In this breakthrough year for Japan's hip-hopping Teriyaki Boyz, Ilmari Ryo-Z, Verbal and Wise are following up their massive debut appearance at the MTV Asia Awards with a debut album on Def Jam called "Beef or Chicken".

The lead-off single, "Cho Large", featuring Pharrell, is on the soundtrack of the upcoming "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift", while the main track itself, "Tokyo Drift", was produced by the Neptunes.

Verbal recently got verbal with The Nation. Here are some excerpts:

What's with the group's saucy name?

We were doing Nigo's compilation album in 2004 and needed a new name for the group. We wanted something that represented Japan, that anybody from anywhere in the world would recognise… When Wise just came up with this one, we all said, "That's it!"

And the album title - the choice from an air hostess, right?

We're Teriyaki Boyz, so it was sort of natural, but it was dope, because on the surface it sounds funny, but we're basically asking, "You want beef, or you gonna run off like a chicken?

Why did you leave such popular groups as M-flo and Rip Slyme?

We didn't really leave. We originally started this group for fun, not really expecting anything big. We were completely surprised when Nigo started bringing all these tracks from the Neptunes, Ad Rock and Just Blaze. And then the MTV Awards!

Is it true that "Beef or Chicken" was made with the American market specifically in mind?

Well, Nigo spoke to Jay-Z, and he was interested, so that was the initial plan. But all of this happened so quickly - we just went with the flow. Now I hear we're pretty hot in Europe.

Do you think you'll catch on in America?

A lot of hip-hop artists in Japan try to be "black" and then wonder why they're not considered real by Americans. Even people in Japan think they're weird.

By being ourselves, we're giving you what Tokyo tastes like. I think people appreciate the originality and uniqueness, and we'll be giving the Americans that, just being ourselves.

Asian artists often end up disappointed with their reception in the West. What makes you so confident?

Many Asian artists try too hard to be and sound like American artists. By doing that, you're putting yourself up against the pioneers of the music industry. Self-confidence comes from knowing who you are, knowing where you stand and being completely yourself.

I think Americans have different buttons to trigger their excitement. American hip-hop is expected to be violent, gangster, explicit, controversial, etc, but there's none of that in Japanese hip-hop. So if we try to go that route, it would never work.

Is "Cho Large" about the oversized clothes that are part of hip-hop style?

Pharrell initially wanted the song to be about the yakuza [Japan's mafia], but I explained to him that, while in the US, gangsters are part of the pop culture and may be cool, in Japan the yakuza are not. I'd wear a T-shirt with Al Pacino as Scarface on it, but I wouldn't wear one with a yakuza actor's face on it, you know?

Anyway, he then wanted the song to be about living large and lavish. We had difficulties writing it at first, but ultimately we were able to use English and Japanese and bring something different to the table.

Tell us some more about hip-hop in Japan today.

In our respective groups we talk about different things, but in Teriyaki Boyz we just vibe off of each other and come up with crazy scenarios.

We're too real to conjure up a story about the Tokyo streets that doesn't actually happen. I'm not saying it's crime-free here. We have our share of weirdoes and killers, but it's relatively safe, and people have fun.

In the US, people use hip-hop as a means to get out of the ghetto. Many kids here use it to try to be ghetto. It's hilarious! We give it to you like it is, with a twist of humour.

Influences?

I got into hip-hop listening to Run DMC. My mother took me to Boston back when I was a kid and I saw all these kids my age laying cardboard on the ground and break-dancing, and I was in awe.

My strongest influences are Nas, Company Flow, Kool Keith.

Is it true that Nigo has a diamond-encrusted tooth?

Nigo is crazy. He is a wealthy man, but personally, I respect what he does with his money. You got a lot of rich dudes with bad taste, but Nigo - dude got style.

He buys jewellery, nice cars, all the stuff that people drool over, but he's also the owner of one of the most extensive collection of "Star Wars" paraphernalia in the world.

He's also an avid art collector. His Warhol collection is amazing.

What's the ultimate goal of Teriyaki Boyz?

As our man Ilmari would say, world peace!

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

The Nation