MINMI

MINMI promoting "La La La ~Ai no Uta~" (2012)

MINMI is a Japanese urban singer-songwriter whose music is heavily influenced by Jamaican music such as reggae and dancehall. She started performing in 1996 but didn't make her debut until 2002 with the single "The Perfect Vision" under Victor Entertainment. She writes most of the lyrics for her songs as well as doing many of their arrangements. MINMI is known for her song "Shiki no Uta", which was the main ending theme for the anime Samurai Champloo, as well as the ending used in episode twelve, "Who's Theme". In 2008, after the release of her best album MINMI BEST 2002-2008, MINMI transferred to the Universal Music Japan sub-label, Far Eastern Tribe Records.

Profile

• Stage Name: MINMI
• Real Name: Michiko Evwana
• Birthday: December 8, 1975
• Birthplace: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
• Influences: Capleton Capleton, Faith Evans, Teddy Riley, Wayne Marshall, Mary J. Blige, Usher

Information

MINMI promoting Miracle (2003)

MINMI first started performing back in 1996, taking place in local ruba dub and hip hop shows throughout Osaka. Since her debut she has been working hard making her tracks, writing lyrics and music. It didn't take long for MINMI hype to pick up, and she was soon working with big artists like Red Spider and MIGHTY JAM ROCK.

MINMI signed to Victor Entertainment and debuted in August 2002 with the reggae-styled single, "The Perfect Vision". The song became quite popular on radio stations. The single reached #4 on the Oricon weekly charts; at the time it was the highest ranking debut single from a female artist since Utada Hikaru's "Automatic / Time Will Tell". (In 2006, ayaka's "I believe" reached #3.)

In December 2002, MINMI released her second single, "T.T.T.". Unlike her first single, it had a more conventional hip-hop sound. The single ranked low and sold less than her debut, but the single's fresh sound helped grab attention from the public, mainly that of teenage girls.

MINMI promoting "Ai no Mi" (2004)

Not long into 2003, MINMI released her debut album, Miracle. The album ranked #2 on the Oricon weekly charts. The album spent two months in the top 20, eventually selling 467,175 copies and becoming the #21 album of the year. She then started the tour LIVE TOUR 2003 "Miracle" on May 20, 2003. The tickets for all shows sold out almost immediately, and all of the venues were full.

Her next single, "Another World", was released in September 2003, followed by her fourth single, "Ai no Mi", in March 2004. Both singles ranked in the bottom half of the top 20. The B-side from "Ai no Mi", "Shiki no Uta", was used as an ending theme for the anime Samurai Champloo and has become one of her most recognized songs.

imagine, MINMI's second album, was released on June 30, 2004. It managed to reached the #3 position on the Oricon weekly chart. Much like with her first album, MINMI launched her second tour, MINMI LIVE TOUR 2004 "imagine" on September 10, 2004. A concert DVD was later released on December 8th along with her fifth single, "Are yu ready". The single featured a mix of her usual hip-hop/reggae sound and a traditional Japanese instrument, the shamisen.

MINMI promoting "Summertime!!" (2005)

In July 2005, MINMI released her sixth single, "Summertime!!". This time, the track used influences from soca music. After the single's release, she became very active with live events. MINMI set up a monthly reggae club event in Tokyo. She then went out on a tour and was the featured artist in the annual SUMMER SONIC concert. In September, she released FRIENDS ~MINMI featuring works BEST~, a compilation album featuring two discs of tracks that she had been featured on.

In 2006, MINMI was invited to Trinidad and Tobago's annual festival known as Carnival. She performed there in front of 30,000 people, including Wyclef Jean of the Fugees. Her seventh single, "Nishiazabu Densetsu", was released in late February 2006 and was the lead-in single for her third studio album, Natural, which was released on March 29, 2006 and reached #6 on the Oricon weekly chart (ten spots higher than FRIENDS). MINMI once again launched a tour to support her new album, and on November 22, 2006 released a concert DVD, MINMI Natural Show Case 2006 In Zepp Tokyo. Before that, in July 2006, MINMI released her eighth single, "I Love You Baby", which barely charted in the top 50.

