M Flo: История японского хип-хоп коллектива

Japanese hip hop group

M Flo (エムフロウ) 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. 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 hiatus, stating that each member would be focusing on their respective side projects. In 2012 the group ended their hiatus with the release of Square One on March 14, 2012. On December 14, 2017, Lisa returned to the group 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 to celebrate past years of the group, that contained all the 150 songs they released since their debut.

Taku Takahashi (高橋 拓) 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. 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 Boston College and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary It was shortened by the group's label to "M Flo". 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. 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.

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 Ravex, a collaboration with fellow Avex DJs Tomoyuki Tanaka and Shinichi Osawa established to mark 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 Emi Hinouchi, Yoshika, Emyli, Ryohei Yamamoto and Lisa. Since Astromantic, these artists have been collectively referred to as the Global Astro Alliance. In addition to the earlier Sotoshigoto: M Flo Turns It Out!, Verbal and Taku have released three compilations of collaborations between M Flo, the Global Astro Alliance, and other artists. The first, 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.

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 Beat Space Nine) was re released for the Shadow the Hedgehog video game that came out in November 2005. A commercial for the game, featuring Taku and Verbal, was also aired. Taku and Verbal are big fans of the character Shadow. The remix can be found on the Japanese iTunes version (as a bonus track) of the remix album, Dope Space Nine.