Hip-hop in Japan is in a league of its own. In the west, the genreâs all too often tarred with images of attitude, bling and bootylicious women. Compare that stereotype with HALCALI, Tokyoâs all-girl rap duo whose introduction to the murky world of the hip and the hop is largely due to a big pink poster.âWe were so young at the time, we couldnât even understand the kanji â we just thought the poster design was so cute!â confesses Halca, one half of the cute MC act. This statement alone separates the pair from the kind of demeanour outlined in the introduction. The poster was seeking members to form a new female rap unit, mentored by one of Japanâs most successful groups in the genre; RIP SLYME. The ensemble is best known in the anime community for their song âSuper Shooterâ from the opening of GANTZ.
Halca and her buddy Yucali (Haruka and Yukari to their mums) aced the auditions and won the contract, in turn becoming the two-piece HALCALI by combining parts of their names together (and insisting on putting them in uppercase). Were they excited about winning? Itâs been reported that the ditzy duo were nonchalant about the whole affair, and didnât really grasp the calibre of talent they were working with, not until their debut single shot into the Oricon chart and snuck into the Japanese CGI series Mr. Stain, which was picked up by Funimation for the United States and Canada. The song used in the animation, âTandemâ even found its way into Latin American MTVâs sports coverage! However, the bubble-gum rappers would have to wait until 2008 to make their debut on that side if the world proper.
It was in May of that year that the USA convention Anime Central invited the twosome over as musical guests of honour. They earned the position not just off the back of Mr. Stain. Mecha-based romp Eureka Seven also had a major part thanks to the girlsâ âTip Taps Tipâ single featuring as the seriesâ third ending theme. Their release âLOOKâ was also used in Powerpuff Girls Z, though the series was never licensed for America, despite airing in Canada, Mexico and Latin America.
Five months after hitting the States HALCALI returned to the anime scene with possibly their biggest crossover to date: Naruto! Their 12th single âLong Kiss Good Byeâ (above) featured as the seriesâ seventh ending, found on Mangaâs latest UK release; Naruto Shippuden: Box Set 7.
The songâs music video is a girly neon nod to White Stripeâs âSeven Nation Armyâ video. Itâs far from the first time the girls have taken or parodied things from popular culture in their PVs. âTandemâ, their first release has a video paying homage to Super Mario while cheekily poking fun at Hikaru Utada, and thereâs a section in âGiri Giri Surf Riderâs that salutes the late king of pop himself; Michael Jackson! Cute rap doesnât get much better than that.
Naruto Shippuden: Box Set 7 is out 7 November on UK DVD from Manga Entertainment.
