ALI (band) explained

ALI (band) should not be confused with Ali Project.

ALI
Landscape:yes
Alias:Alien Liberty International
Origin:Shibuya, Japan
Years Active:2016–present
Label:Alien Liberty International
Sony Music Japan (2020–present)
Current Members:Leo Imamura
Luthfi Rizki Kusumah
César Aiichiro
Past Members:Jua
Zeru
Kahadio
Yu Hagiwara
Jin Inoue
Alexander Taiyo Fidel

ALI (acronym for Alien Liberty International) is a multinational hip hop/funk band formed in Shibuya, Tokyo. All members of the band are mixed with roots in Japan, Europe, America, Asia, and Africa.[1] [2] [3] [4]

ALI released their first single "Wild Side", which was chosen to be the opening theme song for the first season of anime Beastars,[5] and their self-titled debut album, both in 2019. A year later, ALI released their second single "Lost in Paradise" featuring rapper AKLO, used as the ending theme for the anime Jujutsu Kaisen.[6]

On May 14, 2021, it was announced on the band's official website that activities would be suspended indefinitely due to drummer Kahadio being arrested for fraud.[7]

On November 18, 2021, it was announced that the band had returned, but drummer Kahadio would no longer be part of the group.[8]

On February 23, 2022, the band released the EP "Inglourious Eastern Cowboy". On January 25, 2023 they released their debut album "Music World".[9]

In July 2024, they performed at Anime Friends in Brazil.[10]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
JPN
Oricon
Digital

[11]
JPN
Billboard

[12]
Music World 4041

Mini albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
JPN
Oricon

[13]
JPN
Billboard

[14]
ALI
Love, Music and Dance
  • Released: January 27, 2021
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
11075
Inglourious Eastern Cowboy
  • Released: February 23, 2022
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak positionsNotesAlbum
JPN
Oricon

[15]
JPN
Hot
100

[16]
"Wild Side"2019113Music World
"Lost in Paradise"
20202844
"Never Say Goodbye"
202236[17]
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Digital singles

TitleYearPeak positionsAlbum
JPN
Hot
100

[18]
"Show Time"
2022Music World
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Collaboration singles

TitleYearArtistsPeak positionsAlbum
JPN
Hot
100

"Sabotage (VS. ALI)"2022Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, ALI
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Music videos

YearSongDirector(s)
[19]
AlbumLink
2019"Vim" ALI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beG8VALHU1o
"Staying in the Groove" Masanori Kobayashi,
Takuya Chiba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hEkQyNXrVI
"Temptations" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9e71woUm24
"Tokyo Pharaoh" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH4IcFwp-zU
"No Tomorrow (Give It Up)" Yusuke Kasai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiFmPpSL9PI
"Wild Side" Naohiro Ohashi rowspan=4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PSXJU6Mw88
2020"Muzik City"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kN9nQFxHW0
"Better Days"
Katsuki Kuroyanagi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQYyXIFOuiw
"Lost In Paradise"
Kento Yamada & The Monaco Club https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnakQRoQRzk
2021"Fight Dub Club"
Love, Music and Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbASWOQLa1o
"Feelin' Good"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0IKUk0-hZI
2022"Teenage City Riot"
Arata Takabatake & Isamu MaedaInglourious Eastern Cowboyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN50X3jR8VE
"Sabotage (VS. ALI)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbMecIkkQzM
"Show Time"
Margt (Perimetron)Music Worldhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXSZiXj_WnI
2024"Professionalism"
Kosuke Yamashitahttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbil2azbSWs
"Beyond"
Mineto Kanzakihttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SSShzbSGnkY

