RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip hop group.

The group was formed in 1993 … Read Full Bio ↴RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip hop group.

The group was formed in 1993 by rappers RYO-Z, ILMARI, PES and former members DJ SHOGI and DJ Shige. In 1995, the group had their debut with the mini-album "Lip's Rhyme", and by 1996 both DJs had left the group.

Only in 1997 they would find a new DJ in DJ Fumiya, which joined the unit, as well as rapper SU, after what started as a collaboration in the track "Searching" from their first album, "Talkin' Cheap", released in 1998. In 1999 they took part in Dragon Ash's Total Communication event. They became ever more successful and signed to Warner in 2000. The group shot to stardom with the release of first major label singles "STEPPER'S DELIGHT" and "雑念エンタテインメント" ("Zatsunen Entertainment").

In 2002 they received MTV Video Music Awards Japan for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Hip-hop Group". The same year they released a big-budget album "Tokyo Classic", which became Japan's first million-selling hip-hop album, with a sound compared to James Brown's soul and funk. Two singles from the album, "Funkastic" and "Rakuen Baby" collected MTV awards in the following year.

Also in 2002, after being dissed by rapper K-DUB SHINE in his group キングギドラ's song "公開処刑 feat. BOY-KEN", the group replied with the phrase "THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ADVICE AND SUPPORT!" at the end of the promotional video for the song "BLUE BE-BOP". The artists have reconciled since then.

In 2004, "Super Shooter", a song from the single "Galaxy", was used as the theme song for the anime Gantz. The release of their fourth album, "MASTERPIECE", followed, and the song "STEPPER'S DELIGHT (Tricky Remix)" was made and used in a Nike commercial featuring Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho.

In 2005, a best of album was released, called "GOOD JOB!", and DJ Fumiya took a break from the group's activities due to his health conditions.

In 2006, the group collaborated with famous rocker 布袋寅泰 (Tomoyasu Hotei) under the moniker RIP SLYME vs HOTEI, and the result was the song "FUNKASTIC BATTLE", a mash up between HOTEI's "BATTLE WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY" and RIP SLYME's "FUNKASTIC", as part of the MTV TOYOTA MASH UP PROJECT. The same year, the group collaborated with rock band くるり (Quruli) and two singles came of the partnership: "Juice", under the moniker くるりとリップスライム (QURULI TO RIP SLYME) and "ラヴぃ" ("Lovi"), this time as リップスライムとくるり (RIP SLYME TO QURULI). DJ Fumiya resumed his activities with the group for the single "ブロウ" ("BLOW") and the release of their fifth album "EPOCH" followed.

In the beginning of 2007, the group was attached as part of a new campaign of Sony's VAIO line of laptops, appearing in the commercials, which featured a new song called "I・N・G". The promotional video for the song also heavily promotes Sony's line of computers, and the song is, as of yet, unreleased in single or album form. Months later, their new single "熱帯夜" ("Nettaiya") was made part of a tie-up ad campaign between Coca-Cola and Japan's iTunes Music Store.

WHY
RIP SLYME Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wonder why?(あきれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(ド忘ればかりのアンサー)
I wonder why?(あふれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(とわずかばかりのアンサー)あきれるほどの疑いの果てには
悲しみ通り越し笑いのトラブル
おしくらのまんじゅうのスクラムを
抜けてもなお無意味に多忙
惰性のシュート羞恥心を持つべきだろ

足腰の衰弱を知りたちすくむ
夕方にはファンデーションも割れ
恥ずかしい顔も上げられず誰が誰?
勇者勝算なく足とめず
どうせ有能なアシスタントレース
疑問珍問出し確かめる
固い頭くだいてやりなおせ

あの絵を目の前にかぶせろ
あなたれたアナザレベル手をかざせよ
今日の話をメモっても
迷う迷路まっさきに走り抜け出ろ
宣言通り走り出すメロス
ほらみなスタミナも
気にせず疾走する
「さてどうする」命と気持ちの間往復
して得る興奮何が幸福
I need a 当分のランナーズハイ
とわずかな水
何も省みず夕日が沈むまで
後わずか乗りきるリズム

I wonder why?(あきれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(ド忘ればかりのアンサー)
I wonder why?(あふれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(とわずかばかりのアンサー)I wonder, you wonder
フワン空間浮かんだ
I wonder, you wonder
フワンフワン空間浮かぶ答えなんかないさって顔で
風にまかれて消え去ったモラトリアム
今まさに目の前に広がるリアル
そしておそれていた事が現実になる
落ちぶれて輝く栄光の日々
つまづいて分かる成功の意味
傷だらけの体をきつく
君に抱きしめられてみて始めて気付く
カタルシス…やがて僕の背中にも羽が生え
誰かのため? に自分のため? に
さあ飛び立とうぜ大空へ!!

