Home Made Kazoku

Though the hip-hop group Home Made Kazoku were formed as early as 1996, it wasn't until 2001 that the band solidified with its core trio. Following a couple of years in Nagoya clubs and a larger club tour, the band was signed in 2004 to a major label and began recording singles in earnest. With massive success in singles and use of their work as theme music to some of the most popular anime series, Home Made Kazoku released their first full-length album to strong sales in 2005. Follow-ups in 2006 and 2007 maintained the group's Top Ten status on the Oricon charts, with a compilation in early 2008 holding the streak. The group is known for having a fairly light, moderate sound. Disco influences in the backing music are strong, and the emphasis on funk keeps the band on a tight rhythmic foundation. English passages (and in some cases individual words) are a constant component of their pieces. At their best, the group comes across as a happy, family-friendly version of Nitro Microphone Underground, with strong pass-the-mike compositions such as "Shounen Heart." At their least groundbreaking (and indeed, perhaps most popular), they come across like a light pop group, as in "Nagareboshi." ~ Adam Greenberg