Taku Takahashi

Taku Takahashi (高橋 拓, Takahashi Taku, born 29 March 1974; stylized as ☆Taku Takahashi) is a Japanese hip hop recording artist, DJ and record producer who debuted in 1997 as a record producer of the hip hop group M-Flo. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s, with hit singles such as "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again." Takahashi was also a member of Avex's 20th anniversary dance music project Ravex, and has produced songs for musicians such as Crystal Kay, Ami Suzuki and Rie Fu, and remixes for Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki. He formed the record labels Tachytelic Records and TCY Recording.

Taku Takahashi
Takahashi performing in 2019
Takahashi performing in 2019
Background information
Also known asTaku, Startak
Born (1974-03-29) 29 March 1974
Yokohama, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • DJ
  • record producer
Years active1997–present
Labels

Taku Takahashi has occasionally rapped in his songs, such as on M-Flo's songs "Get On!" and "The Rhyme Brokers," and occasionally sung vocals ("I Wanna Be Down," "Love Long and Prosper", "Toxic Sweet").

Biography

Taku Takahashi grew up in Yokohama, with his father employed in the construction industry. He attended high school in Tokyo, at St. Mary's International School, along with Verbal. In 1992, the pair formed a rap rock band called N.M.D. in 1992, in which Takahashi wrote the music and performed the drums. The band received many offers from major record labels after their live performances, however as Verbal did not see being a rapper as a practical career, these offers were turned down.[1] The pair went their separate ways after high school, with Takahashi travelling to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles in 1994, attending Occidental College,[2] and Verbal to Boston.[3] Takahashi tried majoring in physics, philosophy and Asian Studies with little success.[2] He enrolled in a local music school, beginning his career as a DJ and songwriter.[4]

Takahashi returned to Japan in the mid-1990s, and formed a musical unit with a female vocalist, called Love Soul. After sending a demo tape of this group to Artimage management, Takahashi met Masaji Asakawa from the DJ group GTS. Takahashi began producing music full-time, and in 1998 recorded a cover of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" with Verbal when he returned to Japan for winter break.[1] This song, followed by "Been So Long," featuring vocals from Lisa, was well received by Asakawa, leading the trio to form the group M-Flo, officially debuting in 1999. The group's first release, "The Tripod E.P.," debuted in the top 10 on the Japanese singles chart.[5] The group achieved great success in 2000 and 2001 with the songs "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again," with the former selling more than 220,000 copies, and the latter approximately 390,000 copies.[5] The band's second album, Expo Expo, debuted at #4 on the charts.[5]

In 2002, Lisa left M-Flo to follow a solo career, causing the band to begin releasing albums with a variety of famous vocalists. This led to Takahashi working on collaborations with a variety of artists. His first notable produced singles were Crystal Kay's "Hard to Say" and "Boyfriend (Part II)" in 2002/2003. At the same time, he created a production label, Tachytelic Records. An audition was held to find vocalists for Takahashi to produce, with the grand winner being songwriter Emi Hinouchi.[6] Between 2002 and 2003, the label produced six releases: Emi Hinouchi's first four singles and debut album, along with a DJ mix tape created by Takahashi called Tachytelic Night: Welcomes You to the Far East. However, none of the releases were successful, with all of the releases charting under the #100 mark on Oricon charts.[5] The label continued to promote events, such as the regular Tachytelic Night DJ set events, and Takahashi produced the Pro Evolution Soccer 6 theme song, Ukatrats FC's "Win and Shine." However, after 2006 the label ceased to exist.

Takahashi continued working full-time with M-Flo until mid 2007, when the tour for the group's fifth album Cosmicolor finished and M-Flo ceased regular activities. Since then, the group released a string of compilation albums, such as greatest hit albums and outside collaborative work compilation albums. Takahashi has regularly produced songs and remixes for musicians, including several Western artists (Calvin Harris, Lady Sovereign, The Ting Tings). He has participated in many DJ events, including his self-produced Orthosync events, and many House Nation events. In 2008, Takahashi became a member of Ravex, a three DJ group formed for the 20th anniversary of the Avex music group. The group's resulting 2009 album, Trax, was much like M-Flo's later albums, featuring a collection of vocalists from across Avex record labels.

In 2010, Taku Takahashi launched his second record label, TCY Recording, featuring dance music artists such as TeddyLoid and Hoshina Anniversary. He found most of them on MySpace music.[7] He also began working as a music director, for the Gainax animated series Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, which began airing in October 2010.[8]

