Minmi Explained
Michiko Evwana (born December 8, 1974), better known by her stage name, is a Japanese hip-hop and reggae musician,[1] as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to, a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze.[2] [3] [4]
She began playing reggae music in Japanese clubs in 1996. Her 2002 debut single, "The Perfect Vision", went on to sell over 500,000 copies.[5]
Biography
Michiko Evwana was born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on December 8, 1974. She began playing the piano at the age of five, at which time she began to take interest in soul and jazz music. Minmi began her musical career in 1996, performing at rub-a-dub showcases and hip hop events in the clubs of Osaka.[6] She also began to develop her own sound by making her own original tracks around this period. Minmi signed her first recording deal with JVC Records, releasing the reggae song "The Perfect Vision" as her first single in August 2002. Minmi's first single became extremely popular, and was widely accepted and heavily rotated by as many as 20 FM radio stations. "The Perfect Vision," after gradually increasing in popularity, would eventually sell over 500,000 copies. Her second single, "T.T.T.," differed stylistically, more influenced by hip-hop. The single was a moderate success, peaking in the top 10. These were followed by Minmi's debut album Miracle, which debuted at No. 2 and has sold more than 600,000 copies. Minmi continued her success in 2004, with her second album Imagine, which was also a high seller.
In 2004, she contributed the song "" ("Shiki no Uta") to the anime Samurai Champloo, where it appears as the end credits theme.
In 2005, Minmi released her first soca-influenced song, "Summertime!!," as opposed to her regular reggae and hip-hop sound. Because of this event, she attended the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in February 2006, performing on stage. In September, she was nominated for best new artist at the Reggae/Soca Music Awards in New York. Minmi attended the festival again in 2007, performing "Sha Na Na (Japanese Wine)" with Machel Montano.
In June 2007, it was suddenly announced that Minmi had married Wakadanna, a member of reggae group Shōnan no Kaze, and was four months pregnant.[7] The two had first met in 2001 in Jamaica, and began dating soon after. In November she gave birth to her first child, a son.
In March 2010 it was announced that Minmi was pregnant with her second child. Her fourth album Mother, released in July when she was roughly eight months pregnant, prominently features her stomach in the photographs. The child, the second boy,[8] was born ten days early on August 4 in New York.[9]
On June 10 and July 22, 2015, Minmi released her seventeenth single "Hologram".[10]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album Information | Oricon
Albums
Charts
[11] | Reported
sales
[12] |
|---|
| 2003 | Miracle | 2 | 476,000< | --475,973--> |
|---|
| 2004 | imagine | 3 | 190,000< | --189,993--> |
|---|
| 2006 | Natural | 6 | 100,000< | --100,343--> |
|---|
| 2010 | Mother | 5 | 64,000< | --63,632--> |
|---|
| 2013 | I LOVE | 14 | |
| 2014 | BAD | 17 | |
| 2015 | EGO | 28 | 3,000< | --3,293 --> |
|---|
| 2016 | Life is Beautiful | 29 | |
| 2018 | identity | 57 | |
|
Other albums
| Year | Album Information | Oricon
Albums
Charts
| Reported
sales
|
|---|
| 2005 | | 16 | 71,000< | --70,723--> |
|---|
| 2006 | Minmi Natural Show Case 2006 In Zepp Tokyo (Special Edition) - EP | — | |
| 2007 | The Love Song Collection 2006—2007 | 3 | 75,000< | --75,470--> |
|---|
| 2008 | Minmi Best 2002—2008 | 2 | 230,000< | --230,225--> |
|---|
| 2009 | Summer Collection with Music Clips | 5 | 38,000< | --37,606--> |
|---|
| 2011 | The Heart Song Collection | 10 | |
| 2012 | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002-2012 | 7 | |
| 2014 | MINMI BEST "ORIGIN" | 147 | |
| 2015 | New MINMI Friends -"Bad" "MINMI" To Iu Neta wo Rapper Track Maker Ga Douryouri Shitanoka- | 117 | |
| 2017 | | 69 | |
| 75 | |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Release | Title | Chart positions | Oricon
sales
| Album |
|---|
Oricon Singles Charts
| Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[13] | RIAJ digital tracks†
[14] |
|---|
| 2002 | "The Perfect Vision" | 4 | — | — | 353,000< | --352,882--> | Miracle |
|---|
| "T.T.T." | 8 | — | — | 74,000< | --73,944--> |
|---|
| 2003 | "Another World" | 17 | — | — | 37,000< | --37,396--> | Imagine |
|---|
| 2004 | | 19 | — | — | 15,000< | --14,822--> |
|---|
| "Are Yu Ready" | 45 | — | — | 7,000< | --8,642--> | Natural |
|---|
| 2005 | | 19 | — | — | 27,000< | --27,407--> |
|---|
| 2006 | | 78 | — | — | 3,000< | --3,347--> |
|---|
| "I Love You Baby" | 42 | — | — | 9,000< | --8,631--> | Love Song Collection |
|---|
| 2007 | | 17 | — | 13* | 36,000< | --36,268--> |
|---|
| 2009 | | 14 | 16 | 2 | 18,000< | --17,858--> | Mother |
|---|
| 25 | 42 | 7 | 7,000< | --7,124--> |
|---|
| 2010 | | 27 | 30 | 8 | 7,000< | --7,064--> |
|---|
| 58 | 70 | 25 | 2,000< | --1,929--> | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002–2012 |
|---|
| 2012 | | 58 | — | — | | I LOVE |
| 35 | — | — | |
| 2013 | | 28 | — | — | |
| 2014 | | 45 | — | — | | BAD |
| 2015 | | 116 | — | — | | EGO |
* charted on monthly Chaku-uta Reco-kyō Chart.
†Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.|}As featured artist
| Release | Title | Notes | Chart positions | Oricon
sales
| Album |
|---|
Oricon Singles Charts
| Billboard Japan Hot 100†
| RIAJ digital tracks†
|
|---|
| 2006 | "Win and Shine"< | --2006/05/24--> (Ukarats FC) | Co-wrote lyrics/music. | 48 | — | — | 6,000< | --5,962--> | We Love We [We Love Winning Eleven] |
|---|
| 2007 | "Dream Lover"< | --2007/04/18--> (Infinity 16 welcomez Shōnan no Kaze, Minmi, Moomin) | | 10 | — | 5* | 74,000< | --74,172--> | Foundation Rock |
|---|
| < | --2007/08/29--> (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, 10-Feet) | | 14 | — | 27* | 25,000< | --25,449--> |
|---|
| < | --2007/11/28--> (Teruteru Babys) | Charity single, wrote song/featured vocals. | 39 | — | — | 7,000< | --7,077--> |
|---|
| 2008 | "Dream Mix, Vol. 01"< | --2008/05/07--> (INFINITY 16 welcomez Shonan no kaze, MINMI, MOOMIN, 10-FEET, MUNEHIRO) | | — | — | — | | |
|---|
| < | --2008/11/26--> (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, Wakadanna & Han-kun from Shōnan no Kaze, Goki) | | 19 | 13 | 11* | 14,000< | --14,282--> | Welcomez |
|---|
| 2010 | < | --2006/05/24--> (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, HAN-KUN, KENTY GROSS, BES, APOLLO, KIRA, NG HEAD, DOZAN11) | | — | — | — | | Kinkyu Jitai – One Sound Dance Live 2010 |
|---|
| 2012 | < | --2012/01/01--> (INFINITY 16 welcomez MINMI & JAY'ED) | | 98 | — | — | | MY LIFE |
|---|
| 2013 | "Pan Pan Papan" (RED SPIDER feat. feat. Minmi, Kenty Gross, Arm Strong & Bes) | | — | — | — | | WHAT THE SPIDER | | "HANDS UP" (RED SPIDER feat. Minmi, Bes, NG Head, Kenty Gross, Boogie Man & Shingo Nishinari) | | — | — | — | | | (Shingo Nishinari feat. MINMI) | | — | — | — | | | | 2016 | "Ah Murderz" (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, BES, APOLLO, KENTY GROSS, J-REXXX, KIRA, NATURAL WEAPON & DOZAN11) | | — | — | — | | Title is to be announced ～ALL JAPANESE REGGAE DUB MIX CD～ | | 2018 | "Slave of Love" (YOSA & TAAR feat. Taichi Mukai & MINMI) | | — | — | — | | Modern Disco Tours | | "All In" (Shella Posse feat. MINMI) | | — | — | — | | | | "NO NO" (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, APOLLO, KENTY GROSS & NATURAL WEAPON) | | — | — | — | | ＃compact＿disc | |
Digital Singles
| Release | Title | Notes | Album |
|---|
| | 2009 | "A Natural Woman" | Aretha Franklin cover | | | 2010 | | | The Heart Song Collection | | 2012 | "Teo Teo ~D.I.N.C~" feat. DOBERMAN INC | | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002–2012 | | 2013 | feat. Shingo Nishinari | | New MINMI Friends -"Bad" "MINMI" To Iu Neta wo Rapper Track Maker Ga Douryouri Shitanoka- | | 2014 | | | BAD | | 2015 | "MOVE" | | EGO | | | | 2018 | Winner (Yokohama Futtou Version) | Yokohama F. Marinos Official Half Time Supporting Song | | |
DVDs
| Title | Release date | Oricon rank[15] |
|---|
| Minmi Live Tour 2004 "Imagine" (sunshine) | September 24, 2004 | — | | Minmi Video Clips 2002—2005: Summer | July 27, 2005 | 37 | | Minmi Natural Show Case 2006 in Zepp Tokyo | November 22, 2006 | 69 | | Freedom '08 | December 3, 2008 | 17 | | Minmi Live: Freedom in Awajishima | December 2, 2009 | 33 | | LIVE TOUR "Himawari" ～Road to 10th Anniversary～ at Saitama Super Arena | June 27, 2012 | 36 | | MINMIDVD | December 24, 2014 | 127 | | MINMI LIVE TOUR 2014 "BAD" | May 27, 2015 | 40 | |
Collaborations
| Title | Artist | Release date |
|---|
