Biography

Verbal (born August 21, 1975, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese rapper, music producer, and creative director, best known as one half of the hip-hop duo m-flo and as a founding member of the groups Teriyaki Boyz and PKCZ®. Raised in Tokyo and educated in Boston, Verbal is bilingual in Japanese and English, a skill that has shaped his signature lyrical style blending both languages. He returned to Japan in the late 1990s, where he co-founded m-flo with DJ Taku Takahashi. Their early collaborations helped popularize hip-hop and club music in Japan, leading to major chart success and the innovative “m-flo Loves” series, which featured collaborations with dozens of vocalists across genres. In addition to m-flo, Verbal gained international attention as a member of Teriyaki Boyz, a group formed under producer Nigo, known for their track “Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)” featured in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). He has also worked with artists such as Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Crystal Kay. Beyond performing, Verbal is a producer and entrepreneur. He co-founded Ambush®, a Tokyo-based jewelry and fashion brand, with his wife Yoon Ahn, and has been active as a creative director in music and fashion. Recognized as one of the pioneers of Japanese hip-hop, Verbal continues to influence both the music scene and street culture through his diverse artistic ventures.