Zeebra
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Zeebra is a Japanese rap star. There are many rappers now in Japan, but Zeebra is probably the most famous of all. Known as the first rapper in Japan, Zeebra is a former member of a legendary rap group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine. Having appeared in several TV commercials, started hip-hop programs on TV, and produced songs for upcoming rappers, Zeebra could be called the father of the Japanese rap scene.
After all these years Zeebra remains the most popular rapper in Japan. He appears not only in hip-hop magazines, but even in fashion magazines and street culture magazines. Known for his smart and cool style, he is popular among 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.
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 following year Zeebra released the single Mr. Dynamite, the first hip-hop single that broke into the top 50 on the Japanese pop charts. In June of 2000, he released his new album Based On a True Story, selling sold 250,000 copies. At the end of that year Zeebra started his first Japan tour, the first hip-hop event to sell out. In 2001 Zeebra released a single Never Enuff, a theme song for a Japanese movie called brother directed by Takeshi Kitano and starring Claude Maki. In 2002 the legendary rap group King Giddra made a astonishing comeback and was noticed by many listeners. Zeebra has been doing solo work since 2003 and has released many songs. At present, how he is producing songs not only for rap artists, but also for pop stars like Namie Amuro.
Hip-hop is now firmly ensconced in the Japanese music scene, to the extent that it is even heard as background music. 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 | |
| Street Dreams |