Tha Blue Herb Explained

Tha Blue Herb
Landscape:	yes
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Genre:	Alternative hip hop Experimental hip hop Underground hip hop
Years Active:	1997–present
Label:	Tha Blue Herb Records
Associated Acts:	DJ Quietstorm
Current Members:	Ill-Bosstino O.N.O. DJ Dye

Tha Blue Herb is a Japanese alternative hip hop trio based in Sapporo, Hokkaido.^[1] They formed in 1997 and now consist of three members: Boss the MC a.k.a. Ill-Bosstino (MC), O.N.O. (producer, formerly live DJ until DJ Dye joined Tha Blue Herb in 1999) and DJ Dye (live DJ). They also run a record label called Tha Blue Herb Recordings.

James Hadfield of The Japan Times described Tha Blue Herb as "the Company Flow of Japanese hip-hop."^[2]

Beside releasing several albums and singles as the group, O.N.O. also released solo works, while Ill-Bosstino participated in Herbest Moon (with producer Wachall) and Japanese Synchro System (with producer Calm) and also worked with DJ Krush and Audio Active amongst others.

Discography

Albums

• Stilling, Still Dreaming (1998)
• Sell Our Soul (2002)
• Life Story (2007)
• Total (2012)

EPs

• Underground vs. Amateur (2000)
• Front Act (2002)
• The Future Is in Our Hands (2003)
• The Way Hope Goes (2005)
• Phase 3 (2007)

Singles

• "The Shock-Shine Revolt" (1998)
• "The Ring of Wisdom / The Wind Blows from the North" (1998)
• "Underground vs. Amateur" (1999)
• "Times Are Changing" (2000)
• "Trans-Sapporo Express" (2000)
• "Annui Dub: Thank You Very Much My Friend" (2000)
• "3 Days Jump" (2001)
• "Front Act" (2002)
• "The Future Is in Our Hands" (2003)
• "Roads of The Underground" (2004)
• "Chie no Dub / Pusher on the Street" (2005)
• "My Work / My Faith" (2006)
• "Phase 3" (2007)
• "The Suburbs of Hip Hop / A Special Night" (2007)
• "Straight Years" (2009)

Soundtracks

• Heat: Original Soundtrack (2004) a soundtrack album for Heat

DVDs

• Enbu (2007)
• That's the Way Hope Goes (2007)
• Straight Days (2009)

Notes and References

1. Book: Condry, Ian. Ian Condry

   . Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization. Ian Condry. 83. 2006. Duke University Press. 978-0-8223-3892-5.

2. Web site: Tha Blue Herb "Life Story". The Japan Times. James. Hadfield. 22 June 2007.