Disk Review] m-flo, DJ WATARAI, and others also participated! The album "Straight Outta Rhyme Anima", which includes all the RAPs from the anime "'Hypnosis Mike -Division Rap Battle-' Rhyme Anima", is really bad!

The album "Straight Outta Rhyme Anima" from the TV anime "'Hypnosis Mike -Division Rap Battle-' Rhyme Anima," which aired from October to December 2020, was released on January 13, 2021.

Hypnosis Mike-Division Rap Battle-" is a music-based character rap project that started in September 2017, and one of its attractions is its authentic music with the participation of rappers and track makers who lead the Japanese hip-hop scene as creators. The unique characters who sing the songs are voiced by popular voice actors. They perform realistic rap songs, which have attracted attention from anime, voice actors, and hip-hop fans.

The TV anime version is now ready to air following various media mix developments, including the original CD, a comic book adaptation, a game application, and a stage adaptation. The main staff is directed by Katsumi Ono, known for the "Senki Zesshou Symphogear" series. The anime was directed by Katsumi Ono, known for the "Senki Zesshou Symphogear" series, and was composed by Shin Yoshida, who worked on "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's" with director Ono, and it is still fresh in our minds that the anime left a strong impact every week until it went on the air at the end of last year.

Highlights unique to the TV anime version include the flashy visualization of lyrics when the songs are performed, and the big explosion after the battle when the opponents are chosen. The storyline is also full of outlandish effects, such as bank robbers carrying a large number of "illegal microphones" wrapped around their stomachs as dynamite, and "illegally carrying them around without leaving their skin. The rap battle that unfolded along with the RAPs that were released during each episode is also a point to keep in mind.

The album "Straight Outta Rhyme Anima" was released on January 13, 2021 as a collection of music from the anime. The album includes full-size versions of the anime's musical accompaniment, the OP/ED themes that were previously distributed, and all of the RAPs performed by the characters in the anime. In order to introduce the appeal of the gorgeous contents that cover the contents of the anime, this article will focus on the OP/ED theme and the RAPs in the play, and review all the songs.

1. hypnosis mike -Rhyme Anima- / Division All Stars
Lyrics, music composition, and arrangement by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Tei Fukuyama)

The OP theme, which is the "face" of the work, features all 12 main characters of the "Division All Stars," a hard rock beat created by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Sei Fukuyama) and also features a new song "Rhyme Anima," which was composed and arranged by the same team of Daisuke Hirayama and Sei Fukuyama. The microphone relay was performed to a hard rock beat by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Sei Fukuyama), with each member introducing themselves in turn. The final part of the hook was a song that presented the theme of the piece in a big way: "Even if the end of this endless game is the end of the world, we'll keep on fighting in the Division Rap Battle. All members sang in unison, and although they belong to different divisions, they all joined hands in the face of difficulties, creating a passionate feeling as if they were watching a heroic work.

Incidentally, the first verse of Fling Posse's song is a floating synth trap style, but in the next turn, it switches to hard rock like the other units. The beat changes to a more difficult beat only in the same division, which is a show of skill. Be sure to check out "Shibuya no Onna.

2. "Rhyme Anima's Mixtape" by Division All Stars
Lyrics, music composition, and arrangement by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Tei Fukuyama)

In the first episode of the anime, all divisions performed rap songs as a greeting to each other, and this song is a mixtape of those songs. As with the aforementioned OP theme, the attraction of "Hypnosis Mike" music is that when the 12 MCs gather together, the flow switches several times within a single song. After all divisions have finished their verses, you can also enjoy the part that was used as the ED theme for the 13th episode of the anime. Incidentally, I was strongly attracted to the lazy and smoky unison hook sung by MAD TRIGGER CREW.

3. run this city / Buster Bros!
Words by: Yoshira Bottaro Composed and arranged by: Gekishoku Kaikan

Speaking of "Buster Bros! is synonymous with the heavy, rocking beat of "Kora Bentaro" and Gesshoku Kaikyo. Scratches continue to play throughout the song, and as the Yamada brothers pass the microphone one after another, you can feel their skillful collaboration, which leaves no room for intrusion.

What I particularly want you to hear is the part where Saburo Yamada (CV: Kohei Amasaki) shows his cute side and then suddenly says, "Of course not, I have a mica phone in my hand," creating a sense of drive as if he were slapping the palm of his hand in one motion. (Incidentally, his singing of "Sweeping" was probably influenced by Zeebra's "Testimony" and other songs.)

