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Rip Slyme

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Rip Slyme
2016
2016
Background information
OriginKanagawa, Japan
GenresHip hop
Years active1994–2018, 2021–current
LabelsWarner Music Japan
Members
Past members
  • DJ Shige
  • DJ Shouji
WebsiteOfficial website

Rip Slyme (often stylized as RIP SLYME) is a Japanese hip hop group composed of four MCs (Ryo-Z, Ilmari, Pes & Su) and a DJ, Fumiya. Their sound is influenced by old-school hip hop and other western rappers such as The Pharcyde, De La Soul, Public Enemy, Jurassic 5, the Beastie Boys, DJ Premier and Leaders of the New School.

During their career, they have released two indie albums, ten major albums, one live album, one indies collection, and three best-of albums. They released six singles as an indie act, and 17 with a major label.

On October 31, 2018, the group announced that they were suspending all activities.[1] This announcement came six months after a tabloid alleged that Su was cheating on his wife and the group started conducting activities without him.[2] Rip Slyme’s website has since shut down. Pes left the group as well in November 2017, but this was unknown to the general public until October 2021.

On April 15, 2021, Rip Slyme, now the trio of Ryo-Z, Ilmari & Fumiya, returned with the first of what was said to be five monthly singles, "Human Nature".[3] In April 2025, they announced that Pes and Su would be rejoining and the group would perform again as a five-piece until March of 2026.[4]

Members

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  • Ryo-Z: Ryouji Narita (成田亮治 Narita Ryouji), born July 15, 1974
  • Ilmari: Keisuke Ogihara (荻原恵介 Ogihara Keisuke), b. June 17, 1975
  • DJ Fumiya: Fumiya Takeuchi (竹内文也 Takeuchi Fumiya), b. March 14, 1979
  • Pes: Masatsugu Chiba (千葉昌嗣 Chiba Masatsugu), b. December 27, 1976
  • Su: Kazuto Otsuki (大槻一人 Kazuto Ootsuki), b. November 20, 1973

Timeline

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Biography

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The group was formed in 1994 by Ryo-Z and Ilmari, who were later joined by Pes (he attended the same school as Ilmari). The Rip in Rip Slyme stands for their initials. Slyme was a popular children's toy at that time. Their name is also a pun on the phrase "lips' rhyme". After winning an amateur rapping contest "Young MCs In Town", they started their musical career with a guest spot on fellow Japanese rap group Mellow Yellow's 1995 album Mellow Yellow Baby, and the release of their first album Lips Rhyme the same year. In 1997, DJ Fumiya (who had studied under East End X Yuri's DJ Yoggy) joined the group, and in 1998, Su (previously a backup dancer for East End X Yuri), joined during recording of their second album, "Talkin' Cheap", which was released later that year. In the years following this album release, Rip Slyme also took part in Dragon Ash's Total Communication event.

Becoming more successful, they signed to Warner Music Group in 2000. By then they had released several indie singles including their EP "Underline No. 5" and "Mata Au Hi Made" which had received the help of Fantastic Plastic Machine. "Mata Au Hi Made" was released on Warner Music Group's Indies label. Their first major single was "Stepper's Delight" released 22 March 2001. The title was a play on The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight".

In general, Fumiya composes most of the music, while Ryo-Z, Pes, Ilmari, and Su write their own lyrics. However, before Fumiya became a member, Pes composed most of the songs. Each member has tried their hand at composing music for Rip Slyme, and Pes occasionally played guitar on some tracks (Such as Home and More & More, for example). Allegedly, Pes was in a rock band before being introduced to hip hop music by Ilmari and Ryo-Z.

In 2002, they received MTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Hip-hop Group".

The same year they released a big-budget album "Tokyo Classic", which became Japan's first million-selling hip-hop album, with a sound compared to James Brown's soul and funk. Two singles from the album, "Funkastic" and "Rakuen Baby" collected MTV awards in 2003. "Super Shooter", featured as a B-side to their single "Galaxy", is also the theme song for the anime Gantz.