MINMI moved her musical adventures overseas in 2007. She teamed up with Machel Montano and composed the track "Sha na na ~Japanese wine~". They entered the song into the International Soca Monarch competition where it reached the final round of the competition. Five months later, she released the single in Japan.

On June 26, 2007, MINMI married Wakadanna from Shonannokaze. She gave birth to their first son on November 11, 2007. Ten days later, MINMI released a love song concept album called THE LOVE SONG COLLECTION 2006-2007.

While pregnant with her second child, MINMI's fourth studio album, MOTHER, was released on July 7, 2010. It was her first studio album in over four years. On August 4th, she gave birth to a boy in New York (August 5th in Japan time).

Minmi has announced that she is pregnant with her 3rd child, she announced at a live show. She is due this spring.

Discography

MINMI promoting "I Love You Baby" (2006)

MINMI promoting THE LOVE SONG COLLECTION 2006-2007 (2007)

MINMI promoting "Ashita Moshimo Kimi ga Inai..." (2009)

MINMI promoting MOTHER (2010)

MINMI promoting THE HEART SONG COLLECTION (2011)

Studio Albums

• [2003.03.19] Miracle
• [2004.06.30] imagine
• [2006.03.29] Natural
• [2010.07.07] MOTHER

Compilation Albums

• [2005.09.22] FRIENDS ~MINMI featuring works BEST~
• [2007.11.21] THE LOVE SONG COLLECTION 2006-2007
• [2008.06.04] MINMI BEST 2002-2008
• [2009.08.19] SUMMER COLLECTION WITH MUSIC CLIPS
• [2011.08.24] THE HEART SONG COLLECTION

Singles

• [2002.08.21] The Perfect Vision
• [2002.12.04] T.T.T.
• [2003.09.17] Another World
• [2004.03.31] Ai no Mi (アイの実; Love Fruit)
• [2004.12.08] Are yu ready
• [2005.07.06] Summertime!! (サマータイム!!)
• [2006.02.22] Nishiazabu Densetsu (西麻布伝説; Nishiazabu Legend)
• [2006.07.12] I Love You Baby
• [2007.07.18] Sha Na Na☆ (シャナナ☆)
• [2009.06.17] Ave Maria (アベマリア)
• [2009.11.11] Ashita Moshimo Kimi ga Inai... (アシタもしもキミがいない・・・; What If I Don't Have You Tomorrow...)
• [2010.05.26] Hibiscus (ハイビスカス)
• [2010.09.08] Patto Hana Saku feat. VERBAL (パッと花咲く; Suddenly the Flowers Blossom)
• [2012.07.04] La La La ~Ai no Uta~ (ラララ ~愛のうた~; La La La ~Song of Love)

International Singles

• [2007.??.??] Rastaman Drive Mi Crazy feat. Anthony B (Jamaica)
• [2007.02.06] Sha na na ~Japanese wine~ feat. Machel Montano HD New Mixes (Trinidad & Tobago)
• [2007.02.20] Sha na na ~Japanese wine~ feat. Machel Montano HD (Trinidad & Tobago)

DVDs

• [2004.12.08] MINMI LIVE TOUR 2004 "imagine"
• [2005.07.27] MINMI Video Clips 2002~2005. Summer
• [2006.11.22] MINMI Natural Show Case 2006 In Zepp Tokyo
• [2009.12.02] MINMI LIVE ~Freedom in Awajishima~ (MINMI LIVE ~Freedom in 淡路島~)
• [2012.06.27] LIVE TOUR "Himawari" ~Road to 10th Anniversary~ at Saitama Super Arena (LIVE TOUR　"向日葵" ~Road to 10th Anniversary~ at さいたまスーパーアリーナ)

