M-Flo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
M-Flo
On stage, 2019
On stage, 2019
Background information
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active1997–present
LabelsRhythm Zone
Members
Websitem-flo.com

M-Flo (エムフロウ, Emu Furō, stylized as m-flo) is a Japanese hip hop group consisting of Taku Takahashi, Verbal and Lisa.

Lisa left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career and the remaining members then started the M-Flo Loves... project working different vocalists for each song over three albums, including the likes of Namie Amuro, Bonnie Pink, Koda Kumi and BoA.[1]

Their mainstream success and critical acclaim established them as the most iconic and influential hip-hop production team in Japan with success throughout Asia.[2]

Taku Takahashi and Verbal also started successful side-projects outside M-Flo, such as the Teriyaki Boyz and Global Astro Alliance collaborating with international producers and artists such as Kanye West and the Beastie Boys.

In 2008, the group announced a

Square One on March 14, 2012.[4]

On December 14, 2017, Lisa returned to the group[5] and they announced that they will release new material in 2018. At the same time, M-Flo also released a digital compilation album called UNIVERSE[6] to celebrate past years of the group, that contained all the 150 songs they released since their debut.

History

Before M-Flo

Taku Takahashi (高橋 拓, Takahashi Taku) and Verbal (born as Ryu Young Gi [Korean: 류영기/유영기, Hanja: 柳榮起]) first met as students at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo.[7] The pair collaborated in the group N.M.D., in which Takahashi was drummer and Verbal emceed, as well as throwing dance parties where they often performed together freestyle.

Following his high school graduation, Verbal attended

The Intergalactic Collection ~ギャラコレ~, and sold about 1000 units.[7]

Forming M-Flo

Following the release of "The Way We Were", Verbal and Taku invited Elizabeth Sakura Narita,

LISA, a friend while at St. Mary's who at the time was performing under the pseudonym "Unika" solo and in several underground projects trying to gain credit as a musician,[7]
to collaborate with them on a second single, "Been So Long", released under the name Mediarite-Flow.

The name was a re-spelling of 'meteorite flow' as Verbal hoped the group would have a big impact in media and "surprise the unsuspecting masses with some good music."[1] It was shortened by the group's label to "M-Flo".[7] The song was released on a limited-run vinyl with Rhythm Republic in 1998, attracting the attention of the major Avex Trax sublabel Rhythm Zone.

1999–2000: Planet Shining

The group's first release with Rhythm Zone, "The Tripod E.P.", was a

Double A-side single which included a re-release of "Been So Long" alongside new track "Flo Jack" and was released on July 7, 1999. The EP gained the group a #7 position on the Oricon charts, and "been so long" was licensed by Konami for inclusion in beatmania IIDX alongside the songs "The Rhyme Brokers" and "Theme from "flo-jack" ". A further four singles were released prior to the release of the group's first full-length album, Planet Shining
, on February 23, 2000. The album reached #6 in the Oricon charts.

2000–2002: Expo Expo, Lisa's departure

Following the release of the Planet Shining remix album

Expo Bouei Robot Gran Sonik
, in November.

Following the release of

Gran Sonik, Lisa announced her departure from the group to pursue a solo career in early 2002. The split was not amicable following an argument at a TV show shoot, though Verbal has stated that it was exaggerated and did not want her to leave. He described the group as "Guns N' Roses minus Axl Rose" at that time.[1]

2003–2009: m-flo Loves...

After a period of inactivity, during which Verbal and Taku engaged themselves in a series of side-projects, m-flo released a collection of collaborations entitled

The Intergalactic Collection ~ギャラコレ~
. The last track on the album hinted at the arrival of a new vocalist to replace Lisa, although the vocalist's identity was not revealed.

Inspired by

R&B singer Crystal Kay, Reeewind! and I Like It. The singles were released under the names "M-Flo Loves Crystal Kay" and "Crystal Kay Loves M-Flo" respectively and both charted in the top 10, providing Crystal Kay
with her highest-selling single to date. Reeewind! began a string of collaborations that spanned four years and three albums.

2004's

Astromantic Charm School. The album provided the group with its highest-selling single since "come again". The group's collaboration with Korean singer BoA
, "the Love Bug", reached number 8 on Oricon charts.

The group released their follow-up album

Dope Space Nine
.

The third album in the M-Flo Loves series,

ElectriColor
, was released on September 26, 2007.

On February 13, 2008, the group released a collection of

greatest hits from the M-Flo Loves... series, Award Supernova: Loves Best. The album debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts. It also featured a final new collaboration for the series, Love Comes and Goes, with Emi Hinouchi, Ryohei Yamamoto, Emyli, Yoshika
, and Lisa.

