Yuri Ichii
Encyclopedia
is one of Japan's biggest rap stars and the lead of East End X Yuri. She was also a singer with the revolving-door group Tokyo Performance Doll
(TPD) alongside Ryoko Shinohara
. She was part of TPD for a while but sought to do something different; she decided to try rap. Ichii began practicing her rapping in preparation for a solo show with her friend Gaku, who was a part of the group East End. In February 1994 when Gaku performed with Yuri for part of her show, she was seen by File Records (the independent record label that signed East End). They were impressed with her and decided to sign them together for a mini-album.
Initially, as one of the members of East End, DJ Yoggy was skeptical of working with Ichii because he saw her only as a pop idol singer (as she was with TPD) and thought she would not be able to perform live. He later found out that she could perform quite well live and came around. In June 1994, East End X Yuri released the mini-album titled Denim-ed Soul on File Records with four songs. Together East End X Yuri became very successful and began to move up the pyramid of the music scene.
Ichii is often seen as a comfortable middle-class rap star and is not what one would consider a "gansta" rapper. Her sweet-sixteen image often belies her mid-twenties age. In an interview with the Tokyo Journal, she states:
Japanese rappers were influenced by Americans. Japanese rap is drastically different than American rap. Japanese rappers imitate most things having to do with hip-hop culture — the clothing, the style, the beats — pursuing it with "ardor," but the lyrics are designed to not bother their parents. Though still a mild rebellion, Japanese rap is filled with polite lyrics. The casualness portrayed in Japanese rap is a stark contrast to the uniformed-filled weekdays. So Japanese rappers like Yuri Ichii talk about lighter topics like love, envy, hair, cellular phones, even food. In "Chase the Chance," Ichii states:
This is in stark contrast to American hip-hop
Tokyo Performance Doll
Tokyo Performance Doll a.k.a. TPD was a female Jpop idol band that existed from 1990 to 1996. Inspired by Onyanko Club, it had seven main members and several other "trainees" for live performances, a formula later followed by Morning Musume, Hello! Project and AKB48...
(TPD) alongside Ryoko Shinohara
Ryoko Shinohara
Ryoko Shinohara is a Japanese singer and actress. She began her career as a singer in the Japanese female pop band Tokyo Performance Doll, and after its break-up, began a solo singing career with producer Tetsuya Komuro...
. She was part of TPD for a while but sought to do something different; she decided to try rap. Ichii began practicing her rapping in preparation for a solo show with her friend Gaku, who was a part of the group East End. In February 1994 when Gaku performed with Yuri for part of her show, she was seen by File Records (the independent record label that signed East End). They were impressed with her and decided to sign them together for a mini-album.
Initially, as one of the members of East End, DJ Yoggy was skeptical of working with Ichii because he saw her only as a pop idol singer (as she was with TPD) and thought she would not be able to perform live. He later found out that she could perform quite well live and came around. In June 1994, East End X Yuri released the mini-album titled Denim-ed Soul on File Records with four songs. Together East End X Yuri became very successful and began to move up the pyramid of the music scene.
Ichii is often seen as a comfortable middle-class rap star and is not what one would consider a "gansta" rapper. Her sweet-sixteen image often belies her mid-twenties age. In an interview with the Tokyo Journal, she states:
If I looked more grown-up and sexier, I might use obscene words. But I don't think those words really fit me.
Japanese rappers were influenced by Americans. Japanese rap is drastically different than American rap. Japanese rappers imitate most things having to do with hip-hop culture — the clothing, the style, the beats — pursuing it with "ardor," but the lyrics are designed to not bother their parents. Though still a mild rebellion, Japanese rap is filled with polite lyrics. The casualness portrayed in Japanese rap is a stark contrast to the uniformed-filled weekdays. So Japanese rappers like Yuri Ichii talk about lighter topics like love, envy, hair, cellular phones, even food. In "Chase the Chance," Ichii states:
You're taught to cooperate, And good girls can only be good girls. But you've felt the beat, and there's nothing you can do. Just chase the chance.
This is in stark contrast to American hip-hop