG' FU FIGHTIN' Vap VT 2000 Major Force West MAJOR FORCE WEST 93-97：日本盤 Toy's Factory CD Skylab #2 日本盤 Epic CD ● Tycoon Tosh year of dragon2000 File Records CD LOVE T.K.O. TRIBE OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BOY CD / 12" Major Force Return of the Original Art Form CUT CHEMIST MIX Mo'WAX 12" Skylab DAVID HOLMES / Bow Down To The Exit Sign GO! DISCS CD / 12" Japanese Noise Band Melon Thumpin'　Thursdays 21ST. CENTURY FORCE SONIC FORCE CD Major Force Return of the Original Art Form DJ FORMAT MIX Mo'WAX 12" 2001 V.A. DRAGON REMIX BATTLE ROUND 1&2 MAJOR FORCE 12" Toshio Nakanishi GOMA / GO JAPAN OVERSEAS CD Toshio Nakanishi JIM WHITE / No Such Place LuakaBop CD Tycoon Tosh From Silence DigiCube CD / 12" Melon / T.Nakanishi HOMEWORK 2 TO$H'S LOST TRAX This HP MD Toshio Nakanishi JOUJOUKA / NEW ASIANS TOEMI CD

References

Christgau, Robert. "Planet Rock: The World's Most Local Pop Goes International." Village Voice, 2 May 2002.

Schwartz, Mark. "Planet Rock: Hip Hop Supa National." In The Vibe History of Hip-hop, ed. Alan Light, 361-72. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999.

cite web
title = Tycoon To$h Kingdom
url= http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/mor/tosh/
accessdate = 2008-04-14

External links

* [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/mor/tosh/ Tycoon To$h Kingdom] , Nakanishi's web site
* [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/mor/tosh/discs.html Toshio Nakanishi Discography]