Wikipedia

Verbal (rapper)

Verbal(born August 21, 1975) is aJapanese rapper,music video directorandrecord producerwho debuted in 1998 as a member of the hip hop groupM-Flo.He is a third generationZainichi Koreanand a notable representative of Zainichi Korean music in Japan.

Verbal
Tokyo, 2019
Tokyo,2019
Background information
Birth nameRyu Yeong-gi (류영기)
Also known asL Universe
Born(1975-08-21)21 August 1975(age 49)
Tokyo,Japan
GenresHip hop
Occupations
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • acoustic guitar
Years active1998–present
Labels
Member of
Korean name
Hangul
류영기 유영기
Hanja
Revised RomanizationRyu Yeong-gi Yu Yeong-gi
McCune–ReischauerRyu Yŏnggi Yu Yŏnggi

M-Flo's hits in the early2000s,such as "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again" led to Verbal rapping and producing a wide range of acts in Japan such asCrystal Kay,BoA,Kumi KodaandNamie 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 hip hop production team throughout Asia[2]

Verbal inBangkok,Thailand,2006.

Verbal is also a member of other hip hop groups such as Mic Banditz andTeriyaki Boyzand has worked withKanye West,PharrellandKylie Minogueamongst many others.

Verbal is also the chairman of music label Espionage Records (an imprint ofRhythm ZoneunderAvex Group), production agency Kozm and has a fashion brand called Ambush, co-founded with his wifeYoon Ahn.[3][4]

He launched his solo career in March 2011 with the album "Visionair".[5]

Biography

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Verbal was born in Tokyo with Korean background in 1975. In 1985, his parents moved toBostonin theUnited Statesfor work. When at aYMCAsummer camp, Verbal was first exposed to hip hop music, in the form ofRun–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 ofNew York Cityand at 14 years old he started writing lyrics in English. His parents moved back to Tokyo and Verbal attendedSt. Mary's International School.He metTaku Takahashithere and the pair formed arap rockband 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 atBoston College.[9]In his first year of university, he abandoned these plans after a great romantic disappointment, converting toProtestantismand deciding to study for a masters in divinity[1]atGordon–Conwell Theological Seminaryto become a pastor.[10][11]

Verbal has said that his influences began with gangster rap groups likeN.W.A.After he mistakenly purchased aGang Starralbum, he became interested inEast coast hip hopincludingDe La SoulandPete Rock & CL Smooth.[1][12]

M-Flo

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In 1998, Verbal returned for winter break to Japan. During this time, he recorded a rap for a cover ofBarbra 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-time 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 unitHeartsdales.

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 andSuite 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]

Mic Banditz

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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'spop-influenced sound. They released two full-length albums of majority Japanese-language rap, 2003'sSixth Senseand 2004'sJohnny Astro & the Diamond Crooksand collaborated with JapaneseR&BsingerEmi 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]

Teriyaki Boyz

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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 asThe Neptunes,theBeastie Boys,Kanye WestandPharrell Williams.[1]The group came to the most prominence in the West with the eponymous theme song for the filmThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Driftin 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 asBoAandHalcali.Some of his biggest collaborations since then have been a cover ofGodiego's song "The Galaxy Express 999"withExile,which has been certified as double platinum for cellphone downloads by the RIAJ[17]and a collaboration withKana 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]

Solo activities

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In September 2004, Verbal married his college sweetheart, Korean AmericanYoon Ahn.[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 includingA Bathing Apeand selling custom pieces to celebrities including Teriyaki Boyz collaboratorKanye West.[21]

On March 16, 2011, Verbal released his debut solo albumVisionair,though the March 11Tōhoku earthquake and tsunamiovershadowed the release, causing cancellation of its promotion.[5]

Verbal appeared as the opening act for the tour ofKylie Minogueto Japan in April and the two recorded a charity song titled "We Are One" to raise awareness and encourage donations tounicef.[5]

Visionair featured collaborations with international actsNicki Minaj,Jermaine Dupri,Swizz BeatzandLil' Wayne,as well as Japan'sNamie Amuro.

