CA4LA MUSIC CONNECTION vol.10
Ryohu
A turning point in discovering the “Ryohu genre”
For artists, there is always some kind of turning point in the process of creating works and the source of their activities at any given time. "CA4LA MUSIC CONNECTION" is a serial project in which we interview artists about what was a turning point in their activities and ask them to respond. The 10th artist to appear is Ryohu. Although he is a rapper who belongs to the hip-hop group KANDYTOWN, he is also a member of bands such as Zut's Retells and Aun Beatz, and has built a unique career through borderless activities such as featuring in songs by Base Ball Bear and Suchmos. Mr. Ryohu. His first full-length album “DEBUT” released in 2020 is a work that looks at his life so far, and the song “The Moment” was featured in an Apple commercial and attracted a lot of attention. In this interview, we explore his identity as an artist, starting with his encounter with the live house Shimokitazawa GARAGE, which is the root of his borderless activities, and also talk about his new single "One Way feat. YONCE" and his collaboration with CA4LA. We also asked about COLLABORATION items.
Text by Atsutake Kaneko
Photo by Kana Tarumi
Interview: Ryohu
“Since I met various artists, listened to music, held sessions, and just played around, I think the existence of Shimokitazawa GARAGE has had a great influence on my current stance.”
Ryohu, the reason you became interested in music was hip-hop, right?
From there, you gradually became absorbed in hip-hop as a culture.
RyohuThat 's right. I started out with King Ghidorah, but I also listened to the current hip-hop of that time, when I went to see live performances by Rai Kazoku and Mousozoku, and when I was overseas, I listened to Fabolous and other R&B singers. Tete. At the same time, I had the feeling that ``the 90's are undeniable,'' so I listened to music like RHYMESTER in Japan and NAS overseas, and learned about the concept of sampling there. I fell in love with music, and that's how I fell in love with hip-hop, including its culture and history.
Was there anything about fashion that attracted you to hip-hop?
Because there was Ryohu B-BOY culture. I could tell at a glance who liked hip-hop when I walked down the street. Everyone was wearing baggy clothes, and I naturally thought that was cool. I also bought an XXL T-shirt and wore that kind of fashion.
However, Ryohu is currently active in multiple genres, not just hip-hop. While belonging to a hip-hop crew called BankRoll, which was the predecessor of KANDYTOWN, there was a time when he formed a band called Zutto's Letters with the members of OKAMOTO'S, and he often appeared at the live house GARAGE in Shimokitazawa. I think that's where my roots came from.
RyohuOriginally, IO and YUSHI (both members of BankRoll~KANDYTOWN) and OKAMOTO'S members went to the same high school. BankRoll and OKAMOTO'S also appeared there and did something like a session. So, even though I wasn't really listening to rock music back then, I was enjoying live instruments. So, from that session, around the time I graduated from high school, I formed Zut's Letters, and we all shared our favorite music, and little by little, I came into contact with music other than hip-hop. Along the way, I was taken to GARAGE, where I met various artists, listened to music, held sessions, and just played around. I think.
"When I first heard Suchmos perform 'GIRL' live, I thought it was really good. I got a great offer.”
Shimokitazawa GARAGE unfortunately closed at the end of last year.
Ryohu Garage has something like an underground martial arts event. There is a mysterious event where you don't know what you're going to do (laughs). But he didn't mind it at all, just like, "Kamasu-ssho", and from there I became friends with Mr. Deguchi. Mr. is a person who is always looking for something fun to do, and he has always liked rap in his generation, and at that time it was rare for rappers to be at live houses, so we immediately exchanged contact information. I started getting calls like "Let's do something" and "Let's play", and I've been indebted to you for a long time, so the event itself is very GARAGE-like.
The person who is there, the box itself is open-minded, and there must have been a foundation for mixing various things. It was also at GARAGE that you met Base Ball Bear, who featured in the 2010 release "Lipstick Detective", right?
RyohuThat 's right. Originally, I really didn't know anything about the band, and I didn't even know who was famous, but I happened to have the opportunity to talk with Koi-chan (Yusuke Koide) when I went to the GARAGE. At that time, I was a little kid who couldn't even use honorifics, but he loved me. So, I decided to go straight to dinner, and at that time there was a big signboard along the train tracks in Shimokitazawa. Monday to Sunday, Nippon Budokan." Even at the time, I knew that the Budokan was amazing, so I remember being surprised, saying, "Are you someone who performs at the Budokan? He's not a good rapper."
Ahaha. Base Ball Bear was a band that had an interest in and understanding of hip-hop, which was rare at the time.
I think Koi-chan was the first Ryohu official to say, "Let's do it together."
YONCE of Suchmos participated in the new song, and Ryohu has participated in Suchmos' "GIRL" in the past, but was it around this time that you met YONCE?