4. welcome u / asatenro
Lyrics, music, arrangement by Kohei by SIMONSAYZ

Attempted murder and stalker damage. ...... This song was performed in the episode in which Dokubo Kannonsaka (CV: Kento Ito) was living with Izanami Kazumi (CV: Ryuichi Kijima), the No. 1 host of Shinjyuku, which led to various mishaps for him. After that, the song featured the "strong bond" that binds them together, and there are already glimpses of that in this song as well.

The main part sung by Jinguji Jakurai (CV: Hayami Tasuku) and Dokubo, and the sexy chorus part sung by ICHIYUMI Kazumi, are a "singing style" that is rarely seen in other divisions. The smoothness of Ichijisan's flow may be an expression of the host's dainty microphone performance (on a personal note, the strength of the word "Zentai" in the phrase "Shinjuku Zentai" is always a source of delight to me). (On a personal note, I always laugh at the strength of the character "Zentai" in the phrase "Shinjuku Zentai").

5. red zone (don't test da master) / mad trigger crew
Words by KLOOZ Composed and arranged by DJ WATARAI

DJ WATARAI has unexpectedly entered "Hypnosis Mike. He is a legend who has been active since the pioneering days of rap/hip-hop in Japan, and his bass-heavy beats are a perfect match for the rough rap of MAD TRIGGER CREW.

What is even more surprising is that he proudly samples BUDDHA BRAND's "DON'T TEST DA MASTER," a classic of Japanese rap. The words are so overturned by the viewer that it only makes one's fear stand out, but DJ WATARAI may be the only reason why this kind of experiment can be realized. Mad Trigger Crew is one of the bloodiest groups in the division, and using this phrase in the "climax" of the song is sure to give the song an even greater punch line.

6. shibuya ghost night / Fling Posse
Lyrics: TOKYO HEALTH CLUB, music composed by Yuki "T-Groove" Takahashi, Yuma Hara, TOKYO HEALTH CLUB, arrangement by Yuki "T-Groove" Takahashi & Yuma Hara

The beat is a brightly colored disco-funk, in tune with the "Halloween times" that began with the question, "Are there ghosts or not? The lyrics of the song were written by the guys from TOKYO HEALTH CLUB (where in the world do they have connections with DJ WATARAI?), and the song includes the phrase "KING OF STAGE," which is reminiscent of RHYMESTER's alias, and their work title, "The Truth About Rumors. The light sound also helps to make the song more lively and fun to listen to. The lighthearted sound of the song, combined with the fact that it easily pays respect to legends, is a perfect example of Fling Posse's character, centered around the aloof character of Ranjin Amemura (CV: Yusuke Shirai).

7. 3 Seconds Killer / Buster Bros!
Words by: Yoshira Bottaro Composed and arranged by: Gekishoku Kaikan

This song was performed when the team eliminated the bombers, who were assassins from other divisions, while preparing for the preliminary round of the Division Rap Battle. Following "Run This City," this song was also written by the tag-team of Mr. Yoshira Bottaro and Gekkoku Koei, but with the aforementioned pre-tournament vibes and the countdown element that clearly indicates the point of excitement, the heat put into the rap is felt even more strongly than usual.

In Ichiro's second verse, he showed off his advanced flow by continuously stepping on pure rhymes without any unnecessary connecting words and weaving a groove with only those rhymes. The lyrics were written by Jiro Yamada (CV: Haruki Ishitani), who sang the phrases with the name of The Notorious B.I.G., an essential part of the East Coast hip-hop of the 1990s.

8. "Fallin'" / Asatenro lyrics by Pecori (ODD Foot Works)
Composed by Tondenhey (ODD Foot Works) Arranged by ODD Foot Works

Produced by ODD Foot Works, a hip-hop based band. The unison singing hook is a downer tone, but it carries a comforting feeling that gently soothes those who are exhausted from a night on the town. The "Ah" at the end of each measure, interspersed with a breathy "Ah" to weave the groove, is a technique that can be found in actual rap/hip-hop songs, It is not "like that" at all. Nevertheless, as you can see from the lyric of the song's hook, there is enough gentleness in MATENRO's work to recognize human weakness. The fact that it is not all about strength is indicative of the diversity of each division in "Hypnosis Mike.

9. bayside-suicide / mad trigger crew
Lyrics by MUTA (JUMANJI), music composed and arranged by ELIONE

The beat was made by ELIONE, who is a friend of SALU and JP THE WAVY and is no stranger to rap/hip-hop heads. As you can tell by listening to his songs such as "Winner's Circle feat. SALU & IO," he usually produces trap tunes, so it was surprising to hear him work on a boombop with an army texture and horns like "Bayside-Suicide". (With the addition of the distinctive synths, it might be classified as G-funk rather than boombop.)

