The jury is still out on whether or not they’ve been a success in the US, but it looks like Universal Music Group International see the Teriyaki Boyz as having potential in Europe. There was an announcement this week that the group’s debut album “Beef or Chicken” is to go on sale in Europe next spring. It’ll be launched in March in Paris, where it’s already on sale in some boutique shops and where’s said to be a Japanese hip hop “movement” happening. This is probably due to the involvement of local group Daft Punk among the album’s producers and the fashion angle of having Nigo, founder of the street fashion brand A Bathing Ape, in the group. The others are Ryo-Z and Ilmari from Rip Slyme, m-flo vocalist Verbal, and Kaze no Hito’s MC Wise. Anyway, I can definitely see the group doing well in Europe, where there not up against the same kind of local hip hop competition as they are in the US. Of course, the US market is where the big money is, and it seems that they’ll be making another attempt there next summer. The Teriyaki Boyz have just finished a Japan tour, playing last night at Zepp Tokyo. They’re scheduled to play a New Year’s Eve countdown event at the Makuhari Messe convention center.
• Will the Boyz boom or bust?