Halcali

HALCALI is a Japanese rap-pop duo from Meguro, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan. It's two members, Haruka (Halca) and Yukari (Yucali) also comprise the group's name; a concatenation of "Haru" and "kari". Haruka, born April 21, 1988 and Yukari, born July 18, 1987 originally met as finalists at a hip-hop audition held in a local school in the Meguro district, where both were born. At their inception, the girls were produced by Oshare Track Factory (OTF) comprised of producing artists RIP SLYME, RYO-Z and DJ Fumiya and signed to Tokyo-based record label, For-Life Music Entertainment (FLME). Released in 2003, their debut single, タンデム (Tandem) and accompanying music video paid "double homage" to the RIP SLYME song ステッパーズ・ディライト (Steppers Delight) which originally parodied the song Rapper's Delight by American artists The Sugar Hill Gang as well as various video game and pop-culture references, including the Super Mario Bros. and 宇多田ヒカル (Utada Hikaru). Following the success of this single, were the equally-successful songs エレクトリック先生 (Electric Sensei) and ギリギリ・サーフライダー (Girigiri Surfrider). The latter of which had a PV parodying Michael Jackson's Beat It, gaining the two much publicity. Their initial album, ハルカリベーコン (HALCALI BACON) was released in 2003, and made Japanese history by reached #5 on the Oricon charts, making it the first album by a female hip-hop artist to enter the top ten. The following year in 2004, their second album 音樂ノススメ (Ongaku no Susume) with FLME before moving to Epic records to release their remix album ハルカリミックス (HALCALI MIX) in 2005 and their 3rd album in 2007, サイボーグ俺達 (Cyborg Oretachi). So far, the two rapping popstars have released thirteen singles, three original albums, one remix album, and one DVD detailing their performances. Several songs of theirs have reached international doors by way of Japanese animation series' tie-ups. The songs タンデム (Tandem) & ギリギリ・サーフライダー (Girigiri Surfrider) were used as ending themes to the Anime "Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta: Mr. Stain on Junk Alley." Look was used as the 2nd ending theme for the Anime "Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z." Lights, Camera. Action! was used as the opening theme to the Anime "Getsumento Heiki Mina." Tip Taps Tip was used as the 3rd ending theme to "Koukyou Shihen Eureka seveN" (Symphonic Poem Eureka 7). Their most recent and arguably most popular Anime tie-up is their 12th single, Long Kiss Good Bye which was used as the 7th ending theme to Naruto Shippūden. HALCALI's sound has been progressively and markedly different from their period of inception -- initially being focused upon peppy, high-energy beats with equally fast and furious lyrics, moving onto more creative songs which seem to weave between genres and sounds, a la 音樂ノススメ (Ongaku no Susume), and more particularly サイボーグ俺達 (Cyborg Oretachi)., which included musical genres ranging from rap, pop, electrocore and rock. As Halca & Yucali have matured, they have taken on the role of writing their own rhymes & lyrics and composing their own music. Their 3rd album, サイボーグ俺達 (Cyborg Oretachi), featured many tracks which were written or co-written by HALCALI. Every single after this album has also been written by or co-written by HALCALI as well. On May 26, 2010, HALCALI released their long-awaited 4th album, TOKYO GROOVE. The album is a 2disc set compilation album spanning 16 tracks featuring a CD of original songs and a CD of cover songs.