Verbal has said that during the "M-Flo loves..." period "some vocalists that we thought were nice were hard to work with [because] that are very picky because they are used to controlling people." He singled out Akiko Wada as the most pleasantly surprising to work with.[1]

In 2009, the group celebrated their tenth anniversary with two shows at

Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, capacity 13,000. The shows marked the end of the "M-Flo loves..." period and featured many special guests, including BoA and Crystal Kay.[1]

2011–present: Reformation and Lisa's Return

In September 2011, M-Flo performed at the Reebok event, Reethym of Lite. Here, they performed a new collaboration song with Reebok titled "RUN". The song features guest vocalist Minami from

Square One
was released. The group has declined to comment on who will contribute vocals to the album. [8]

On March 13, 2013, following one year after Square One, m-flo released their seventh studio album, Neven. The album includes the two singles, "Tonite" and "Lover" released on December 5, 2012 and February 6, 2013, and "Transformerz" which was composed as an opening theme for the Japanese broadcast of the television series Transformers: Prime. In early 2018, Lisa returned to the group, releasing "The Tripod E.P. 2", a sequel to their major debut "The Tripod E.P.". This marked their first release with Lisa in over 15 years. M-Flo performed the ending theme "against all gods" for the anime series Black Clover.[9]

Their third full-length studio album with Lisa and ninth overall album Kyo was released on November 6, 2019. The m-flo loves series made its return March 6, 2020 with a compilation album of previous M-Flo loves songs and a new song titled "tell me tell me", featuring Sik-K, eill, and Taichi Mukai. That was followed up in June with RUN AWAYS featuring chelmico.

Outside M-Flo

Both Verbal and Taku have headed up several side projects outside M-Flo. Verbal heads Rhythm Zone imprint, espionage records, where he produces all-girl

Hip hop outfit Heartsdales
and collaborates with Mic Banditz.

Taku also heads his own Rhythm Zone imprint, Tachytelic Records. He released an album of remixes by other artists, Tachytelic Night: Welcomes You to the Far East, in 2003. He also works with

Avex
's 20th anniversary. Their debut album, Trax, was released on April 24, 2009, following I Rave U and Believe in Love.

Verbal and Taku have both acted as sometime producers and collaborators for artists who came to prominence largely because of their participation in the M-Flo Loves series, including

M-Flo Inside, was released in 2004 shortly before the first album in the series. The second, M-Flo Inside: Works Best II, was released on July 26, 2006. The third, M-Flo Inside: Works Best III, was released on March 19, 2009. [citation needed
]

Discography

Main article: M-Flo discography

Video games

M-Flo has contributed to the video games industry by both providing songs for games, and by advertising for these games. For the first versions of the video game Beatmania IIDX, M-Flo has contributed short versions of the songs "L.O.T. (Love Or Truth)", "Mirrorball Satellite 2012", "The Theme from Flo Jack", "Been so Long", and "The Rhyme Brokers". Another music related video game, Dance Dance Revolution, featured the songs "The Theme from Flo Jack", "Been so Long", and "The Rhyme Brokers". Another song "Come Again" also appears on Reflec Beat, Jubeat, and Maimai.

A version of the track "Tripod Baby" (from the album

Dope Space Nine
.

Awards

Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result
2004
Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Asia Hip Hop Artist[11]
 — Won
2007 Space Shower Music Awards Special Award — Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Robert Michael Poole (2009-10-30). "m-flo's Verbal spreads the love". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  2. ^ Robert Michael Poole (2006-03-17). "J-pop goes def". Metropolis. Archived from the original on 2014-06-27. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  3. ^ Kiri Finja (2008-06-24). "JaME loves m-flo". JaME World (website). Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  4. ^ m-flo (2012-02-29). "Square One Album Release". m-flo.com (website). Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. ^ "m-flo on Instagram: "STUDIO...🔈🔈🔈 #WEAREBACK #LISA #VERBAL #TakuTakahashi #mflo"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  6. ^ "m-flo on Instagram: "9時間50分ノンストップでm-flo🚀💫今までのオリジナル楽曲150曲を網羅したアルバム「UNIVERSE」を配信限定で本日リリース🔥🔥🔥 #mflo #全部乗せ #ギネス越え ⁉️"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Maki Nibayashi and Matt Wilce (2001-02-09). "Play that funky music". Metropolis. Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  8. ^ m-flo official (21 February 2012). "m-flo / "SQUARE ONE" Teaser Movie". Retrieved 13 April 2018 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 30, 2019). "Black Clover Anime Reveals New Theme Songs, New Series of Anime Shorts (Update)". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  10. ^ "m-flo主催BONENKAIにミリヤ＆AI登場、新アルバム楽曲も - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  11. ^ "2004 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.

External links

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