Verbal (rapper)
| Verbal | |
|---|---|
 Verbal in Bangkok, Thailand, 2006. |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ryu Yeong-gi (류영기) |
| Also known as | Verbal, L Universe |
| Born | 21 August 1975 Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper, music video director, record producer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Acoustic guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Rhythm Zone, Espionage, Kozm Agency |
| Associated acts | M-Flo, Mic Banditz, Suite Chic, Teriyaki Boyz, Mademoiselle Yulia |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul |
류영기 유영기 |
| Hanja | 柳榮起 |
| Revised Romanization |
Ryu Yeong-gi Yu Yeong-gi |
| McCune–Reischauer |
Ryu Yŏnggi Yu Yŏnggi |
Verbal (born August 21, 1975, stylized as VERBAL) is a Japanese third generation Zainichi Korean hip-hop MC, who debuted in 1998 as a member of the J-Pop hip-hop duo m-flo.
m-flo's hits in the early 2000s, such as "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again" led to Verbal rapping and producing a wide range of acts in Japan such as Crystal Kay, BoA and Namie Amuro. Verbal considers his role in m-flo as a "host" than a rapper or producer,[1] though their success and critical acclaim established them as an iconic and influential hiphop production team throughout Asia[2]
Verbal is also a member of other hip-hop groups such as Mic Banditz and Teriyaki Boyz and has worked with Kanye West, Pharrell and Kylie Minogue amongst many others.
Verbal is also the chairman of music label Espionage Records (an imprint of Rhythm Zone under Avex Group), production agency Kozm and has a fashion brand called Ambush, co-founded with his wife Yoon.[3][4]
He launched his solo career in March 2011 with the album "Visionair".[5]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Verbal was born in Tokyo in 1975. In 1985, his parents moved to Boston in the United States for work. When at a YMCA summer camp, Verbal was first exposed to hip-hop music, in the form of Run–D.M.C.'s "It's Tricky" when the other children sung the song on the bus for the camp.[6][7] He was impressed and influenced by the hip-hop culture of New York, and at 14 years old he started writing lyrics in English. His parents moved back to Tokyo, and Verbal attended St. Mary's International School. He met Taku Takahashi there, and the pair formed a rap rock band called N.M.D. in 1992. The band received many offers from major record labels after their live performances, however as Verbal did not see being a rapper as a practical career, he turned down these offers.[8]
Verbal returned to the United States, to study philosophy and marketing at Boston College.[1][9] In his first year of university, he abandoned these plans after a great romantic disappointment, converting to protestantism and deciding to study for a masters if divinity[1] at Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary to become a pastor.[10][11]
Verbal has said that his influences began with gangster rap groups like NWA. After he mistakenly purchased a Gang Starr album, he became interested in East coast hip hop including De La Soul and Pete Rock & CL Smooth.[1][12]
[edit] m-flo
In 1998, Verbal returned for winter break to Japan. During this time, he recorded a rap for a cover of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" that Takahashi was producing. Masaji Asakawa from the DJ group GTS, a contact of Takahashi's, believed the song was very high quality. M-Flo was then officially formed, with Verbal and Takahashi recording many songs together. Asakawa believed one of these songs, "Been So Long," featuring vocals from a mutual friend of both Verbal and Takahashi, Lisa, was high enough quality for him to try to convince Verbal to become a full-lime musician.[13] He was convinced, and the group debuted as a three person group (with vocalist Lisa) in 1999 with "The Tripod E.P.," which debuted in the top 10 on the Japanese singles chart.[14]
The group achieved great success in 2000 and 2001 with the songs "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again," with the former selling more than 220,000 copies, and the latter approximately 390,000 copies.[14] The band's second album, Expo Expo, debuted at #4 on the charts.[14] During the group's first two albums, Verbal was travelling back and forth between Japan and America to finish his studies.[15] During these initial years, Verbal had collaborated with a great number of Japanese artists already, including producing the female rap unit Heartsdales.
In 2002, Lisa left M-Flo following a disagreement to pursue a solo career. During this time, Verbal and Takahashi's solo works intensified, with Verbal taking a major part in two different hip-hop supergroups, Mic Banditz and Suite Chic.
