Generasia would not be possible without tokyograph and all the wonderful people who've contributed over the past 15 years. Thank you!

Difference between revisions of "Dragon Ash"
m (→‎Singles)
Line 57: Line 57:
 
* [2008.12.03] [[Tsunagari Sunset|Tsunagari SUNSET]] (繋がりSUNSET; ''Linking Sunset'')
 
* [2008.12.03] [[Tsunagari Sunset|Tsunagari SUNSET]] (繋がりSUNSET; ''Linking Sunset'')
 
* [2009.02.04] [[Unmei Kyoudoutai]] (運命共同体; ''Fate Cooperative System'')
 
* [2009.02.04] [[Unmei Kyoudoutai]] (運命共同体; ''Fate Cooperative System'')
 +
* [2010.06.16] [[Ambitious|AMBITIOUS]]
  
 
===Digital Download===
 
===Digital Download===

Revision as of 12:11, 14 May 2010

Dragon Ash (ドラゴンアッシュ) is a Japanese Hip-Hop and rock fusion group under MOB SQUAD label and led by Kj. They are an icon in Japan and were one of the first groups to create J-Hip-Hop. They brought a western flavor to Japanese music and helped to turn rap music into a mixture of reggae, rap, rap-rock, punk, Spanish, and R&B influences.

Members

Information

The group was originally formed by high school friends Furuya Kenji and Sakurai Makoto. They held auditions for band members, and hired on bassist Ikuzo Baba who was 29 at the time and had some experience in the music business. Dragon Ash began playing live in 1996, and in 1997 signed on with Victor Entertainment Inc.. They added another high school friend, DJ BOTS, which led their sound away from punk to more "mixture-kei" (punk combined with hip-hop). Their debut album, Mustang! did well, and was particularly popular in indie/alternative circles. They became more popular after the releases of Grateful Days and I ♥ HIP HOP in 1999. Dragon Ash use various samples from many American rock bands, inluding The Smashing Pupkins and The Arrows. They became even more popular outside Japan when their song "Shizuka na Hibi no Kaidan wo" was chosen to be the ending theme for the popular Japanese movie, Battle Royale. With VIVA LA REVOLUTION album the band won more fans who grew up with rock and hip-hop sounds. It was heard everywhere, and was one of the most popular albums in 1999. In 2001 they released Lily of da valley and did nearly as well. It contained a somewhat harder and powerful sound.

During 2003, Dragon Ash surprised many by announcing a new line-up, which included three new members, Hiroki on guitar, and dancers DRI-V and ATSUSHI. Some fans and critics didn't like the change, feeling that Dragon Ash being a serious band did not need "back dancers". On July 23, 2003 after over two years without a new album, Dragon Ash finally released HARVEST, which further pushed the envelope, and as a result received somewhat mixed reviews. While Dragon Ash may no longer be the sensation that they were in 1999, the group remains widely respected, and their new releases much anticipated. They already won two MTV Awards: one for "Best Rock Video" with "Fantasista" in 2002 and another for Best buzzASIA Japan with "Ivory" in 2007.

Discography

Albums

Mini-Albums

Best Albums

Singles

Digital Download

Analog

VHS / DVD

External Links

Retrieved from "http://www.generasia.com/w/index.php?title=Dragon_Ash&oldid=116662"