In Ryohu Suchmos, the first person I properly connected with was Hayata (HSU). At the time, I was in a band called Aun Beatz, and I often played with Suchmos, and first became friends with Hayata. Regarding “GIRL”, I originally heard Suchmos perform it live and thought it was great. I asked, "Do you have a CD containing 'GIRL'?" So I said, "Well, I'll rap in the interlude, so I don't need a guarantee, so use it as a bonus." When I said that, a real offer came a little later, and at that timing, I felt like I became friends with everyone, including YONCE.
“When I was first approached by a major label, I had no image of making an album.
Ryohu seems to have established a cross-genre position now, but how did you feel about your identity at the time?
There was the Ryohu Base Ball Bear featuring, and at the time when I was going to a big live house and experiencing various things, a major label asked me, "Would you like to make a solo album?" I ended up not doing it then. The series of events I've talked about so far was just for fun. There is no thought like "Who am I?" Of course, I was getting paid for my work, but that wasn't the reason I was doing it. I would go to live houses, participate in sessions with bands I didn't know at all, and be like, "I'm sorry for just now." But we became friends from there, and that was fun. That's why, even when I received an offer from a major label, I didn't have the image of making an album at all. We had fun playing music every night and it was just that.
Ahahahaha.
RyohuIf I worked hard, I might have been able to make something, but I was about 20 years old at the time, so rather than making an album, it was more fun to make music at that moment. That's why I turned it down.
Then, when and at what timing did consciousness change from there?
If there is one thing for Ryohu, it might be that each member of KANDYTOWN has become a mindset of going out into the world. Until then, I was just enjoying making songs as an extension of my leisure time, but I hadn't released any of them. ?” and made a free download mixtape. The reaction was more than I expected, and I knew that "if I put it out, there would be a reaction." That's when I finally started to feel like, "Don't do it now, when are you going to do it?" Looking back now, it was pretty big. It's not as much as ``going back'', but in the flow of going forward with everyone who started rapping, ``I have to do something too''. I was doing a lot of things before anyone else, but my point of view changed a little, and I began to think that it was important for everyone to go out into the world, and that it was fun. It may have been big.
“(Solo activities) are like ‘doing a genre called Ryohu. I feel like
As your awareness of your activities has become outward-facing, have you reconsidered your own identity?
Ryohu: I haven't thought about it that deeply, but... if I may say so, there was a time when I thought it was cool to be a rapper because I was with the band for a long time. Originally, I like rappers, and that hasn't changed for a long time, but before I knew it, there was a difference between what I was doing and what I wanted to be a rapper. That's a good thing, but it made me want to lean more toward hip-hop. However, the solution was quick. Since there is KANDYTOWN, I thought I should do hip-hop here. After all, KANDYTOWN was the beginning, and I have my own image of a rapper there, so I could say that I was able to digest it there. So, it was early that the clouds cleared for Ryohu's activities.
Because of KANDYTOWN who can be a rapper, Ryohu as a solo artist can do cross-genre activities.
Ryohu It's like, "I'm doing a genre called Ryohu." However, since I don't have a role model, I have to develop myself. I feel like I've finally found the kind of music I want to do.
Through collaborating with TENDRE and Tomita Lab, who have participated as producers in his solo works so far, he has been able to see what he really wants to do.
RyohuPersonally, I don't like it if I don't do it myself in the end. I hate it when I don't understand myself properly. Doing what someone told you to do and being frustrated when it doesn't turn out the way you want it to be, it's better to do it yourself and fail. Of course, there are a number of options to rely on, but whether the results are good or bad, I will take it as an experience and later make it my own. There's something about that kind of stubbornness.
That must have been very important, and without it, there might have been a risk of being seen as the type of person who just COLLABORATION with a variety of people. But no matter who I collaborate with, I always have my core of Ryohu, and that's why I was able to jump into any place. This may seem obvious, but I think it's a very important part.
RyohuI would be happy if that was the case.
“There have been good times and bad times, but we have moved forward together, so now our paths cross again, and from now on we will go our separate ways. This is not just for me and YONCE, but for everyone’s life. that apply
Now, please tell us about the new song “ONE WAY”. Mr. YONCE from Suchmos, who was also mentioned in the talk, is participating, and it seems that he will release singles for 5 months in a row from now on.
RyohuThe last album was more than just "what kind of music to make", but without anyone featuring it, I was talking about myself, including my history, in my own words. hand. I've never faced myself like that in my life, so the moment I finished making that, I thought, "Next time, let's put in a feature." Actually, at first, I had the idea of having someone sing the hook of "The Moment", and I had mentioned YONCE's name as one of the candidates, but in the end I decided to sing "The Moment" myself. But when the demo for this song was completed, it felt like "I can hear YONCE's voice", so when I asked him to do it, he willingly agreed.
