Toshio Nakanishi aka Tycoon-to$h (Born January 13, 1956 in Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

) is a musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 and an artist who is best known as the founding member of Plastics

Plastics (group)

Plastics—or, alternately, The Plastics—were a short-lived Japanese new wave music group prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their music was a major influence on Japanese pop music and their songs have been covered by many bands, most notably Polysics and Pizzicato Five.Perhaps their...

 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

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...

 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

Talking Heads

Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...

 and The B-52's

The B-52's

The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...

 in 1980. When the band broke up in 1982, he went to New York and formed Melon with Percy Jones

Percy Jones (musician)

Percy Jones is a Welsh bass guitarist, and was a member of jazz fusion band Brand X, from 1974 to 1980, and a reformed version which lasted from 1992 to 1997...

 of Brand X

Brand X

Brand X was a jazz fusion band active between 1975–1980 and 1992-1999. Noted members included Phil Collins , Percy Jones , John Goodsall and Robin Lumley ....

, Dougie Bowne of The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards are a jazz group formed in 1978 by saxophone player John Lurie.Initially a tongue in cheek "fake jazz" combo, drawing on punk rock and no wave as much as jazz, The Lounge Lizards have since become respected for their creative and distinctive sound.-History:Lounge Lizards were...

, Bernie Worrell

Bernie Worrell

George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...

 of Funkadelic

Funkadelic

Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...

 and Chica Sato

Chica Sato

Chica Sato sang with The Plastics and then went on to form Melon with Toshio Nakanishi.-References:...

, trying to merge funk with Japanese Group Sounds

Group Sounds

Group Sounds is a genre of Japanese rock music. Inspired by The Beatles, Group Sounds became popular in the mid to late 1960s. Group Sounds initiated fusion of Japanese kayōkyoku music and rock music...

. At the same time, he formed Water Melon with Gota Yashiki

Gota Yashiki

Gota Yashiki is both an independent acid jazz artist and drum player, as a member of the band Simply Red. He was born in Kyoto, Japan, on 26 February 1962, where at a young age he learned how to play traditional Japanese drums. This interest in drumming propelled him into the music scene, and he...

 and Yann Tomita, playing Hawaiian 50's exotica music Martin Denny

Martin Denny

Martin Denny was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica." In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and...

-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

Hiroshi Fujiwara

is a Japanese musician, producer, and designer.He is known as the godfather of Harajuku culture and is a globally influential streetwear designer, including being the pioneer for Nike's "HTM" line, and the "Fenom" line for Levis....

, Gota Yashiki

Gota Yashiki

Gota Yashiki is both an independent acid jazz artist and drum player, as a member of the band Simply Red. He was born in Kyoto, Japan, on 26 February 1962, where at a young age he learned how to play traditional Japanese drums. This interest in drumming propelled him into the music scene, and he...

, K.U.D.O. and Kan Takagi. In the 1990s, he moved to London and worked with Mo' Wax

Mo' Wax

Mo' Wax was a UK-based record label owned by James Lavelle, who founded it in the early 1990s with Tim Goldsworthy. Steve Finan became co-owner shortly after. The label came to recognition for being at the forefront of trip hop, turntablism and alternative rap during the mid-90s...

. He formed a band called Sky Lab with Mat Ducasse  and Howie B.

Globalized Message

Tycoon Tosh is an MC, guitarist and percussionist from Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. His real name is Toshio Nakanishi but he also has released music prolifically under the aliases of Toshi Skylab and Tycoon Tosh. According to hip-hop scholar Mark Schwartz, during the early 1980’s this MC was “laying the groundwork for the Major Force

Major Force

Major Force is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He is a supervillain that first appeared in Captain Atom vol. 3, #12 .-Early life:...

 collective with his band, the Plastics. Furthermore, Schwartz also argues that the best hip-hop thinks globally but raps locally. 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.”

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 Crap Heads Snakeman 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

External links

• Tycoon To$h Kingdom, Nakanishi's web site
• Toshio Nakanishi Discography