Japan dancehall reggae artiste RYO the SKYWALKER

by DRW
(Jamaica)

Ryo the Skywalker

RYO the SKYWALKER Met reggae music around 1991. He starte his career as a Dancehall DJ after his visit to Jamaica in 1994.

After his first release “GENBA-SHIJYOU-SYUGI (translate-->"BAD BAD WEST") he return to Jamaica again for 11 month to obtain a more native staging and recordings.

In April of 1999 Ryo releases a 12” single “CASINO” from the label Casino891, followed with collaborations with sugar soul’s “Ho-oh –MEGAMI NO UTA on her Debut album “On” this held to push Ryo to a even bigger publicity.

After the collaboration with Hirofumi Asamoto’s RAM JAM WORLD in “Jungle Jamboree”, Ryo makes his major debut off WARNER MUSIC JAPAN INC. in July 2000 with “SUNNY DAY WALK”.

In November 2000, he releases Ryo’s first ep “HOW TO WALK IN THE SKY” followed up by his first full album “RYO the SKYWALKER” in August 2001. In 2002 Ryo releases 3 singles in a row “FUTARI ONE MAN II”, “GUERRILLA MONSTER”, and “From Distance (feat. Pushim)”.

In September 2002, 2nd Album “Still On Journey” was released and sold more than 50,000 copies. In 2003 Ryo starts his own record label “BUSH HUNTER MUSIC”, and along, Ryo worked out of his labels, and recorded stuffs like “BIG GUN SALUTE”(VA: Dancehall Premiere), and “RAGGA JET”(VA: Rock City 2) .

In June 2003 Ryo releases his Label Anthem “BUSH HUNTER”, and in August 2003 “HOW TO HUNT IN THE BUSH” which was his first total produced 3way album. On the release party of this album, he showed a new type of a showcase by co-starring 13 groups; a total of 17 artists, for an amazing 2hours and a half long performance as the main MC.

From November 2003 to May 2004, Ryo goes to Jamaica again to seek a higher level of performance and for the growth of the Japanese Dancehall Reggae scene. During that period, he still worked and collaborated with his friends like MIGHTY JAM ROCK and BOXER KID in “ORELA STILL” and TERRY THE AKI06 in “AGARE”.

He’s back in Japan now touring tons of Reggae Festivals spreading messages and teaching how to have fun with Dancehall Reggae which he learned from Jamaica. Going back to the basics as a DJ, he made “Gimmi Ur Vibes” a festival friendly tune that “Gun Shot”(a Jamaican way of participating in live showcases) as it’s main theme.

So please keep your eyes on Ryo’s next maneuver, for Ryo is definitely in the center of the growing Reggae scene in Japan.

Ryno the Skywalker is said to be the Vybz Kartel of Japan's Dancehall Reggae music.