How did you decide on the lyric theme?
Ryohu: After working together on “GIRL”, we each went our separate ways, he was him and I was me, so many things have happened up until now, but with this song, our paths crossed again. The reason why this happened is because we are moving forward. If you don't stop, things like this can happen. There have been good times and bad times, but we've moved forward together, so now our paths cross again, and from now on we'll go our separate ways. This kind of thing isn't just me and YONCE, it applies to everyone's life, so I thought that kind of theme would be good. Also, I put some dark parts in my previous album, but now that I have a family, I don't think too much about it. I don't want to think negatively, I can't complain, and I want to give it a positive feeling like "I have no choice but to do it".
"From the point of 'normally this is what it is', I want to change one thing. I want to add improvisation, and that hasn't changed."
Lastly, please tell us about the collaboration items with CA4LA. What was your original passion for hats?
RyohuOf course, I often wore New Era. After I got a little older, I wore various things like a six-panel dad hat. I've been a bald boy for a long time, so now I don't feel like I wake up in the morning and worry about my bed habits. That's natural.
Please talk with CA4LA about the design of the collaboration item.
Ryohu: I decided on the shape after looking at a few samples, but I wanted the front part to be made of a different material. I requested that it be made of this kind of rubber material.
It's based on cap called CA4LA M type, but the M type inevitably has corners in the center, so he told me that it lacked a bit of a hip-hop feel. That's why I made the front into a semicylindrical shape so that the front panel stands upright.
RyohuWhen I saw it, I thought, "There's a shape like this? It's so interesting. I've never seen anything like it before, so it's amazing." and immediately decided.
CA4LA also received a request for cap could be quickly put on and would fit the customer's head size without having to adjust the size when leaving the house, so we proposed making the back shirred so that the cap could be quickly put on and left without having to adjust the size.
RyohuAt first I thought about embedding rubber inside, but I thought it was a little different, and then he brought me this idea, and I thought it was cool. It's just a matter of adjusting the size yourself. But I wanted to do something a little different, so I chose something easy. Also, if it's plain, people won't know what kind of cap it is, so we talked about "why don't we put text on it?" and there was also an idea to embroider a handwritten signature. However, we were also talking about names at that time, and I casually put my name on the outside and said, "Isn't it bad that the name tag is on the outside?" and he adopted that idea. This way you can tell whose hat it is at a glance, and if you're worried, you can take it off.
CA4LA four-point fastening makes it fairly easy to remove, so you can reattach it wherever you like.
It would be nice to wear it on a Ryohu T-shirt. Well, this is playful. If I see someone wearing this, I might call out to them (laughs).
Originally, my reason for doing music was "because it's fun", and there have been many changes since then as I grew up, but the underlying motivation of "because it's fun" hasn't changed, since this collaboration item. I feel that spirituality too.
Ryohu: It's kind of like looking at things from a bird's-eye view, or something like "I'm going to do it". For example, "this kind of music is easy to listen to" or "this kind of music is trendy", after understanding the correct answer in the world, if it suits you, I think it's okay to do it, but it's not fun for me to do it as it is. I think. I can't help but come out with a stubborn side, and I don't like it. Even with the name tag on cap this time, someday I might say, "It would have been better if I just put it on the inside." This is my childishness. After all, I want to change one thing from the place where I'm like, "If it's normal, it's like this." It makes me want to add improvisational elements, and that hasn't changed.
A rapper/track maker from Setagaya, Tokyo, who also works as a member of the hip-hop crew KANDYTOWN. He started making music in his teens and worked with members of OKAMOTO'S as Zutto Zuretels. In 2016, he released his first album "KANDYTOWN" as KANDYTOWN through Warner Music Japan. In 2017, he started his solo career in earnest, releasing the EP "Blur" (2017) and the mixtape "Ten Twenty" (2018). His solo tour, held in five cities in 2019, ended with great success. In 2020, he provided songs for the GU x SOPH. COLLABORATION collection "1MW by SOPH." and participated as an image visual. In November of the same year, he released his first album "DEBUT" through Victor/SPEEDSTAR RECORDS, which includes the song "The Moment" used in the "App Store" commercial song. In April 2022, the first of five consecutive releases will be the digital release of "One Way feat. YONCE," a song featuring Suchmos's vocalist YONCE. To date, he has participated as a guest on works by various artists, including Base Ball Bear, Suchmos, Petrols, OKAMOTO'S, Aimyon, Tomita Lab, TENDRE, AAAMYYY, and Rei.
HP(Ryohu) | HP (KANDYTOWN) | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Ryohu Digital Single「One Way feat.YONCE」
Release Date：2022.04.06(wed)
Download/Streaming： https://jvcmusic.lnk.to/OneWay
