Testimony 5Hayao Matsuo
from Chocolate Planet
(Comedian)
I approached him to tell him I was a fan, and he said, 'Go away! I was so pissed off. I was really pissed off (laughs).
Do you feel that there are more hip-hop lovers among comedians nowadays?
Shun Matsuo (hereafter Matsuo):I think it has increased. But now it has become more familiar, but when I was influenced by NITRO and started using the stage name "Matsuo Underground," even if I wore pants that were a little too fat, people would say, "Why are you wearing such loose-fitting pants? I would even wear pants that were a little too big for me. But now, as if they had turned the tables on me, they say, "Do you know that song? or "Have you seen Freestyle Dungeon? I sometimes think, "What are you talking about? (Laughs.) No, I think everyone should listen to what they like.
You liked it so much that it was quoted in your stage name. Do you remember the first time you met?
Matsuo:I mean, you know, to be recognized as me, right?
Have there been any before that?
Matsuo:Yes, I did. I think it was fate, but before I became a comedian, I worked at a cardboard factory. Actually, I was making panels for "Makka-chan" there.
! (Laughs) (Laughs) I know some people don't understand, so can you please explain about "Makka-chan"?
Matsuo:It's MACKA-CHIN's character, drawn by DABO. When I first entered the factory, I was being briefed by the factory staff when I saw MACKA-CHIN and said, "Oh, this is made here? And. I wanted to take it home with me somehow, but in the end I couldn't.
So the first person you met was "Macca-chan" (laughs).
Matsuo:That would be so. Also, there was a MABO (a unit consisting of MACKA-CHIN and DABO) event at a club in Shibuya at the time, and I went to see it. I went to see the event! And I thought, "Ah! I went up to them and wanted to simply say, "Um, I'm a fan," but I was too nervous to say something like, "Oh, oh, ......." Then DABO said, "Oh, there he is! Then DABO said to me, "Go away! I was so pissed off. I was really pissed off.
That's what I'm talking about. ...... (laughs). I know you are now in contact with DABO, have you talked to them about it?
Matsuo:I did. He said, "Sorry" (laughs). After that, I became a comedian and came to Tokyo. I went to a convenience store in my neighborhood and happened to see MACKA-CHIN. I was surprised, but I waited outside and shook his hand. The first time I had a chance to talk to him was when I visited DABO's birthday event as a part of RG's (Razor Ramon RG) sneaker club, which I am also a member of, He connected me with a lot of people.
Can you tell us about your memories of the sound source?
Matsuo:The first song ("Nitro Microphone Underground") is the most impressive one. I listened to it a lot. I wondered what kind of feeling he was getting when he was making this. I was like, "What kind of feeling did he get when he made this? It is very addictive, isn't it?
That was the first period. Have you been going to live shows before?
Matsuo:I had seen them on individual stages and at DEF JAM JAPAN events, but I had never seen a live performance by all eight members. But I had never seen a live concert with all eight members. I was like, "Why aren't there some of us there? So I really wanted to go to the one-man show after the reunion, and I am sorry to say that I used my geisha power to get us seats. But I couldn't go because of work.
S-WORD was teasing Mr. Matsuo during the MC, but he had already left the venue by then, right?
Matsuo:That's right. I only showed up for 5 minutes before the show started, but in the middle of the show, S-WORD said, "How can NITRO not play that song? Hey, Matsuo is here today, right? But I wasn't there at the time. When I watched the video of that time later, I felt indescribable. However, I was very happy that NITRO mentioned my name during the MC at the live performance. At that time, I thought, "I'm a big seller too, ......" (laughs).
PROFILE
NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND
Formed in 1999 by eight MCs who hung out in Shibuya and Udagawa-cho on a regular basis. Their first album, "NITRO MICROPHONE UNDERGROUND," became a smash hit immediately after its release and quickly became a Tokyo street icon. After seven years, the group finally reunited last year. They recently released a new song, "Walking TOKYO," and are preparing to hold a solo live concert at Shibuya O-EAST on January 30.
