Rip Slyme

Infobox musical artist
Name = RIP SLYME
Img_capt = Left to right: Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes, Su & Fumiya
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Kanagawa, Japan
Genre = Hip hop
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Warner Music Group
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.ripslyme.com/ Official website]
Current_members = Ryo-Z
Ilmari
Pes
Su
Fumiya
Past_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.

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

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", is the theme song for the anime Gantz.

To date they have released 6 indies singles with 16 major singles. They as well have released 2 indie albums, 7 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, [http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCL-10370 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.

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 [http://optimystik.jp/ 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 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.

Discography

Indie singles

# 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"
# 1998-02-06 FADE AWAY/AT THE LOUNGE
# 1998-08-22 TONES/風に吹かれて (TONES/Kaze ni Fukarete)
# 2000-05-13 UNDERLINE No-5 "Reissued on 2000-07-28"
# 2000-09-14 UNDERLINE No-5 REMIXIES
# 2000-11-23 マタ逢ウ日マデ (Mata Au Hi Made) "Under Warner Indies & reissued on 2001-08-29"

Warner singles

# 2001-03-22 STEPPER'S DELIGHT
# 2001-06-27 雑念エンタテイメント (Zatsunen Entertainment)
# 2001-10-11 ONE
# 2002-03-27 FUNKASTIC
# 2002-06-26 楽園ベイベー (Rakuen Baby)
# 2002-11-27 BLUE BE-BOP
# 2003-06-18 JOINT
# 2004-03-17 Dandelion
# 2004-07-07 GALAXY
# 2004-10-06 黄昏サラウンド (Tasogare Surround)
# 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"
# 2006-04-26 Hey, Brother "This was written as the theme song of "Mamiya kyodai", a movie directed by Yoshimitsu Morita"
# 2006-10-25 ブロウ (Blow)
# 2007-07-25 熱帯夜 (Nettaiya)
# 2007-11-07 SPEED KING
# 2008-07-30 太陽とビキニ (Taiyou to Bikini)

Indie albums

# 1995-10-21 Lip's Rhyme
# 1998-02-21 Talkin' Cheap

Warner albums

# 2001-07-25 FIVE
# 2002-07-24 TOKYO CLASSIC
# 2003-02-26 ORCHESTRA PLUS "A recorded album completely of orchestraic compositions & poetry recitals from famous celebrities-"
# 2003-07-16 TIME TO GO
# 2004-11-03 MASTERPIECE
# 2006-11-29 EPOCH #4 1st week Sales: 78,012 [ [http://jbbs-livedoor-jp/bbs/read-cgi/music/3914/1044805378/375 アルバムウイークリーＴＯＰ５０補完スレ] ]
# 2007-11-28 FUNFAIR

Live albums

# 2002-07-25 O-T-F- LIVE AT BUDOKAN "Limited Release"

Compilation albums

# 2003-10-10 YAPPARIP "compilation of indies tunes"
# 2005-08-31 グッジョブ! (Good Job!) "A best of album"
# 2005-12-07 グッジョブ!CHRISTMAS EDITION (Good Job! Christmas Edition)

DVD releases

# 2003-03-26 shortcuts!
# 2005-04-13 ROUGH-CUT FIVE
# 2007-05-23 Cut it Now!
# 2008-07-16 RIP SLYME FUNFAIR TOUR FINAL at BUDOKAN

Photobooks

# May 2002 RIP STYLE
# April 2003 届かぬ思い (Todokanu Omoi) "Limited Release"

Notes

References

* http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tokyo/437/music_beat.asp

Connections

*Dragon Ash
*Steady & Co.
*m-flo
*Rhymester
*Fantastic Plastic Machine
*KG kun (rapper) www.myspace.com/kgvern
*East End X Yuri
*SPEED
*Da Pump

External links

* [http://www.ripslyme.com Official site]
* [http://wmg.jp/ripslyme Warner's RIP SLYME Page]
* [http://wiki.theppn.org/Rip_Slyme RIP SLYME @ Wiki.theppn.org]
* [http://lipsrhyme.com RIP SLYME community]
* [http://www.eviltrailmix.com/animutation/funk.swf Animutation featuring the song "Funkastic"]