起きぬけのスローチューン
そうSunrise oh ～ Time goes on by
答えなんてどこにもない
だまって立って大地の上のWhy?
一人でもSing 泳ぐなら罠
よける疑問自答つけるならRun
今はただまだ知らない真相
みつけな Keep on

I wonder why?(あきれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(ド忘ればかりのアンサー)

I wonder why?(あふれるほどのクエスチョン)
I wonder why?(とわずかばかりのアンサー)

Overall Meaning

The song 'Why' by Japanese hip-hop group RIP SLYME is a reflection on the uncertainties and struggles of life. The lyrics express a sense of confusion, doubt, and questioning in the face of life's challenges. The song opens with the repeated line, "I wonder why," indicating the singer's desire for answers to life's mysteries.

The verses describe a series of challenges that the singer faces, including feeling overwhelmed by doubt and sadness, struggling to find meaning in a busy, routine-driven life, and facing physical and emotional exhaustion. Despite these challenges, the chorus remains optimistic, urging the singer to keep pushing forward and to find the courage to take risks and embrace the unknown. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of catharsis and transformation through struggle, implying that there is value in facing life's uncertainties and emerging stronger on the other side.

Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of grappling with the unknown and searching for meaning in the face of adversity. The lyrics encourage listeners to keep asking questions and to persevere through life's challenges, even when answers seem elusive.

Line by Line Meaning

I wonder why?(あきれるほどのクエスチョン)
I am perplexed by the overwhelmingly difficult question

I wonder why?(ド忘ればかりのアンサー)
I am at a loss for an answer that I should know

I wonder why?(あふれるほどのクエスチョン)
I am overwhelmed by the abundance of questions

I wonder why?(とわずかばかりのアンサー)
I only have a few incomplete answers

あきれるほどの疑いの果てには
At the end of overwhelming doubt

悲しみ通り越し笑いのトラブル
There's a trouble that goes beyond sadness and leads to laughter

おしくらのまんじゅうのスクラムを
Caught in a chaotic situation like a crowded bun shop

抜けてもなお無意味に多忙
Even after breaking free, still senselessly busy

惰性のシュート羞恥心を持つべきだろ
I should be ashamed of my complacency and lack of motivation

足腰の衰弱を知りたちすくむ
Aware of the decline in my health, I stand rooted in place

夕方にはファンデーションも割れ
By evening, even my foundation is cracked

恥ずかしい顔も上げられず誰が誰?
Without raising our embarrassing faces, who are we?

勇者勝算なく足とめず
Without certainty, I won't stop moving forward like a hero

どうせ有能なアシスタントレース
Anyway, my competent assistant will work for me

疑問珍問出し確かめる
I ask questions, even strange ones, to confirm

固い頭くだいてやりなおせ
I need to break down my hard head and start over

あの絵を目の前にかぶせろ
I put that picture in front of me

あなたれたアナザレベル手をかざせよ
I'll reach out to that parallel universe

今日の話をメモっても
Even if I take notes of today's story

迷う迷路まっさきに走り抜け出ろ
I'll run through the maze and escape right away

宣言通り走り出すメロス
Just like my declaration, I start running like Melos

ほらみなスタミナも
Look, everyone has stamina

気にせず疾走する
I'll run without worrying

「さてどうする」命と気持ちの間往復
"Now, what should I do?" My life and emotions go back and forth

して得る興奮何が幸福
The excitement I get from doing it, what is happiness?

I need a 当分のランナーズハイ
I need a runner's high for the time being

とわずかな水
And a little bit of water

何も省みず夕日が沈むまで
Without reflecting on anything, until the sun sets

後わずか乗りきるリズム
I'll survive with the remaining rhythm

フワン空間浮かんだ
A space suddenly floats in the air

って顔で
With a face that says, "what the heck?"

風にまかれて消え去ったモラトリアム
The moratorium was swept away by the wind

今まさに目の前に広がるリアル
The reality that is currently spreading before my eyes

そしておそれていた事が現実になる
And the thing I was afraid of becomes a reality

落ちぶれて輝く栄光の日々
Days of glory that shone even when I fell

つまづいて分かる成功の意味
The meaning of success that I understand after stumbling

傷だらけの体をきつく
Tightly holding my wounded body

君に抱きしめられてみて始めて気付く
I realize for the first time after being embraced by you

カタルシス…やがて僕の背中にも羽が生え
Catharsis... Eventually wings grow on my back too

誰かのため? に自分のため? に
For someone else? For myself?

さあ飛び立とうぜ大空へ!!
Let's take off to the sky!!

起きぬけのスローチューン
A slow tune after waking up

そうSunrise oh ～ Time goes on by
Yes, Sunrise oh ~ Time goes on by

答えなんてどこにもない
The answer is nowhere to be found

だまって立って大地の上のWhy?
Silent and standing, the Why on the earth?

一人でもSing 泳ぐなら罠
If you swim alone singing, it's a trap

よける疑問自答つけるならRun
Avoid questioning and resolve it yourself, then run

今はただまだ知らない真相
Right now, I only know nothing of the truth

みつけな Keep on
Keep looking and don't give up

Writer(s): Andre Abshagen, Hyundo Lee, Susie Suh Copyright: Downtown Music Publishing LLC, Edition Polarbear Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Korea Inc.

Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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