From late 2005 (after the release of Good Job! in August) through 2006, DJ Fumiya took an extended break, citing illness. For performances, a friend of the band, DJ Soma, was a stand-in. Fumiya returned to activity for concerts in late summer 2006, and for the Rip Slyme release, Epoch.[5]

On 7 July 2007, Rip Slyme performed their single "Nettaiya" at Live Earth in Kyoto, Japan. Later that year, they would go on to release their fifteenth major single, "Speed King", and their seventh Warner album, Funfair, shortly after.

In summer 2008, they released "Taiyou to Bikini". Later that year, three digital singles would debut, all of which would be on the February 2009 single "Stairs". Rip Slyme released their eighth album, Journey, on June 10, 2009.

Rip Slyme has provided voiceover work as well as new ending theme for the Japanese dub of SpongeBob SquarePants, replacing the original ending theme.[6] The first episode was first used on April 1, 2009, and was used until 2019.

In 2010, Rip Slyme was one of the artists launched on Warner Music's new sublabel, unBORDE.[7]

In October 2021, during the group's hiatus, Pes announced that he had quietly parted ways with Rip Slyme in November 2017 and stated that "a reunion would be difficult" due to the tensions he had with the other members.[8]

From 2022 to 2024, the group reunited, released new music, and performed live as a three-piece, now with two stand ins for the retired members: Wise, with whom Ryo-Z and Ilmari already collaborated in Teriyaki Boyz, performing for Su, as well as Emi Okamoto from Friends replacing Pes. In April 2025, however, they announced that they would be reuniting with the original five-person lineup until March 22, 2026, the twenty-fifth anniversary of their major debut.[9]

Side projects

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Ilmari formed a short lived group with Kj and BOTS of Dragon Ash, and Shigeo of Skebo King called Steady & Co. The group released their debut album Chambers in 2001. Ilmari and Ryo-Z along with Wise, Verbal of M-Flo, and Nigo the founder of A Bathing Ape formed a super group known as Teriyaki Boyz. The Teriyaki Boyz released two albums: Beef or Chicken (2005) and Serious Japanese (2009). In 2012 Ilmari formed a Hip-Hop/Rock band named The Beatmoss with Kosen, Yas, and Sohnosuke.[10] The group released two albums: The Beatmoss Vol. 1 (2012) and The Beatmoss Vol. 2 (2013).[10] Pes released his first solo album, Suteki na Koto in 2012.[11][12]

Discography

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Main article: Rip Slyme discography
  • Talkin' Cheap (1998)
  • Five (2001)
  • Tokyo Classic (2002)
  • Time to Go (2003)
  • Masterpiece (2004)
  • Epoch (2006)
  • Funfair (2007)
  • Journey (2009)
  • Star (2011)
  • Golden Time (2013)
  • 10 (2015)

Awards and nominations

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2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RIP SLYME OFFICIAL HP (archive)". RIP SLYME OFFICIAL HP via the Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ THE SPY! CREW (2018-10-31). "Hip-Hop group RIP SLYME to suspend all activities, official website closed on October 31st". Neo-Tokyo 2099. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
  3. ^ 新曲情報 (2022-04-15). ""RIP SLYME" released the new music song "Human Nature"". THE MAGAZINE. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ "RIP SLYMEから今後の活動に関するお知らせ". RIP SLYME. ripslyme.com. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Epoch RIP SLYME CD Album". CDJapan.co.jp. 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  6. ^ "RIP SLYME「スポンジ・ボブ」新テーマ提供＆声優にも挑戦 - 音楽ナタリー". Natalie.mu. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  7. ^ "Warner Music's new label unBORDE launches with Shinsei Kamattechan, RIP SLYME, Kusuo". Tokyograph.com. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  8. ^ THE SPY! CREW (2 November 2021). "PES has withdrawn from RIP SLYME, issues statement of why he left the group". Neo-Tokyo 2099. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  9. ^ "RIP SLYMEから今後の活動に関するお知らせ". RIP SLYME. ripslyme.com. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  10. ^ a b "The Beatmoss - rock band - jpop". Jpopasia.com. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  11. ^ "PES reveals details on his first solo album". Tokyohive.com. 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  12. ^ "Yahoo". My.entertainment.yahoo.com. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
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