Also, the song was sung at a time when two of Iruma Gun Usagi's (CV: Komada Wataru) fellow detectives were corrupt. To begin with, the MAD TRIGGER CREW is a crew with a complicated relationship in which the yakuza Hekikoh Zamatoki (CV: Shintaro Asanuma) and the detective, Gun Usagi, fight together. In the play, the two detectives take advantage of their weakness, but in this song, Saumakkoku takes the opposite approach, choosing words that are analogous to his daily "duty questioning," and violently reprimands them in rap, saying that they are "not making any sense. He is a man who lives in the underworld, so he is surely persuasive. He is a man who lives in the underworld, so he has a certain persuasive power. In other words, it's all about what one says.

10. jackpot!/Fling Posse
Words, music, arrangement by T-DOT

The title of the song is based on the word "jackpot" or "jackpot" in gambling, in line with the story of the elimination of the cheating gamblers in the movie. The beat is a ratchet-tinged trap, a rare opportunity for Fling Posse, with its image of glittering music such as the aforementioned "SHIBUYA GHOST NIGHT," to ride such a colorful beat.

In terms of the flow, the second verse drops the third beat of the triplet, which has become a standard practice for trap beats. In addition, the double speed in the first verse is reduced to the normal tempo, creating a flow that creates a gradual transition throughout the song.

11. d.r.b rhyme anima -1st Battle- Buster Bros! VS MAD TRIGGER CREW / Buster Bros! - MAD TRIGGER CREW
12.D.R.B Rhyme Anima -2nd Battle- Fling Posse VS MAD TRIGGER CREW / Fling Posse - MAD TRIGGER CREW
13. d.r.b rhyme anima -Final Battle- mad trigger crew vs mad trigger crew / mad trigger crew - mad trigger
15. D.R.B Rhyme Anima -EX- The Dirty Dawg VS Secret Aliens / The Dirty Dawg - Secret Aliens
Words, music, arrangement by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Tei Fukuyama)

All battle music for the Division Rap Battle was produced by invisible manners (Daisuke Hirayama and Sei Fukuyama). The "1st Battle" will be performed by Buster Bros! and MAD TRIGGER CREW, both of which had a solid beat. The last verse of "1st Battle" is a must-hear, as the vibes-filled Saumachikku bites his lip to hold off Ichiro's last-ditch attack and unleashes a huge counterattack. Both rapping and acting are combined at a high level.

In the "2nd Battle," Ranjin realizes the importance of his friends through the battle and shows his true potential, and his singing changes to a "lollipop" future sound. In the end, Dokubo's negative emotions explode and he goes into berserk mode, overwhelming Fling Posse, and his stressful, raucous voice was more than powerful enough to reveal the "wolf's fangs" lying dormant inside him (perhaps). (Perhaps he was referring to Dotama, an MC from Tochigi, who is both a businessman and a rapper.)

The lyrics in "Final Battle" were written by both MAD TRIGGER CREW and MAD TRIGGER CREW. While MAD TRIGGER CREW's "power rap" is a full-out assault on the division, MAD TRIGGER CREW's "power rap" is a battle between friends who expose their weaknesses and admit them to each other, showing the strength of their "bond" centered on Jakurai. The two groups show the strength of their "bond" centered around Jakurai. Since the style wars nature of both songs is set forth, I encourage you to read the lyrics in written form as well, apart from the music.

In the 15th track, the legendary crew "The Dirty Dawg," which once played an active role in the original anime character Secret Aliens, returns. The four current leaders of each division reunite for this battle soundtrack. In the final episode of the anime, new techniques such as a verse that combines random numbers and Ichiro attacks were introduced, and the lyrical raps by Iris Innocent Traitor (CV: Lynn), the only female rapper in the anime version, were especially fresh. For example, her choice of words from "just a temporary residence" to "charisma," "talisman," and "guardianship," which made me get goose bumps because the meaning of the lyrics made perfect sense.

14. love Dimension / Secret Aliens
Lyrics and music by m-flo, arrangement by m-flo and Mitsunori Ikeda (Tachytelic Inc.)

The highly recognizable sound that instantly identifies the song as m-flo upon first listen can be summed up in one word: "quintessential. Secret Aliens shares the same male-female composition with m-flo, with two males and one female, but I had no idea that this would become music in this way. The English lyrics sung a cappella at the beginning of the song were written by LISA, and the piano melody and catchy guitar cuts were written by TAKU Takahashi. The lyrics, with their questioning forms and habit of immediately "gathering together," immediately remind one of the characteristics of VERBAL and others, and it is m-flo's trinity that creates a superb sound.

