Zeebra (ジブラ) is a famous Japanese hip hop artist, who made his first appearance in 1995. Known as the first rapper in Japan, Zeebra is a former member of the legendary hip-hop group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine. He went on to pursue a solo career shortly after in 1997, and signed with the Future Shock record label. Having appeared in several TV commercials, instigated hip-hop television programs, and produced songs for upcoming rappers, Zeebra could be called the father of the Japanese rap scene. Hip hop music is a style of popular music. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is on the art and practice of rapping. ... King Gidora (キングギドラ) is one of the groups that introduced rap music to Japan. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A television commercial (often called an advert in the United Kingdom) is a form of advertising in which goods, services, organizations, ideas, etc. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A song is a relatively short musical composition for the human voice (possibly accompanied by other musical instruments), which features words (lyrics). ...

Zeebra remains probably the most popular rapper in Japan, and is admired by both men and women. He appears not only in hip-hop magazines, but also in fashion and street culture magazines. He often features in and produces other rappers' songs, and appears in their videos. He has also appeared as an opening act for American rappers. A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising and/or purchase by readers. ... The term fashion applies to a characteristic means of expression or presentation; fashions may follow trends, in which they gain or lose popularity. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... A music video (also video clip, promo) is a short film or video meant to present a visual representation of a popular music song. ...

In 1998 Zeebra undertook his first solo tour. This is when he started being recognized as an individual rapper for the first time, making hip-hop more familiar to Japanese listeners. In the same year he started the first hip-hop TV program in Japan, titled Beats to the Rhyme. One of Zeebra's songs was used in a Nike promotion video for NBA Japan games. The following year Zeebra released the single "Mr. Dynamite", the first hip-hop single to break into the top 50 on the Japanese pop charts. In June 2000, he released his new album Based On a True Story, which 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 the single "Never Enuff", the theme song for a Japanese movie called Brother, directed by Takeshi Kitano and starring Claude Maki. In 2002 he temporarily rejoined King Giddra, but has been doing solo work since 2003 and has released many songs. At present, he is producing songs not only for rap artists, but also for pop stars like Namie Amuro. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Nike, Inc. ... The National Basketball Association, more commonly referred to as the NBA, is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America. ... In music, a single is a short (usually ten minutes or less) record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-side, often accompanied by several B-sides, usually remixes or other songs. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The theme music of a radio or television program is a melody closely associated with the show, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits. ... Brother is a 2001 film starring, written, and directed by Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano. ... Takeshi Kitano Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, b. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pop music, in popular and contemporary parlance, is a subgenre of popular music. ... Namie Amuro, a hip-pop diva in Japan Namie Amuro (安室 奈美恵, Amuro Namie or あむろ.なみえ, September 20, 1977 - ) is a Japanese pop singer and Japanese idol originally from Naha, Okinawa, born to a Japanese father and a half Japanese/half Italian mother. ...

Hip-hop is now firmly ensconced in the Japanese music scene, to the extent that it is even heard as background music. This would probably not have happened without Zeebra, who is often considered the originator of the Japanese hip-hop scene.

Discography

June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/arts/zeebra/bio.html (Japanese)