Dragon Ash has been one of the most influential bands to build Japanese hip-hop and "mixture-kei" music (as punk combined with hip-hop is commonly referred to in Japan). The color of their music thick with western flavor. They turn on the hip-hop music with a unique mix of reggae, rap, rap-rock, punk, Spanish, and R & B influences.
This band from Tokyo was formed by Furuya Kenji and Sakurai Makoto in 1996 when they were in junior high school. By audition, they recruit Ikuzo Baba for the bassist who was 30 years old and had some experience in music industry, while Furuya and Sakurai were still only teenagers at the time. So Ikuzo selected as a mentor of the group.
Dragon Ash debuted in 1997 with joined to Victor Entertainment, and launched a mini singles The Day Dragged On. Their first album Mustang! launched in the same year. Their high school friends, Bots, joined on turntables. This was makes their music move away from punk into more "mixture-kei". Their singles success on Oricon Chart. Such as their 4th single Let yourself go, let myself go which hit on #7, and eventually climbed to #4, selling a total of 640,000 copies. Their 5th and 6th singles Grateful Days and I Love Hip Hop which debuted at #3 and #4. Grateful Days would eventually go on to #1, becoming both the first hip-hop work and the first mixture band single to reach the #1 spot on Oricon Chart.
Dragon Ash reached the peak of success after releasing third album Viva la Revolution in July 1999. The album is directly hit #1 on Oricon Chart in its debut week. The next album Lily of Da Valley did nearly as well. In 2003, Dragon Ash made a surprise with the new line-up, by adding 3 new members, Hiroki on guitar and two dancers, Dri-V and Atsushi. Some fans and critics didn’t like this change. They assumed that Dragon Ash does not need back dancers.
The best side of Dragon Ash is they are admirable. Lyrics of their songs are full of positive meaning like following one's dreams and being true to your friends and family. Unlike much American hip-hop that include threats of violence. For Japanese young people, rap is about such things sounds pretentious.
♫ MEMBERS ♫
Kenji "Kj" Furuya – vocals, guitar
Ikuzo "Iküzöne" Baba – bass
Makoto Sakurai – drums
Bots – DJ, samples, joined in 1999
Hiroki – electric guitar, joined in 2003
Atsushi – dance, joined in 2003
Dri-V – dance, joined in 2003
♫ Awards & nominations ♫
2002
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Artist (Winner)
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Group
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Live Performance
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Website
2003
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Video - Fantasista
2004
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Rock Video - Morrow
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Group Video - Morrow
2007
MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best buzzASIA Japan - Ivory
♫ Discography ♫
Albums
1997: Mustang!
1998: Buzz Songs
1999: Viva La Revolution
2001: Lily Of Da Valley
2003: Harvest
2004: Harvest Remixes
2005: Río de Emoción
2007: Independiente
2009: Freedom
2010: Mixture
EPs
1997: The Day Dragged On
1997: Public Garden
Singles/maxi singles
1997: "Rainy Day And Day"
1998: "Hi Wa Mata Noborikuri Kaesu"
1998: "Under Age's Song"
1999: "Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go"
1999: "Grateful Days"
1999: "I Love Hip Hop"
2000: "Deep Impact"
2000: "Summer Tribe"
2000: "Lily's E.P."
2002: "Life Goes On"
2002: "Fantasista"
2003: "Morrow"
2004: "Shade"
2005: "Crush The Window"
2005: "Yuunagi Union"
2006: "Ivory"
2006: "Few Lights Till Night"
2006: "Yume de Aetara"
2008: "Velvet Touch"
2008: "Tsunagari Sunset"
2009: "Unmei Kyoudoutai"
2010: "Ambitious"
2010: "Spirit of Progress E.P."
Digital download-limited singles
2009: "Callin'"
LPs
1998: Free Your Mind #33
2000: Deep Impact
2000: Summer Tribe
2000: Episode 2
2000: Amploud
2000: Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan Wo
2004: Harvest Remixes
Compilation albums
2007: The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.1
2007: The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol.2
Split albums
2003: Mob Squad
VHS
1998: Buzz Clips
2001: Lily Da Video
2003: Posse In Video
DVD
2001: Buzz Clips
2001: Lily Da Video
2003: Posse In Video
2005: Video de Emoción
2007: The Best Of Dragon Ash With Changes
data source:
Wikipedia
nippon.com
pics from:
changny.com
indowebster.web.id
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