In 2003, M-Flo returned from hiatus, but instead of using a new full-time vocalist, the band featured a different famous musician on each of their songs.[1]
[edit] Mic Banditz
In 2002, Verbal formed the Japanese hip-hop supergroup Mic Banditz on his Espionage Records label imprint. The group comprised rappers Verbal, Arkitec, 51-Goichi-, Coyass, and Clench and Mr. Blistah of the duo Clench & Blistah. The group represented a more traditional hip-hop sound in contrast to M-flo's pop-influenced sound. They released two full-length albums of majority Japanese-language rap, 2003's Sixth Sense and 2004's Johnny Astro & the Diamond Crooks, and collaborated with Japanese R'n'B singer Emi Hinouchi, who was at the time signed to fellow M-flo member Taku Takahashi's Tachytelic Records imprint. The group have been on hiatus since 2005.[16]
[edit] Teriyaki Boyz
In 2005, Verbal became a member of another hip-hop supergroup, Teriyaki Boyz. The group has collaborated with many famous Western hip-hop musicians, such as The Neptunes, The Beastie Boys, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.[1] The group came to the most prominence in the West with the eponymous theme song for the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006.
In 2007, M-Flo released their final album featuring different vocalists, Cosmicolor. After this point, the group have released sporadically, with a succession of different compilation albums. Verbal has consistently been working with other artists since then, producing songs for such artists as BoA and Halcali. Some of his biggest collaborations since then have been a cover of Godiego's song "The Galaxy Express 999" with Exile, which has been certified as double platinum for cellphone downloads by the RIAJ,[17] and a collaboration with Kana Nishino, "Kimi no Koe o," which has been certified gold for cellphone downloads.[18] In 2010, Verbal directed his first music video, Minmi's "Pa to Hanasaku," which also features Verbal.[19]
[edit] Solo activities
In September 2004, Verbal married his college sweetheart, fellow Korean Japanese Yoon.[4][20] Together they started jewelry label Ambush, with the initial aim of custom-making jewelry for Verbal. They have since produced several lines of jewelry, collaborating with brands including A Bathing Ape and selling custom pieces to celebrities including Teriyaki Boyz collaborator Kanye West.[21]
On March 16, 2011, Verbal released his debut solo album Visionair, though the March 11 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami overshadowed the release, causing cancellation of its promotion.[5]
Verbal appeared as the opening act for the tour of Kylie Minogue to Japan in April, and the two recorded a charity song titled "We Are One" to raise awareness and encourage donations to unicef.[5]
Visionair featured collaborations with international acts Nicki Minaj, Jermaine Dupri, Swizz Beatz and Lil' Wayne, as well as Japan's Namie Amuro.
The first single from the album, "Fall Out feat. Shunya," is the opening theme song for the drama Perfect Report, and was released digitally in December.[22][23]
May 2011 saw Verbal take Visionair out on the road with the "Angree Yung Robotz" tour alongside electro DJ Mademoiselle Yulia.[5]
[edit] Trivia
Verbal's lucky charm is his underwear. He wears red underwear to remind myself 'today I'm going to be hot!' and wears Superman underwear if he need lots of energy or is going to close a big deal.[1]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Album
| Year | Album Information | Oricon albums charts [14] |
Sales [14] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Visionair
|
35 | 6,100 |
[edit] Singles as a featured artist
| Release | Artist | Title | Notes | Chart positions | Oricon sales [14] |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon singles charts [14] |
