- Minmi
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This article is about the Japanese musician. For other uses, see Minmi (disambiguation).
Minmi
ミンミBirth name Michiko Evwana[1] Born December 8, 1974
Osaka, JapanGenres Reggae Hip-Hop, Rap, Pop, Soca music Years active 1996–present Labels Victor Entertainment 2002-09 (part of JVC)
Far Eastern Tribe Records 2009- (part of Universal Music Group)Website minmi.jp Minmi (stylized as MINMI) (ミンミ, born December 8, 1974 in Osaka, Japan)[2] is a Japanese hip-hop, soca, and reggae musician,[2] as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan. Since 2007, she has been married to Wakadanna (若旦那), a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze.[3][4][5]
She began playing reggae music in Japanese clubs in 1996.[1] Her 2002 debut single, "The Perfect Vision", went on to sell over 500,000 copies.[1]
Contents
Biography
Minmi began playing the piano at the age of five, at which time she began to take interest in soul and jazz music.[6] 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.[6] 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 #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 2005, Minmi released her first soca-influenced song, "Summertime!!," as opposed to her regular reggae and hip-hop sound. Due to this, she attended the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in February 2006,[6] performing on stage. In September, she was nominated for best new artist at the Reggae/Soca Music Awards in New York.[6] 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.[4] In November she gave birth to her first child, a son.[4]
In March 2010 it was announced that Minmi was pregnant with her second child.[5] Her fourth album Mother, released in July when she was roughly eight months pregnant, prominently features her stomach in the photographs. The child, another boy,[8] was born ten days early on August 4 in New York.[9] Her song "Shiki no Uta" was also featured as the ending credits song in the anime Samurai Champloo.
Discography
Original albums
Year Album Information Oricon
Albums
Charts
[10]Reported
sales
[11]2003 Miracle - Released: March 19, 2003
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61097)
- Formats: CD, digital download
2 476,000 2004 Imagine - Released: June 30, 2004
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61768)
- Formats: CD, digital download
3 190,000 2006 Natural - Released: March 29, 2006
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61936)
- Formats: CD, digital download
6 100,000 2010 Mother - Released: July 7, 2010
- Label: Universal (UMCF-1040)
- Formats: CD, digital download
5 64,000 Other albums
Year Album Information Oricon
Albums
Charts
[10]Reported
sales
[11]2005 Friends: Minmi Featuring Works Best - Collaborations compilation album
- Released: September 22, 2005
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61097)
- Formats: 2CD, digital download
16 71,000 2007 The Love Song Collection 2006—2007 - 'Love' concept compilation album
- Released: November 21, 2007
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-62674)
- Formats: CD, digital download
3 75,000 2008 Minmi Best 2002—2008 - Greatest hits album
- Released: November 21, 2007
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61097)
- Formats: 2CD, digital download
2 230,000 2009 Summer Collection with Music Clips - 'Summer' concept greatest hits album
- Released: August 19, 2009
- Label: Victor Entertainment (VIZL-341)
- Formats: CD+DVD, digital download
5 38,000 Singles
As lead artist
Release Title Chart positions Oricon
sales
[11]Album Oricon Singles Charts
[10]Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[12]RIAJ digital tracks†
[13]2002 "The Perfect Vision" 4 — — 353,000 Miracle "T.T.T." 8 — — 74,000 2003 "Another World" 17 — — 37,000 Imagine 2004 "Ai no Mi" (アイの実, "Fruit of Love") 19 — — 15,000 "Are Yu Ready" 45 — — 7,000 Natural 2005 "Summertime!!" (サマータイム!! Samātaimu!!) 19 — — 27,000 2006 "Nishiazabu Densetsu" (西麻布伝説, Nishiazabu Legend) 78 — — 3,000 "I Love You Baby" 42 — — 9,000 Love Song Collection 2007 "Sha Na Na" (シャナナ☆) 17 — 13* 36,000 2009 "Ave Maria" (アベマリア Abe Maria) 14 16 2 18,000 Mother "Ashita Moshi mo Kimi ga Inai..." (アシタもしもキミがいない…, "What If You're Not There Tomorrow") 25 42 7 7,000 2010 "Hibiscus" (ハイビスカス Haibisukasu) 27 30 8 7,000 "Pa to Hanasaku" feat. Verbal (パッと花咲く, "Blooming with a Bang") 58 70 25 2,000 TBA * 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
