Rip Slyme first began in 1994 with Ryo- Z and Ilmari, friends since elementary school, working as an MC duo. They performed at parties and events, and made their first mark winning a rap contest called "Young MCs in Town". The next to join in was Pes, who met Ilmari while attending an international school in Tokyo. In its early stages, the group also had two DJs, who were with them only shortly. In 1995 this line-up released the mini album "Lip's Rhyme". DJ Fumiya, who had...

Rip Slyme first began in 1994 with Ryo- Z and Ilmari, friends since elementary school, working as an MC duo. They performed at parties and events, and made their first mark winning a rap contest called "Young MCs in Town". The next to join in was Pes, who met Ilmari while attending an international school in Tokyo. In its early stages, the group also had two DJs, who were with them only shortly. In 1995 this line-up released the mini album "Lip's Rhyme". DJ Fumiya, who had previously deejayed with the Okinawan idol group Speed, signed on with Rip Slyme in 1997. The group, as it is now known, was completed in 1998 with rapper/dancer Su. Su had formerly been a back dancer in East End x Yuri, who have the distinction of scoring the first ever Japanese hip hop hit - 1994's million selling "Da Yo Ne". Su added to the stage dynamic with his prowess as a dancer, and increasingly the group included dance routines and comic bits to their shows. The four MCs rotate vocals, and have developed an entertaining live show, something that many rappers lack. In 1998 the group also released their first full album Talkin' Cheap, on indie File Records. In 1999 Rip Slyme picked up some major exposure when they were chosen to appear in Dragon Ash's high profile event "Total Music Communication". In 2000 the group signed to Warner Brothers, and quickly established themselves as one of the top hip-hop outfits in Japan. Their first single release for Warner in 2001, "Stepper's Delight", was a major hit, as was their first Warner album, 5. 2002's follow-up, Tokyo Classic, was even bigger. In 2003 Rip Slyme won four MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Video of the Year, for "Rakuen Babe", and Best Hip Hop Video for "Funkastic", both from the million seller Tokyo Classic. In 2003 Nike chose "Stepper's Delight" to be featured in a TV commercial shown throughout Asia, the first Japanese artist to ever to be so featured. That summer the group drew 50,000 people to an outdoor performance at Tokyo's Showa Kinen Park. Also in 2003 the group did their first international shows, touring thru Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. While many Japanese hip hop groups do little more than copy American hip hop, Rip Slyme's style is more positive and humorous than most American hip hop. Also they have mixed in various elements, including old school funk, used guest singers, done a cover of Pizzicato Five's "Non-Stop To Tokyo" for a tribute album, and their own version blues legend Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy". The members of Rip Slyme also dabble in a number of outside projects. Ryo-Z and Fumiya, under the name O.T.F. (Oshare Track Factory) produced the quite successful duo Halicali. Ilmari formed a unit with Salyu (aka Lilly Chou Chou) and released the album Valon, the recording of which was handled by well known producer Takefumi Kobayashi (Mr. Children, My Little Lover, Southern All Stars). Ryo-Z and Ilmari have also teamed with Verbal of m-flo and Wise of Kaze no Hito to form Teriyaki Boyz, who recorded the track "Kamikaze 108" for a (B)APE Sounds compilation.