In 2011, Taku Takahashi filled in for Kissy Sellout's radio show on BBC Radio 1 as part of "Jaguar Skills and His Amazing Friends."[9] His ten-minute mix included remixes of songs from his time with m-flo and the Godzilla theme.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Information Oricon
albums
charts
[5]
Reported
sales
[5]
2003 Tachytelic Night: Welcomes You to the Far East
  • Mix-tape
  • Released: March 5, 2003
  • Label: Tachytelic Records (CTCR-14243)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
138 3,900
2010 TCY Rec Special Pack EP Vol. 1
  • Compilation of TCY Recording recordings
  • Released: June 23, 2010
  • Label: Artimage
  • Formats: Digital download
TCY Rec Special Pack EP Vol. 2
  • Compilation of TCY Recording recordings
  • Released: September 1, 2010
  • Label: Artimage
  • Formats: Digital download
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt: The Original Soundtrack 10 30,000
2011 After 5 Vol. 1
  • Mix-tape, performed as The Suitboys a.k.a. Taku Takahashi
  • Released: April 20, 2011
  • Label: Rhythm Zone (RZCD-46824)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
88 1,200
TCY Rec Special Pack Vol. 3
  • Compilation of TCY Recording recordings
  • Released: May 25, 2011
  • Label: Artimage
  • Formats: Digital download
2012 TCY Rec Special Pack Vol. 4
  • Compilation of TCY Recording recordings
  • Released: February 22, 2012
  • Label: Artimage
  • Formats: Digital download
2013 EDM World Presented by ☆Taku Takahashi
  • Mix-tape
  • Released: March 6, 2013
  • Label: Farm Records (FARM-0325)
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Produced singles

Release Artist Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[5]
Album
Oricon Singles Charts
[5]
Billboard Japan Hot 100*
[10]
1999 Kirari "Last Piece" Music, arrangement 26 54,000 Kaleidolife
2000 K. "Under the Same Sky" Music, arrangement Kaleidolife
2002 Crystal Kay "Hard to Say" Lyrics, music, arrangement 26 45,000 Almost Seventeen
Emi Hinouchi "Magic/World" Lyrics, music, arrangement 112 3,900 Dramatiques
2003 Crystal Kay "Boyfriend (Part II)" Arrangement 23 33,000 4 Real
Emi Hinouchi "Crying" Arrangement 134 2,000 Dramatiques
"Freak!" Arrangement 192 600
"Painful" Arrangement 135 700
2006 Melody "See You..." Music 19 13,000 Be as One
Ukatrats FC "Win and Shine" Co-wrote lyrics/music, produced group 48 6,000 We Love We [We Love Winning Eleven]
Kozue Ayuse "Kimi no Yasashisa" (君の優しさ, "Your Kindness") Production 63 3,400 A♥K
2008 Rie Fu "Romantic" Co-wrote music, arrangement 100 66 800 Urban Romantic
2009 Sowelu "Material World" Co-wrote music, co-arranged 106 92 900 Sowelu the Best 2002—2009
Ami Suzuki "Reincarnation" Co-wrote music, co-arranged 42 3,700 Ami Selection
2010 Minmi "Hibiscus" (ハイビスカス, Haibisukasu) Co-arranged 27 30 7,000 Mother
2012 Miliyah Kato "Heart Beat" 14 8 26,000 True Lovers
2013 Ayumi Hamasaki "Merry-Go-Round" Co-wrote music, co-arranged 5 13 37,000 Colours
*Japan Hot 100 established February 2008.

Other appearances

Below are songs featuring input from Takahashi away from M-Flo (i.e. without Verbal, or without Lisa circa 1998–2002).

