LITTLE : (The Shortest MC in Tokyo, Japan)
Leads two groups: KICK THE CAN CREW and CASSETE VISION
Has a huge hat collection and loves cartoon
His first recording experience dates back to 1996, participating as a guest for "Rhyme Yuugi" by ZINGI. Then in 1998, his first mini-debut album "Iino" was released as a solo artist. The hip-hop tracks on "Iino" gained him a major recognition, mostly for his unique approach to express the relationships, as if the lyrics are taken from slow love ballads which approach was a taboo when the hard, edgy American hip hop was worshipped as the coolest and everything else was not worth listening to. In 1998, with two other MCs, KREVA and MCU, the trio formed a new group KICK THE CAN CREW and gone further to influence the local scene that it is okay to be vulnerable and lyrical, as long as their words come from their hearts. Right before the group's major breakthrough in 2001, LITTLE had kept his solo career going and released the first full length album "MR. COMPACT" from Sony Records. After the hiatus of KICK THE CAN CREW in June 2004, LITTLE rekindled his passion to record and tour as a solo artist.
He stayed busy releasing new songs, his signature of mixing both softer touch and keeping his own identity, not wanting to be stereotyped, become almost complete. By the time he released his second album "LIFE" in June 2005 from Universal Music, LITTLE's determination to stay versatile and still show his love to rap, was apparent and the tracks were well received by critics.
For the live performances, he played 5 cities (Sapporo, Fukuoka, Oosaka, Nagoya, then Tokyo) in one day which nobody else had challenged before. He completed "LITTLE First TOUR 2005 LIVE" in 4 cities in Japan in July 2005. He flew to Seoul, South Korea to be a part of "Korea-Japan Road Club Festival 2005" and later invited back to guest in a charity event with Korean pop stars like Toouhou-shinwha and Rain in Seoul 1988 Olympic Main Stadium.
Aside from his musical talent, LITTLE worked with an established novelist and graphic artist, Lily Franky to design the tour T-shirt. Lily Franky was impressed with LITTLE's voice and casting him to work as a voice actor in the cartoon series "Odenkun" which was broadcasted nationwide by NHK. LITTLE had worked regularly as a DJ for FM Northwave, and he even organised a festival event "802 SPLASH" in 2006 in his hometown Hachiouji, located in western Tokyo.
Staying low key for last two years, LITTLE completed the first single "One Man Show" which was released in July 2007 from BMG JAPAN. The upbeat tracks filled fans' starved appetite and created a good buzz for followups. In October 2007, second single "Yumeno Sei" was released and transcended the age groups as the words touched everyone who had struggled with their relationships in their lives. The release commemorated LITTLE's journey as an artist as it was his 10th year from the first debut song "Iino" back in 1998. The video clip was directed by a maestro in Japanese film industry, Hiroyuki Nakano, and featured a young, talented actress Kii Kitano that gave LITTLE a huge exposure outside the hip hop scene.
LITTLE
東京１小さいＭＣ
"KICK THE CAN CREW"のリーダーであり、DJ TATSUTA、KICK THE CAN CREW、CHANNEL、DJ SHUHOからなる"カセットビジョン"のリーダーでもある。
マンガと帽子が大好き。また、モバイラーというほど、扱い方は達人。
1996年、ZINGI「ライム遊戯」への客演の初録音、1998年、ミニ・アルバム「いいの」でソロ・デビュー。米国直輸入のヒップホップ感に終始しない自由度の高い表現、ラブ・バラッド自体が禁じ手だった時代に恋愛叙情派ヒップホップを唄う等、注目を集め、後にポップ志向のMC達に多大なる影響を与える。同年KICK THE CAN CREW (KREVA, MCU, LITTLE)を結成、ブレイク目前となった2001年には、ソロ初のフル・アルバム『Mr. COMPACT』をSONY RECORDSからリリース。その後、KICK THE CAN CREWの活動に専念、2004年6月KICK THE CAN CREWの活動休止に伴い、ソロ活動を再開。
独自の世界観とスーパーオリジナルな発想で精力的に活動を続けてきたLITTLEならではの、個性と芯の強さと優しさが混在する作品が次々と発表され、独自のHIP HOPスタイルを拡大し、2005年6月セカンドアルバム「LIFE」では、"一生涯ラッパー" LITTLEの生きざまが詰まったソロキャリア集大成のアルバムと高い評価を受ける。
同時に精力的にライブも行い、前人未踏の24時間日本縦断ツアー「リトルが街にやってくる」を決行--札幌→福岡→大阪→名古屋→東京--、「Korea-Japan Road Club Festival 2005」韓国ソウルホンデ--弘大--地区一体で行われたイベント、自身初の全国ソロツアー「LITTLE 初TOUR 2005"LIVE"」、韓国ソウル88オリンピックメインスタジアムで行われたチャリティイベントに東方神起、ピらと共に参加する。
また音楽以外でも様々な分野、文化人とも交流が深く、リリー・フランキー氏とツアーTシャツでコラボレート、日本の人気アニメ「おでんくん」--NHK教育テレビで放送中--に"ニセおでんくん役"で出演、FM STATIONでの初ラジオレギュラー番組でDJを担当、2006年から、地元・八王子をこよなく愛するLITTLE自身がイベント「802 SPLASH」を主催、毎年8月2日に開催される。
2007年7月、BMG JAPANに移籍。約2年間の沈黙を経てリトル開幕！第一弾シングル「ワンマンショウ」をリリース、景気のいいトラックでファンファーレ飽くまでもヒップホップ・マナーに乗っ取り、Re-bornを果たし、10月、第二弾シングル「夢のせい」をリリース、誰もが経験のあるドラマチックな恋愛を、言葉の魔術師リトルの描くリリック--メロディがより深く合わさった名曲に。またPromotion Videoも映画界の巨匠「中野裕之監督」、新進気鋭の女優「北乃きい」とのコラボレーションで話題になる。
そして2008年、MICを握ってソロデビューしてから10年を迎えるLITTLEの10th anniversary Yeahがスタートする。