Billboard Japan Hot 100 [24] |
RIAJ digital tracks [25] |
||||||
| 1999 | S.E.S. feat. Verbal | "T.O.P." | 56 | — | — | 4,800 | Prime: S.E.S. the Best | |
| 2000 | K. feat. Verbal | "The Love Hole" | — | — | — | — | Kaleidolife | |
| 2001 | Crystal Kay feat. Verbal | "Ex-Boyfriend" | 44 | — | — | 21,000 | 637: Always and Forever | |
| Daisuke Imai feat. Verbal | "Give It a Try" | — | — | — | — | Color Me You | ||
| Namie Amuro & Verbal | "Lovin' It" | Charity single | 8 | — | — | 72,000 | Song Nation | |
| 2002 | DJ Hasebe feat. Bonnie Pink & Verbal | "Get Out!" | 49 | — | — | 8,800 | Tail of Old Nick | |
| Michico feat. Verbal | "Tha Superstar" | — | — | — | — | I Do | ||
| Suite Chic feat. Verbal | "Baby Be Mine" | As a part of the single "Uh Uh,,,,,,/Baby Be Mine" | 35 | — | — | 26,000 | When Pop Hits the Fan | |
| 2003 | DJ Hasebe feat. Verbal, Sphere of Influence, Boy-Ken & Mr. Cheeks | "Throw Ur Drinks Up!!!" | 159 | — | — | 800 | — | |
| 2006 | Ryohei feat. Verbal | "Onelove" | 47 | — | — | 5,000 | ReListen | |
| May J. feat. Verbal | "Here We Go" | 70 | — | — | 3,900 | Baby Girl | ||
| 2007 | Double feat. Verbal | "Summertime" | 27 | — | — | 6,500 | Reflex | |
| Emyli feat. Verbal | "Tekitō Lover" (テキトーLOVER, "Suitable Lover") | 199 | — | — | 400 | — | ||
| 2008 | Exile feat. Verbal | "The Galaxy Express 999" | Radio single, Godiego cover | — | 7 | 2* | — | Exile Catchy Best |
| Kat to Verbal | "S.O.S. (Same Old Song)" | — | 44 | — | — | Echoes Over the Ocean | ||
| Doping Panda feat. Verbal | "Majestic Trancer" | 24 | 90 | — | 7,000 | Decadence | ||
| 2009 | BoA feat. Crystal Kay & Verbal | "Universe" | As a part of the single "Eien/Universe/Believe in Love" | 8 | — | 29* | 22,000 | Best & USA |
| Kana Nishino feat. Verbal | "Kimi no Koe o" (君の声を, "Your Voice") | Radio single | — | 55 | 5 | — | Love One. | |
| BoA feat. Verbal | "Bump Bump!" | Wrote and produced single | 8 | 6 | 22 | 14,000 | Identity | |
| 2010 | Minmi feat. Verbal | "Pa to Hanasaku" (パッと花咲く, "Blooming with a Bang") | Also directed music video | 58 | 70 | 25 | 2,000 | TBA |
| Aili feat. Verbal | "Memories Again" | Digital single | — | 31 | 7 | — | Future | |
| * charted on monthly Chaku-uta Reco-kyō Chart. †Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009. |
||||||||
[edit] Other appearances
Below are songs featuring input from Verbal away from M-Flo. Verbal also acted as producer/songwriter for all of the material on Heartsdales' first two albums.
| Release | Artist | Title | Notes | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Coldfeet feat. Verbal | "You Were Right" | Lucid Dream | |
| K. | "Never Say..." | Co-wrote lyrics | Kaleidolife | |
| 2001 | "After the Silence" | Keynote | ||
| DK Tonk feat. Rocket Science (Verbal & Sphere) | "DYAD (The Chronicle)" | Vinyl single | Aquarian Soul | |
| Ajapai feat.Verbal | "Beach Star High" | Cheers! | ||
| Daisuke Imai feat.Verbal | "From Here" | B-side to "Give It a Try" single | Color Me You | |
| 2002 | Momoe Shimano feat. Verbal | "Did It Again?" | Girls Voice Studio 11 | |
| Kumi Koda feat. Verbal | "Till Morning Comes" | Affection | ||
| Mika Nakashima feat. Heartsdales, Verbal | "Helpless Rain (But I'm Fallin' Too Deep)" | Remixed B-side | "Helpless Rain" (single) | |
| Sphere of Influence feat. Verbal | "We Done Did It" | Single "Day One" B-side | The Influence | |
| Matally vs. Verbal | "Suicide Scandinavia" | Matally | ||
| 2003 | Brier & El Nando feat. Verbal | "Street Code" | Cross Counter | |
| Suite Chic | "We Got Time" | Wrote lyrics. | When Pop Hits the Fan | |
| Suite Chic feat. Verbal | "What If" | |||
| Fantastic Plastic Machine feat. Verbal | "Spectacular" | Zoo | ||