The first single from the album, "Fall Out feat. Shunya," is the opening theme song for the dramaPerfect Reportand 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]

Discography

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Main article:Verbal discography

References

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  1. ^abcdeRobert Michael Poole (2009-10-30)."m-flo's Verbal spreads the love".The Japan Times.Retrieved2011-05-15.
  2. ^Robert Michael Poole (2006-03-17)."J-pop goes def".Metropolis (free magazine).Archived fromthe originalon 2014-06-27.Retrieved2011-05-03.
  3. ^iLOUD (2009-03-27)."VERBAL × MADEMOISELLE YULIA đối nói".Retrieved2009-04-22.
  4. ^abCNNGo."Verbal and Yoon: Tokyo's ultimate fashion power couple".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-21.Retrieved2011-07-22.{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
  5. ^abcdRobert Michael Poole (2011-05-05)."Verbal wants to hit the reset button on pop".The Japan Times.Retrieved2011-05-15.
  6. ^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 )".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-05-08.Retrieved2009-04-12.
  7. ^Hypebeast (2009-04-20)."Exchanging Freshness for Freshness with Verbal".Retrieved2009-04-21.
  8. ^"Kim cương mà võ chí /TOMORROW: これから hai mươi tuế を nghênh える nếu giả と tích hai mươi tuế だった người 々へ".J-Wave. November 16, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2007.RetrievedAugust 13,2010.
  9. ^"Verbal & Yoon".BoF Top 500. 2015-01-01.Retrieved2022-12-09.
  10. ^TOKYO tỷ muội."セレブ の luyến ái Talk - Vol.10 m-flo VERBAL".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-27.Retrieved2009-04-19.
  11. ^commmonsmart (2009-04-10)."music BATON｜【#016】VERBAL".Retrieved2009-04-19.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^Semtex.tv (19 May 2008)."Semtex TV interview with Verbal and Wyse".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2011-11-07.
  13. ^Musicman-NET."m-floと の ra sẽ い～been so long の kỳ tích".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-05-07.Retrieved2009-04-22.
  14. ^abc"M-Flo の リリース một lãm"[A Look at M-Flo's Releases].Oricon.RetrievedMarch 10,2013.
  15. ^Đại kiều mỹ quý tử ・BARKS (2009-10-05)."m-flo, to ra な tác phẩm đàn を hoàn toàn giải minh する “Hoạt động 10 đầy năm kỷ niệm” đại đặc tập (2) - BARKS đặc tập ".Retrieved2009-10-19.
  16. ^ja:MIC BANDITZ
  17. ^レコード hiệp hội điều べ 7 hàng tháng có liêu âm lặc xứng tin nhận định ＜ gọi chung: 7 hàng tháng nhận định ＞.RIAJ(in Japanese). 2008-08-20.Retrieved2010-08-15.
  18. ^レコード hiệp hội điều べ 8 hàng tháng có liêu âm lặc xứng tin nhận định ＜ gọi chung: 8 hàng tháng nhận định ＞.RIAJ(in Japanese). 2009-08-20.Retrieved2010-08-15.
  19. ^HotExpress (2010-08-10)."MINMI×VERBAL× đại trạch duỗi một tân ダンスチューンを phát biểu".Retrieved2010-08-15.
  20. ^Hypebeast.TV."Verbal and Yoon:Where it all happens".YouTube.Retrieved2011-11-07.[dead YouTube link]
  21. ^Too Much Information (17 March 2010)."Verbal and Yoon".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2011-11-07.
  22. ^HotExpress (2010-10-14)."◆VERBAL ( m-flo ) ハモネプ xuất sắc メンバーとドラマOP khúc を đảm đương!".Retrieved2010-10-15.
  23. ^Natalie (2010-11-17)."VERBALソロ bổn cách thủy động の ドラマOPテーマ, うた xứng tin bắt đầu".Retrieved2010-11-17.
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