Controversy

In November 2020, it was announced that the band would perform the opening theme song for the 2021 anime The World Ends with You the Animation with "Teenage City Riot".[20] On April 4, 2021, however, it was announced that the opening song would be changed due to drummer Kahadio being arrested for participating in a refund scam.[21] [22] On April 23, 2021, Kahadio was arrested again for a separate fraud case. Kahadio and his friends were offering an elderly woman a refund for medical expenses in exchange of transferring her money to an account. He then withdrew half of the money from the same account.[23] Due to the controversy, the band went on indefinite hiatus on May 14, 2021, as well as pulling most of their songs off streaming platforms.[24] They returned from hiatus, and their music was restored on November 18.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWork/NomineeResultRef.
2021Crunchyroll Anime AwardsBest Opening"Wild Side"
[25]
Best Ending"Lost in Paradise"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ALI プロフィール. ALI Profile. Tower Records Japan. November 18, 2019. November 19, 2020. ja.
  2. Web site: Ogawa. Riku. 音楽万歳 東京・渋谷発多国籍バンドALI. Multinational band ALI from Shibuya, Tokyo. WWD Japan. INFAS Publications. June 20, 2019. November 19, 2020. ja.
  3. Web site: Kuroda. Takanori. ALIが明かす、『BEASTARS』にも通じるアイデンティティの葛藤と音楽に対するピュアな気持ち. ALI reveals the conflict of identity and pure feelings for music that are similar to "Beastars". Real Sound. November 29, 2019. November 19, 2020. ja.
  4. Web site: Miyamoto. Toru. 【インタビュー】LEO(ALI) やっぱ音楽がくそ楽しい. [Interview] Leo (ALI) After all music is fun. AWA. February 8, 2020. November 19, 2020. ja.
  5. Web site: Komatsu. Mikikazu. TV Anime 'Beastars' 4th PV Announces October 9 Premiere, OP Song "Wild Side" by ALI. Crunchyroll. September 16, 2019. November 19, 2020.
  6. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Eve, ALI Perform Theme Songs for 'Jujutsu Kaisen' Anime. Anime News Network. August 10, 2020. November 19, 2020.
  7. Web site: 【ご報告】ALIから重要なお知らせ. ALI Official Website. Report Important Notice from ALI. ja. May 14, 2021. May 14, 2021.
  8. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Rock Band ALI Returns from Hiatus. Anime News Network. November 18, 2021. November 20, 2021.
  9. Web site: ALIメジャー1stフルアルバム発売「ようやく音楽家としてのスタートです」(コメントあり) . 2022-12-11 . 音楽ナタリー . ja.
  10. Web site: Anime Friends 2024 terá nano.RIPE e show extra da banda ALI . 2024-08-20 . Jovem Nerd . pt-br.
  11. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dia/w/2023-02-06/p/4/. ja:週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2023年02月06日付 (2022年05月09日~2022年05月15日). Weekly Digital Album ranking dated February 6, 2023 (January 23, 2023 – January 29, 2023). Oricon. ja. February 1, 2023.
  12. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of February 1, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. February 1, 2023.
  13. Web site: ALIのアルバム. ALI albums. Oricon. ja. January 29, 2021.
  14. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums . February 6, 2021 . . ja.
  15. Web site: Oricon. ja. ALIのシングル. ALI singles. November 19, 2020.
  16. Japan Hot 100. Billboard. February 6, 2021.
  17. Web site: Golden Kamuy Season 4 TV Anime's New Trailer Reveals October 3 Premiere. Crunchyroll. September 30, 2022.
  18. Japan Hot 100. Billboard. October 13, 2022.
  19. Web site: Space Shower TV. ja. ALI music videos information. November 20, 2020.
  20. Web site: Mateo. Alex. November 23, 2020. 'The World Ends with You' Anime Unveils 2nd Video, Opening Song, Visuals, April 2021 Debut. Anime News Network. November 23, 2020.
  21. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. April 8, 2021. 'The World Ends With You' Anime Replaces Opening Song After ALI Band Drummer's Arrest. April 9, 2021. Anime News Network.
  22. News: April 9, 2021. 詐欺容疑でALIドラマー逮捕. ja. ALI Drummer Arrested on Suspicion of Fraud. Reuters. April 9, 2021.
  23. Web site: Mateo. Alex. April 23, 2021. Police Arrest ALI Band Drummer Again for Separate Fraud Case. April 23, 2021. Anime News Network.
  24. Web site: Hodgkins . Crystalyn . ALI Band Goes on Indefinite Hiatus After Drummer's Arrest Last Month . Anime News Network. May 15, 2021. May 15, 2021. en.
  25. Web site: Leblanc. Wesley. Crunchyroll's Anime Awards Winners Announced. IGN. February 20, 2021. November 20, 2021.