| 51-Goichi feat. Sphere of Influence, Verbal | "Nuts" | Single "Earz on Fire" B-side | 51st Dimension: The Ying | |
| Bratz feat. Christina Milian and Verbal | "Look Around" | — | ||
| Namie Amuro feat. Verbal and Arkitec | "Fish" | Style | ||
| Keiko feat. Verbal | "Dreams of Christmas" | TM Network cover, rap written by Verbal | "KCO" (single) | |
| 2004 | Lil'Ai feat. Warren G, KRS-One, Verbal | "Let's Go (It's a Movement) (Deckstream Remix)" | Let's Go (It's a Movement) (remix EP) | |
| Black Bottom Brass Band feat. Verbal, Emi Hinouchi | "Can't Stop Lovin' You" | Wasshoi Star | ||
| Halcali | "Baby Blue!" | Producer, songwriter | Ongaku no Susume | |
| 2005 | Gagle feat. Verbal | "Tsubazeriai" (鍔ゼリアイ, "Close Competitors") | Big Bang Theory | |
| 2006 | Yoshika feat. Verbal | "Sunshine" | Timeless | |
| L-Vokal feat. Verbal, Jamosa | "Hyōriittai" (表裏一体, "Moebius Strip") | Laughin' | ||
| Ajapai feat. Verbal | "Funny Money Girl" | Unaffected | ||
| Clazziquai Project feat. Verbal | "Love Mode" | Remix with PE'Z also featured | Love Mode (EP) | |
| Rip Slyme hosted by Verbal | "Party People" (パーリーピーポー Pārī Pīpō) | Epoch | ||
| KM-Markit feat. Verbal | "Bakayarow" (バカヤROW, "Idiot") | Mark Out | ||
| 2007 | Jazztronik feat. Verbal | "Wave Rave" | Grand Blue | |
| Halcali | "Koi no Bububun" (恋のブブブン, "The Vroom Vroom Vroom of Love") | Producer, songwriter | Cyborg Oretachi | |
| Dohzi-T feat. Thelma Aoyama, Little, Verbal, Kohei Japan | "Turn It Up" | One Mic | ||
| DJ Deckstream feat. Lupe Fiasco, Verbal and Sarah Green | "Can You Let Me Know" | Deckstream Sound Tracks | ||
| L-Vokal & Doc Dee feat. Sphere of Influence, Verbal | "Tokyo Shit" (東京シット Tōkyō Shitto) (censored as "Tokyo S**t") | Matenrō | ||
| 2008 | Riki vs. Verbal | "Otoko no Komoriuta" (男の子守唄, "Lullaby for Boys") | Single "Kurenai no Backfire" B-side | Zenkoku Seiha |
| Full of Harmony feat. Verbal | "E.N.E.R.G.Y" | Energy | ||
| Afra and Incredible Beatbox Band feat. Verbal, Nipps | "Golden Ballers" | World Class | ||
| Exile feat. Verbal | "Super Shine" | "The Birthday (Ti Amo)" (single) | ||
| SBK feat. Verbal | "Load the Disc" | Returns | ||
| T-Pain feat. Verbal | "Can't Believe It (Lost in Shibuya Remix)" | Digital download. | — | |
| Infinity 16 welcomez Verbal, Munehiro | "Hagayaki o Mō Ichido" (輝きをもう一度, "Shining Once Again") | Welcomez | ||
| Dexpistols feat. Mademoiselle Yulia & Verbal | "Y.O.R." | Rox Trax Presents Lesson 05 Saturdays | ||
| 2009 | Ravex feat. Namie Amuro | "Rock U" | Wrote lyrics | Trax |
| Ravex feat. TRF, Verbal | "V.I.P.P. (Very Important Party People)" | |||
| Thelma Aoyama feat. Verbal | "Wanna Come Again" | Samples M-Flo's "Come Again" | Emotions | |
| Crookers feat. Verbal | "Big Money Comin'" | Put Your Hands on Me | ||
| BoA feat. Verbal | "Izm" | Producer, songwriter | "Bump Bump!" (single) | |
| Lisa feat. Verbal | "Falling for You..." | Disco Volante | ||
| 2010 | Halcali | "Yes" | Producer, songwriter. | Tokyo Groove |
| BoA | "Lazer" | Songwriter | Identity | |
| Iconiq feat. Verbal | "I.D" | Wrote lyrics | Change Myself | |
| L-Vokal feat. Verbal, Kreva | "Just Love It" | Lovin' | ||
| Dragon Ash feat. PE'Z, Verbal | "Beat Surf" | "Ambitious" (single) | ||
| Miliyah Kato feat. Verbal | "Baby I See You" | Reached #44 on RIAJ | Heaven | |
| Verbal & Yoon | "Cherry Bomb" | The Runaways cover | 50 Years of Dr. Martens |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Robert Michael Poole (2009-10-30). "m-flo's Verbal spreads the love". The Japan Times. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20091030a1.html. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
- ^ Robert Michael Poole (2006-03-17). "J-pop goes def". Metropolis (free magazine). http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/625/music_beat.asp. Retrieved 2011-05-03.
