Biography
Ichiban, meaning number one in Japanese, is a Japanese/Panamanian American artist who takes his life and background and molds songs into a format that is easily digestible. No classification can be given to fit his productions precisely, but it can be said that his music is an amalgamation of classic “Boom Bap” Hip Hop with a Japanese influence. Raised in the original Enshin Karate Dojo, Ichiban has already achieved international acclaim in the full contact karate circuit by winning the 2008 World Sabaki Challenge establishing himself as the best middle-weight fighter in the world. His dominance extends not only to karate fighting, but also to the realm of Hip-Hop music recently winning the 2008 title of Best MC by Village Voice Media’s Denver Westword. Multi-faceted, Ichiban not only produces all his own music and writes his own lyrics, he also gets his hands on the knobs behind the boards to engineer each piece. Most recently Ichiban peaked at #16 on the CMJ top 20 Hip-hop chart for his debut album "Psycle Analysis".
This young yet experienced artist has shared the stage with the likes of Slick Rick, Lyrics Born, Talib Kweli, Beatnuts, J-live, The Coup, just to name a few. As a member of Colorado’s premier Hip Hop conglomerate LIFE Crew, Ichiban shared in the 2005 nomination of the crew as Westword’s Best Hip Hop group(though LIFE Crew is not a “group” but a unit encompassing many talented performers- www.myspace.com/lifecrew .) Ichiban is also the lead singer and guitarist to the band formerly known as Five Style Fist (now Swankstars)-with whom he had shared the opportunity of being selected to perform at the South Park Music Festival as well as an Armed Forces Entertainment tour through the Balkins playing for troops shortly after 9/11. Five Style Fist was also the runner-up of 103.5 The Fox Lewis & Floorwax's Last Band Standing.
Ichibans influences are from a wide range of musicians-from Hip Hop legends such as Pharoah Monch, Common, JDilla, Mos Def to The Mars Volta, John Legend, & The Red Hot Chili Peppers. These varying influences can be heard in each masterpiece that Ichiban bangs out on the MPC or strums out on his Fender making him a mutitalented musician set apart from the pack with a promising bright future.
Instrumentation
Ichiban-emcee/producer occasionally w/DJ Tense-turntablist.
Discography
Singles from the album "Psycle Analysis" are "Goodbye" & "Staring @ the Sun".
"Psycle Analysis" peaked at #16 on the Top 20 Hip-Hop CMJ chart in December of 2008.
The Song "Birth.Life.Death.Repeat" is streaming on coloradohiphop website.
Singles have been playing on various radio stations such as KS 107.5 Mixtape Show W/DJ Chonz, Sirius Satellite Radio-Violator DJ Chonz, 88.5 the Eclipse Show, & 1190 Basementalism.