Other DVDs

• [2008.02.03] FREEDOM 08 (#16 Summer Time!!, #17 Aira, #18 Kiseki, #19 Sha Na Na☆, #20 Manatsu no Orion with TAKUMA from 10-FEET, #21 Lotta Love (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2011.06.29] INFINITY16 - Juroku Shunen Nippon Budokan (#12 Manatsu no Orion welcomez MINMI, 10-FEET)
• [2012.02.29] ap bank fes '11 Fund for Japan

Compilations / Others

• [2000.09.xx] SILVER KING - Tornade feat. MINMI
• [2001.10.xx] JUMBO MAATCH from MIGHTY JAM ROCK - Shot Dem Up feat. MINMI
• [2002.05.22] SKY IS THE LIMIT (#11 3Minute Special (SILVER KING feat. MINMI))
• [2002.05.22] VADER - Parasite feat. MINMI
• [2002.07.xx] BOOGIE MAN - I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend feat. MINMI
• [2002.08.xx] TAKAFIN from MIGHT JAM ROCK - Journey Into... feat. MINMI
• [2003.07.30] Shonannokaze - Real Riders (#13 Cry feat. MINMI)
• [2003.10.08] Rock City (#1 The Rock City (VADER & MINMI), #11 24/7)
• [2003.12.17] PUSHIM - WORKING GIRL (#1 Independent Woman with MINMI)
• [2004.06.02] VADER - V-XL (Five Extra Large) (#5 The Rock City feat. MINMI)
• [2004.06.23] Departure (#17 Shiki No Uta)
• [2004.08.04] HOME GROWN - Time Is Reggae (#1 Irie Music feat. PUSHIM, MOOMIN, H-MAN & MIGHTY JAM ROCK <JUMBO MAATCH, TAKAFIN & BOXER KID>, #13 Set Mi Free, Let Mi Be feat. MINMI & BOXER KID from MIGHTY JAM ROCK)
• [2004.08.18] Shonannokaze - Raga Parade (#8 My Way feat. MINMI)
• [2004.09.22] Impression (#23 Who's Theme)
• [2004.09.29] DJ KAORI - DJ KAORI'S "RIDE" into the PARTY (#7 Another World, #10 PUT A SPELL ON U (AKA MMB), #12 STEP feat. TAKAFIN)
• [2004.11.25] SAL the soul - Urban Soul Odyssey (#3 KEEP ON STEPPIN feat. MINMI)
• [2005.05.21] MUNEHIRO - Day Dreamer feat. MINMI
• [2005.08.03] Tag the Mic (#8 Another World)
• [2006.03.15] Raganchu (#4 Another World)
• [2006.04.19] 10 Feet - 6-Feat (# CHERRY BLOSSOM feat. MINMI)
• [2006.06.28] Trance Rave Best #12 Special (#3 Summer Time!! [DJ KAYA"TRANCE RAVE"REMIX])
• [2006.07.26] m-flo - m-flo Inside -Works Best II- (#1 Lotta Love (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2006.08.23] HOME GROWN - Extra High Grade Works (#14 HAPPY SONG 2004)
• [2006.08.30] Shonannokaze - Riders High (#9 HAPPY TODAY feat. MINMI)
• [2006.10.18] Kenty-Gross - Good Time Yu Know (#3 Rock City 3 feat. MINMI)
• [2006.11.08] m-flo - Love Song (#3 Lotta Love -yasutaka nakata capsule mix- (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2007.02.07] Bakuso Angel -All Japanese Reggae Dub Mix CD- (#2 Are yu ready)
• [2007.03.28] m-flo - COSMICOLOR (#15 Lotta Love (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2007.04.18] INFINITY 16 - Dream Lover (#1 Dream Lover welcomez MINMI, Shonannokaze, MOOMIN)
• [2007.08.29] INFINITY 16 - Manatsu no Orion (#1 Manatsu no Orion welcomez MINMI, 10-Feet)
• [2007.09.19] m-flo - electriCOLOR -COMPLETE REMIX- (#1 Lotta Love -yasutaka nakata capsule mix- (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2007.10.17] Kato Miliyah - LALALA / FUTURECHECKA (#1 LALALA)