Secret Aliens turned out to be an assassin from Chuo Ward at the end of the anime, and if they sang such a refreshing song in that scene, I had no choice but to become a follower, even if it was with regret. Once again, this song made me keenly aware of how seriously the "Hypnosis Mike" staff takes anime production.

16. kizuna / Division All Stars
Lyrics: YOSHI & Potemkin (Gaki Ranger), Cypress Ueno, Yanosuke (AFRO PARKER), Mr. Q & Yamada Man (Rappagaria), tofubeats Composition and arrangement: tofubeats

The lyrics for this song were written by artists closely related to each division, such as Cypress Ueno for MAD TRIGGER CREW and Mr. Q and Yamada Man for MAD TRIGGER CREW and Mr. Yamada Man for Rappa Gariya. Trackmaker tofubeats, known for his own song "LONELY NIGHTS," wrote the arrangement and lyrics for the hook.

The lyrics of the hook are the same for all divisions, but the line "It doesn't matter if you're going through some shit, we're going to overcome it all, we're going to shine" is especially important to be aware of. If you imagine the problems they face and how they overcome them, you may feel that each division has a different sound. Such a phenomenon also seems to testify to the strength of the context nurtured through the animation.

The beat begins with a pleasant chill trap marimba, and then switches to a New Jack Swing taste during the Fling Posse part of the song. However, unlike the OP theme, the sound of the base of the song is consistent throughout the entire division, and one can only take one's hat off to tofubeats' arranging ability, which has a lot of hands.

As reviewed in this article, the lyrics and sounds, their affinity with the storyline of the play, and the background knowledge of the rap/hip-hop sampled in addition to the artists who created the music can increase the enjoyment of the music many times over, as can be seen from ......'s various approaches. The musical appeal of "Hypnosis Mike" is that it can be enjoyed many times over from a variety of angles. If there are as many divisions that weave together the four "bonds" as there are divisions, then the joy for fans is boundless. Which division are you going to put ya hands up for?

(Text by Kota Ichijo)

CD Information

Straigh Outta Rhyme Anima

Release date: January 13, 2021 (Wednesday)

List price: 5,000 yen (excluding tax)

Big size jacket (265mm×265mm) newly drawn by the anime only for the first production.

＜DISC1＞

OP, ED, RAP in the play

1. hypnosis mike -Rhyme Anima- / Division All Stars

Rhyme Anima's Mixtape / Division All Stars

3. run this city / Buster Bros!

WELCOME U／Matenro

5. red zone (Don't test da master) / mad trigger crew

6. SHIBUYA GHOST NIGHT / Fling Posse

7. 3 Seconds Killer / Buster Bros!

Fallin' / MATENRO

9. bayside-suicide / mad trigger crew

10. JACKPOT!／Fling Posse

D.R.B Rhyme Anima -1st Battle- Buster Bros! VS MAD TRIGGER CREW / Buster Bros! - MAD TRIGGER CREW

12.D.R.B Rhyme Anima -2nd Battle- Fling Posse VS MAD TRIGGER CREW / Fling Posse - MAD TRIGGER CREW

13. D.R.B Rhyme Anima -Final Battle- MAD TRIGGER CREW VS MATENRO / MAD TRIGGER CREW - MATENRO

14. Love Dimension / Secret Aliens

15. D.R.B Rhyme Anima -EX- The Dirty Dawg VS Secret Aliens / The Dirty Dawg - Secret Aliens

16. kizuna／Division All Stars

＜DISC2

Original Sound Track

1. Street Beat

2. one for all, all for one

3. Hangin' Out

A Moment of Peace

Back to Normal

6. Smooth Sailin'

In Our Division

8. Investigation

9. Pissed Off

10. Bad Premonition

Nerve-rackin'

12. Disquieting Manner

13. Dangerous Ground

14. Looming Fear

15. Secret Plan

16. (CHU-OH-KU) Conspiracy

17. Divide and Conquer

18. Firestarter

19. Style Wars

20. Start a Beef

21. Face to Face

22. Feelin' Low

23. Throwing Back Memories

24. Set an Answer

25. Tense Situation

26. Now or Never

27. Begin the Battle

About to Blow

29. Shouts of Triumph

30. Clear Victory

31. Turnabout

32. Over the Battle

33. Squashed

34. After the Fuss