Ma Ajmala
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- Posted: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:44:39 +0000
Zeebra is a Japanese rap star. There are many rappers now in Japan, but Zeebra is probably the most famous out of all the rappers. He is known as the first rapper in Japan. Zeebra is a former member of a legendary rap group Kinggidora, including DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine. Hip-hop was listened in clubs but it never used be popular in Japan like it is now. Zeebra appeared on several TV commercials, started hip-hop programs on TV, produced songs for upcoming rappers, and you could say he is the father of the Japanese rap scene.
After all the years Zeebra is still the most popular rapper in Japan. He appears not only on hip-hop magazines, but even in fashion magazines and street culture magazines. He is known for his smart and cool style, and he is popular by both man and women. He has a huge network in the rap scene and often features in and produces other rappers songs and appears in their videos. Zeebra also looks out to the world and he has done opening acts for American rappers for several years. He often over took the opening act because of his talented skills in rap.
In 1998 Zeebra did his first solo tour. This is when he started being recognized as an individual rapper for the first time. He made hip hop more familiar to Japanese listeners. In 1998 Zeebra started the first hip hop TV program in Japan called Beats to the Rhyme. Hip-hop started to get really popular around about this time. Zeebra's song was used in a Nike promotion video for NBA Japan games, many people liked this song and Nike Japan received several phone calls asking, "Who is this Zeebra guy?" The year after that Zeebra released his up coming single Mr. Dynamite. This was the first hip-hop single that ranked into the top 50 Japanese pop chart. In June of 2000, he released his new album Based On a True Story, this disc sold 250,000 copies. In the end of that year Zeebra started his first Japan tour, and it was the first hip-hop event to sell all tickets. In 2001 Zeebra released a single Never Enuff. This was a theme song for a Japanese movie showed in Hollywood called brother directed by Takeshi Kitano and starring Claude Maki. In 2002 the legendary rap group Kinggidorra made a astonishing come back and was noticed by many listeners. From 2003 he has started working on his solo work and released many songs. Now he is producing songs not only for rap artists, but also for pop stars like Namie Amuro.
Now hip hop has become very popular in Japan and many rap songs are in the upper end of the pop chart, and used as BGM for several shops. This would never have happened without Zeebra. He is truly the originator of the Japanese hip hop scene.
Discography
Albums Release date
The Rhyme Animal June 17, 1998
Based on a True Story June 14, 2000
The First Struggle May 29, 2002
Tokyo's Finest Winter of 2003
Singles
Mappiruma
The Rhyme Animal Remix E.P. 1
The Rhyme Animal Remix E.P. 2
Zeus 2000
Mr. Dynamite
Neva Enuff (featuring Aktion)
Baby Girl
Big Big Money
Supa Tech
Perfect Queen
After all the years Zeebra is still the most popular rapper in Japan. He appears not only on hip-hop magazines, but even in fashion magazines and street culture magazines. He is known for his smart and cool style, and he is popular by both man and women. He has a huge network in the rap scene and often features in and produces other rappers songs and appears in their videos. Zeebra also looks out to the world and he has done opening acts for American rappers for several years. He often over took the opening act because of his talented skills in rap.
In 1998 Zeebra did his first solo tour. This is when he started being recognized as an individual rapper for the first time. He made hip hop more familiar to Japanese listeners. In 1998 Zeebra started the first hip hop TV program in Japan called Beats to the Rhyme. Hip-hop started to get really popular around about this time. Zeebra's song was used in a Nike promotion video for NBA Japan games, many people liked this song and Nike Japan received several phone calls asking, "Who is this Zeebra guy?" The year after that Zeebra released his up coming single Mr. Dynamite. This was the first hip-hop single that ranked into the top 50 Japanese pop chart. In June of 2000, he released his new album Based On a True Story, this disc sold 250,000 copies. In the end of that year Zeebra started his first Japan tour, and it was the first hip-hop event to sell all tickets. In 2001 Zeebra released a single Never Enuff. This was a theme song for a Japanese movie showed in Hollywood called brother directed by Takeshi Kitano and starring Claude Maki. In 2002 the legendary rap group Kinggidorra made a astonishing come back and was noticed by many listeners. From 2003 he has started working on his solo work and released many songs. Now he is producing songs not only for rap artists, but also for pop stars like Namie Amuro.
Now hip hop has become very popular in Japan and many rap songs are in the upper end of the pop chart, and used as BGM for several shops. This would never have happened without Zeebra. He is truly the originator of the Japanese hip hop scene.
Discography
Albums Release date
The Rhyme Animal June 17, 1998
Based on a True Story June 14, 2000
The First Struggle May 29, 2002
Tokyo's Finest Winter of 2003
Singles
Mappiruma
The Rhyme Animal Remix E.P. 1
The Rhyme Animal Remix E.P. 2
Zeus 2000
Mr. Dynamite
Neva Enuff (featuring Aktion)
Baby Girl
Big Big Money
Supa Tech
Perfect Queen