• [2008.10.29] DJ KAORI - DJ KAORI'S JMIX II (#24 Summer Time!!)
• [2008.11.26] DJ KOMORI - What's R&B ? (Japanese R&B Mix CD) (#8 Superstitious)
• [2008.12.03] COTATSU REGGAE (#4 Ai no Mi)
• [2008.12.26] Wonderful Tunes ~Love Winter~ (#2 Kiseki no Christmas ☆ Miracle)
• [2009.01.28] DJ MASTERKEY - FROM THE STREETS KING OF MIX (#7 SUNSHINE)
• [2009.02.25] C-love FRAGRANCE (#7 Sha Na Na☆ ~Japanese wine~ feat. Machel Montano)
• [2009.07.08] WOMAN WI NAME (#5 Summer Time!! -YOSAKOI CARNIVAL MIX-)
• [2009.07.22] BOOMANIA ~THE BOOM SPECIAL BEST COVERS~ (Disc 2 #3 Hoshi no Love Letter feat. MINMI, PETER MAN)
• [2009.09.09] Osawa Shinichi - TEPPAN-YAKI -A Collection Of Remixes-
• [2009.09.30] men's egg night -M10- (men's egg 10th Anniversary) (#2 Summer Time!! [DJ KAYA "TRANCE RAVE" REMIX])
• [2009.09.30] bmr presents SWEET RHYTHM (#9 Another World)
• [2009.11.25] DJ KAORI - DJ KAORI'S JMIX III (#1 Lotta Love (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2009.12.09] Okuru Reggae (#1 Manatsu no Orion welcomez MINMI, 10-FEET, #9 Hoshi no Love Letter feat. MINMI, PETER MAN)
• [2010.01.27] SPICY CHOCOLATE - Tokyo RAGGA LOVERS (Disc 2 #7 I Love You Baby)
• [2010.02.10] Ai Reggae 3 (#1 ')
• [2010.03.24] P.S. I Love You ~Japarege Koi no Uta~ (#1 I Love You Baby)
• [2010.04.21] DJ HASEBE - Woofin Presents "CANDYMAN" Mixed by DJ HASEBE (#6 Eternal Destination feat. TMG&4WD)
• [2010.06.16] DJ Yatsui Ichiro - ATARASHII YATSU! (#29 Sha Na Na☆)
• [2010.06.23] DJ KOMORI - WHAT'S R&B? 2010 (#17 Once Upon a Star)
• [2010.06.23] Nishino Kana - to Love (#3 Summer Girl feat. MINMI)
• [2010.06.30] SUMMER SUNSHINE (#10 The Perfect Vision)
• [2010.07.07] DJ KAYA - JAPANATION (#4 Lotta Love (m-flo loves MINMI))
• [2010.07.21] PETER MAN - DON'T GIVE UP (#3 Hoshi no Love Letter (MINMI feat. PETER MAN))
• [2010.09.29] THE BOOM - Aoi Yuhi feat. Yu (GO!GO!7188) (#2 Hoshi no Love Letter feat. MINMI, PETER MAN)
• [2010.10.13] C-love FRAGRANCE Glamorous Suite (#2 T.T.T.)
• [2010.12.01] Koi no Uta WINTER BEST (#6 Ashita Moshimo Kimi ga Inai...)
• [2011.03.30] Girls Be Ambitious!! 2 (#5 I Love You Baby)
• [2011.11.23] THE BOOM - Yocchabare (#14 Hoshi no Love Letter (from BOOMANIA LIVE AT ZEPP TOKYO 2010.4.24) feat. MINMI, PETER MAN)
• [2012.02.08] Sweet Love Songs (#12 Omoide ga Ippai)
• [2012.06.13] INFINITY16 - MY LIFE

External Links

• Official Website
• Official Blog
• Far Eastern Tribe Records Profile
• Victor Entertainment Music Profile
• Oricon Profile