Release Artist Title Notes Album
1999 Double "Make Me Happy" Music, arrangement, piano "Shake"
J Soul Brothers "Follow Me (M-Flo "Lab of Soul" Remix)" Arrangement "J Soul Brothers"
2000 K. "Little Wish" Arrangement Kaleidolife
Kirari "Kokoro Yasumete" (心やすめて, "Take a Holiday for My Heart") Music, arrangement Kirariddim
Cleopatra "Yes, This Party's Going Right (M-Flo Mix)" Arrangement Steppin' Out
2001 Ayumi Hamasaki "Wishing (Taku's Chemistry Mix)" "You" (12 cm single, re-release)
Hikaru Utada "Distance (M-Flo Remix)" "Final Distance" (single)
K. "Sora no Mukō e" (空のむこうへ, "To the Other Side of the Sky") Music, arrangement Keynote
"Saigo no Cyder" (最後のサイダー, "Final Cyder")
2002 Taku Takahashi "Modulation" Opening theme song Mohōhan: The Copy Cat Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Peace no Dilemma" (ピースのジレンマ, Pīsu no Jirenma, "The Dilemma of Peace") Insert song
2003 Amin "Shanghai Boogie Woogie (Chāosù Jìnhuà de Táiběi Remix)" (上海Boogie Woogie (超速進化的台北リミックス) "Shanghai Boogie Woogie (Really Fast Evolving Taipei Remix)") Arrangement, with Asuka Sakai "Ōki na Kawa to Chiisa na Koi" (single)
Mic Banditz "What's Your Secret?" Arrangement Sixth Sense
Crystal Kay "Kataomoi" (片想い, "One Way Love") Music, arrangement 4 Real
Emi Hinouchi "Hey Boy..." Arrangement Dramatiques
2004 Ryohei Yamamoto "Let It Flow" Co-wrote music Take Over
2006 Crystal Kay "I Know" Arrangement Call Me Miss...
Jin & Kana "Go West -020609 Tachytelic Remix-" Ultras 2006
Taku Takahashi "(Is This the Way To) Amarillo" Fuji TV Soccer Legend 2006
2007 Marcia "Amor...Saudade (Versao em Portugues) (Tachytelic Remixed)" Upper's Flava Remixes of Watanabe Hit Tune
2008 Lisa "Bad Men!" Ready to Disco
The Ting Tings "That's Not My Name (Taku Takahashi Mix)" We Started Nothing (Japanese Edition)
Boo "French Girl!!"
Yoshika "Goodbye to You" "Stand Up" (single)
Ryukyudisko "Yume no Future featuring Kotomi (Time Is Dissing Me Remix)" (夢のFUTURE, "Dream Future") "Top of the Island" (single)
Manabu Iwamura "Summer Carnival (Taku Takahashi Remix)" Woman
Coldfeet "Intro to Ten" Narration Ten
2009 Anna Tsuchiya mush up Taku Takahashi "Sweet Rishi Boy" Music, arrangement "Brave Vibration" (single)
Calvin Harris "I'm Not Alone (Taku Takahashi Remix)" Ready for the Weekend (Japanese Edition)
Lady Sovereign "Jigsaw (Taku Takahashi Remix)" Jigsaw (Japanese Edition)
Crystal Kay "Over and Over" Music, arrangement Best of Crystal Kay
Coldfeet "Billie Jean (Taku Takahashi Remix)" Michael Jackson cover Coldfeet Presents MJ the Tour
Sawa "Swimming Dancing" Arrangement Swimming Dancing (EP)
"World-Wide Tea Party"
2010 Ultras "Ganbare Nippon! (020609 Tachytelic Remix)" (元気ニッポン!, "Go Japan!") Ultras 2010
Masterlink "Traveling (Taku Remix)" "Traveling" (single)
Miliyah Kato "Endless Love" Arrangement Heaven
Taku Takahashi "What's Your Medium?" M-Flo Inside: Works Best IV
Discothèque "Goodbye featuring Blanc. (Taku Takahashi Remix)" Goodbye
2011 Revolutions "SP "Break the Wall" featuring V6, Taku Takahashi Composition and arrangement
Rhymester "Flashback, Natsu (Taku Takahashi aka The Suitboys Remix)" (フラッシュバック、夏。, "Flashback, Summer") "Flashback, Natsu" (single)
Sowelu "I Want U To..." featuring Wise Music, arrangement Let Me...
The Lifelines "The Lifelines" Production Secret Diary
Momoiro Clover Z "Santa-san (DJ Taku's Christmas A-men Breaks)" (サンタさん, "Mr. Santa") "Shiroi Kaze" (single)
Taku Takahashi "Ebi Sukui" Hyouge Mono third opening theme, unreleased.
2012 Iconiq "Ladies" Production
Passion Pit "Take a Walk (Taku Takahashi & El Poco Maro Remix)" Gossamer (Japanese edition)
Meg "Southpaw" Production Wear I Am
2013 Taku Takahashi "Searching" Biblia Koshodō no Jiken Techō Original Soundtrack
"Biblorelo"
Minmi "Sakura (Eien) (Tachytelic Remix)" (さくら ~永遠~, "Cherry Blossoms (Forever)") featuring Shōnan no Kaze "Sakura (Eien)" (single)
2014 Mika Nakashima & Miliyah Kato "Fighter (Tachytelic World Cup Brazil 2014 Remix)" One Love, One Rhythm – The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album
2017 DJ Taku aka ☆Taku Takahashi "Last Century Melancholic" (ラストセンチュリーメランコリック) Music, arrangement beatmania IIDX 25 CANNON BALLERS
2018 Lyn "Last Surprise (☆Taku Takahashi Remix)" Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo, block.fm) "The Best of Both Worlds" beatmania IIDX 26 ROOTAGE

References

  1. CROWN JEWEL (24 November 2006). "Clothes Relay [クローズリレー] - VERBALさん(m-flo ミュージシャン)". Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2009.
  2. "金剛地武志 /TOMORROW: これから二十歳を迎える若者と昔二十歳だった人々へ". J-Wave. 16 November 2006. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  3. オウサン工房accessdate=2008-10-27. "VERBAL(m-flo)パーパル 神様の領域".
  4. MTV-Staff (27 June 2008). "【MTV】ピックアップ・アーティスト<7月の特集>". MTV 365 World Trip 〜 on SMIRNOFF ROAD 〜BLOG. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  5. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 13 August 2010. (subscription only)
  6. "Tachytelic Records". Tachytelic Records. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  7. "m-flo's Taku launches new label". Tokyo Graph. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  8. "m-floの☆Taku Takahashi、ガイナックスの新作アニメで音楽を担当". Tower Records. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  9. "BBC Radio 1-Friday Oct 14 2011".
  10. "Hot 100|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
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