- ^ iLOUD (2009-03-27). "VERBAL × MADEMOISELLE YULIA 対談". http://www.iloud.jp/interview/verbal_mademoiselle_yulia.php. Retrieved 2009年4月22日.
- ^ a b CNNGo. "Verbal and Yoon: Tokyo's ultimate fashion power couple". http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/life/tokyos-fashion-power-couple-verbal-and-yoon-228976. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
- ^ a b c d Robert Michael Poole (2011-05-05). "Verbal wants to hit the reset button on pop". The Japan Times. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20110505a1.html. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
- ^ CROWN JEWEL (2006-11-24). "Clothes Relay [クローズリレー] - VERBALさん（m-flo ミュージシャン）". http://blog.livedoor.jp/cjcr/archives/50711535.html. Retrieved 2009-4-12-.
- ^ Hypebeast (2009-04-20). "Exchanging Freshness for Freshness with Verbal". http://hypebeast.com/2009/04/exchanging-freshness-for-freshness-with-verbal/. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ^ "金剛地武志 /TOMORROW: これから二十歳を迎える若者と昔二十歳だった人々へ". J-Wave. November 16, 2006. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071021113429/http://j-wave.co.jp/blog/tomorrow/archives/cat_535.php?page=37. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
- ^ クリエイターズカフェKOOTS×an. "スーパークリエイターズトークショー Vol.3 guest VERBALさん". http://weban.jp/koots/talk/index3.html. Retrieved 2009年4月22日.
- ^ TOKYO姉妹. "セレブの恋愛Talk - Vol.10 m-flo VERBAL". http://www.tokyoshimai.com/celeb/index10.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ commmonsmart (2009-04-10). "music BATON｜【#016】VERBAL". http://www.commmonsmart.com/baton/?btno=16. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ Semtex.tv. "Semtex TV interview with Verbal and Wyse". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAGbVBgqZdc. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ^ Musicman-NET. "m-floとの出会い～been so longの奇跡". http://www.musicman-net.com/relay/37/a_5.html. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp. Retrieved March 22, 2011. (subscription only)
- ^ 大橋美貴子・BARKS (2009-10-05). "m-flo、膨大な作品群を徹底解明する「活動10周年記念」大特集 (2) - BARKS 特集". http://www.barks.jp/feature/?id=1000053629&p=1#Feature_wrapper. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ^ http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIC_BANDITZ
- ^ "レコード協会調べ 7月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：7月度認定＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2008-08-20. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w080820_3.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ "レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：8月度認定＞" (in Japanese). RIAJ. 2009-08-20. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090820.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ HotExpress (2010-08-10). "MINMI×VERBAL×大沢伸一 新ダンスチューンを発表". http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/100810_minmi/. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ Hypebeast.TV. "Verbal and Yoon:Where it all happens". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQeVkgPR4KU. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ^ Too Much Information. "Verbal and Yoon". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hfWT-Iqb10. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ^ HotExpress (2010-10-14). "◆VERBAL（m-flo） ハモネプ優勝メンバーとドラマOP曲を担当！". http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/news/101014_verbal/. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ^ Natalie (2010-11-17). "VERBALソロ本格始動のドラマOPテーマ、着うた配信開始". http://natalie.mu/music/news/40688. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ^ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/.
- ^ "有料音楽配信チャート" (in Japanese). RIAJ. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/weekly_chart/index.html.
[edit] External links
- Official Blog (Japanese)
- Artimage management label site (Japanese)
- Kozm Agency (Japanese)
- Espionage Records (Japanese)