| "Tornade" | Silver King | September 2000 | | "Shot Dem Up" | Jumbo Maatch from Mighty Jam Rock | October 2001 | | "3 Minute Special" | Silver King | May 22, 2002 | | "Parasite" | Vader | May 22, 2002 | | "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" | Boogie Man | July 2002 | | "Journey Into..." | Takafin from Mighty Jam Rock | August 2002 | | "Cry" | Shōnan no Kaze | July 2003 | | "Independent Woman" | Pushim | December 17, 2003 | | "THE ROCK CITY" | Vader | June 2, 2004 | | "Shiki No Uta" | Nujabes | June 23, 2004 | | "Irie Music" | Home Grown | August 4, 2004 | | "Set Mi Free, Let Mi Be" | Home Grown | August 4, 2004 | | "My Way" | Shōnan no Kaze | August 18, 2004 | | "Who's Theme" | Nujabes | September 22, 2004 | | "Keep On Steppin'" | SAL The Soul | November 26, 2004 | | "Rastaman Drive Mi Crazy" | Anthony B | 2005 | | "Day Dreamer" | Munehiro | May 21, 2005 | | "Cherry Blossom" | 10-Feet | April 18, 2006 | | "Lotta Love" | M-Flo | July 26, 2006 | | "Sha Na Na – Japanese Wine" | Machel Montano | March 6, 2007 | | "Happy Today" | Shōnan no Kaze | April 18, 2007 | | "Spider City (Rock City 3)" | Kenty-Gross | February 7, 2007 | | "Spider Time (Summer Time | )" | Kenty-Gross | February 7, 2007 |
|---|
| "Missing You" | Minmi | February 7, 2007 | | "Spider (Aira)" | Minmi | February 7, 2007 | | "Nande" | Rudebwoy Face | April 25, 2007 | | "Suirenka" | Shōnan no Kaze | June 6, 2007 | | "Saving All My Love For You" | Minmi | January 1, 2011 | | "I'm Your Baby Tonight" | Junior Kelly | April 3, 2012 | | "Hoshino Raburetaa" | Sergio Mendes | January 1, 2013 | | "Konoyo ga Yami Dato Iwanaide Okure" | Sambomaster | October 9, 2013 | | "Nadeshiko (Soul Remix)" | KIRA | February 4, 2015 | | "Heisei no Otome" | Kenty-Gross | August 26, 2015 | | "Outta Love" | Che'Nelle | June 14, 2017 | | "Dame" | DJ SWING & Tarantula | July 5, 2017 | |
External links
Agency profiles:
]
|
Notes and References
- , United Daily News (in Chinese), August 22, 2008
- Web site: 女性レゲエ・シンガーのMINMIが妊娠、お相手は湘南乃風の若旦那。. narinari.com. Japanese. June 27, 2007.
- Web site: レゲエ歌手MINMIが男児出産. Oricon. Japanese. November 20, 2007. November 12, 2010.
- Web site: http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20100310-OHT1T00261.htm. ja:MINMIが第2子妊娠...「湘南乃風」若旦那も大喜び. Sports Hochi. Japanese. March 11, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100317191552/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20100310-OHT1T00261.htm. March 17, 2010.
- Web site: A Trini Wine made in Japan. Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. February 13, 2007.
- Web site: Minmi Official Site/Bio. Japanese. November 11, 2010.
- Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/45877/. ja:MINMIと湘南乃風の若旦那が結婚. Oricon. Japanese. June 27, 2007. November 11, 2010.
- Web site: NY出産7 産声. Minmi official Ameblog. Japanese. August 25, 2010. November 11, 2010.
- Web site: http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/100805/gnb1008051849001-n1.htm. ja:MINMI、スーパー安産で第2子出産. Sanspo. Japanese. August 5, 2010. November 11, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819122039/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/100805/gnb1008051849001-n1.htm. August 19, 2010.
- News: CD Journal Staff. Minmi / Hologram (single review). CD Journal. July 22, 2015. July 17, 2016. Japanese.
- Web site: アーティスト： MINMI . . October 15, 2010.
- Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 . . October 15, 2010. (subscription only)
- Web site: Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN . Billboard . Japanese . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122212055/http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100 . November 22, 2010 .
- Web site: http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/weekly_chart/index.html . ja:有料音楽配信チャート. RIAJ . Japanese.
- Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/290182/products/release/. ja:MINMIのリリース一覧. Oricon. Japanese. November 11, 2010.