[11]Album Oricon Singles Charts
[10]Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[12]RIAJ digital tracks†
[13]2006 "Win and Shine" (Ukarats FC) Co-wrote lyrics/music. 48 — — 6,000 We Love We [We Love Winning Eleven] 2007 "Dream Lover" (Infinity 16 welcomez Shōnan no Kaze, Minmi, Moomin) 10 — 5* 74,000 Foundation Rock "Manatsu no Orion" (真夏のオリオン, "Midsummer Orion") (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, 10-Feet) 14 — 27* 25,000 "Kiseki" (キセキ, "Miracle") (Teruteru Babys) Charity single, wrote song/featured vocals. 39 — — 7,000 2008 "Dream Believer (Hoshi ni Negai o)" (星に願いを, "Wishing on a Star") (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, Wakadanna & Han-kun from Shōnan no Kaze, Goki) 19 13 11* 14,000 Welcomez DVDs
Title Release date Oricon rank[14] Minmi Live Tour 2004 "Imagine" 24 September 2004 — Minmi Video Clips 2002—2005: Summer 27 July 2005 37 Minmi Natural Show Case 2006 in Zepp Tokyo 22 November 2006 69 Freedom '08 3 December 2008 17 Minmi Live: Freedom in Awajishima 2 December 2009 33 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 22 May 2002 "Parasite" Vader 22 May 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 17 December 2003 "V-XL (Five-Xtra Large)" Vader 2 June 2004 "Irie Music" Home Grown 4 August 2004 "Set Mi Free, Let Mi Be" Home Grown 4 August 2004 "My Way" Shōnan no Kaze 18 August 2004 "Keep On Steppin'" SAL The Soul 26 November 2004 "Day Dreamer" Munehiro 21 May 2005 "Cherry Blossom" 10-Feet 18 April 2006 "Lotta Love" M-Flo 26 July 2006 "Happy Today" Shōnan no Kaze 18 April 2007 "Spider City (Rock City 3)" Kenty-Gross 7 February 2007 "Spider Time (Summer Time!!)" Kenty-Gross 7 February 2007 "Missing You" Minmi 7 February 2007 "Spider (Aira)" Minmi 7 February 2007 "Nande" Rudebwoy Face 25 April 2007 "Suirenka" Shōnan no Kaze 6 June 2007 References
- ^ a b c "A Trini Wine made in Japan". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. February 13, 2007. http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/print,0,52311.html.
- ^ a b MINMI BEST 2002-2008 (Review), United Daily News (in Chinese), August 22, 2008
- ^ "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。" (in Japanese). narinari.com. June 27, 2007. http://www.narinari.com/Nd/2007067613.html.
- ^ a b c "レゲエ歌手MINMIが男児出産" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 20, 2007. http://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/49812/full/. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ a b "ＭＩＮＭＩが第２子妊娠…「湘南乃風」若旦那も大喜び" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. March 11, 2010. http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20100310-OHT1T00261.htm.
- ^ a b c d e "Minmi Official Site/Bio" (in Japanese). http://minmi.jp/bio/. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "ＭＩＮＭＩと湘南乃風の若旦那が結婚" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 27, 2007. http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/entertainment/45877/. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "NY出産7 産声" (in Japanese). Minmi official Ameblog. August 25, 2010. http://ameblo.jp/masterbeau/entry-10629378940.html. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "ＭＩＮＭＩ、スーパー安産で第２子出産" (in Japanese). Sanspo. August 5, 2010. http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/100805/gnb1008051849001-n1.htm. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "アーティスト： MINMI". Oricon. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/search.asp?artcd=290182&artist=%82l%82h%82m%82l%82h&ordt=sle&bs=all&bs2=1. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
- ^ a b c d "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2010-10-15. (subscription only)
- ^ a b "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/.
- ^ a b "有料音楽配信チャート" (in Japanese). RIAJ. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/weekly_chart/index.html.
- ^ "ＭＩＮＭＩのリリース一覧" (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/290182/products/release/. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- Japanese reggae musicians
- Japanese female singers
- Japanese rhythm and blues singers
- Japanese singer-songwriters
- Soca musicians
- People from Osaka Prefecture
- Japanese soca musicians
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