HALCALI

HALCALI is a Japanese rap-pop duo from Meguro, Tokyo. Its two members, Haruka (Halca) and Yukari (Yucali) also comprise the group's name; a concatenation of "Haru" and "kari". Haruka, born April 21, 1988 and Yukari, born July 18, 1987 originally met as finalists at a hip-hop audition held in a local school in the Meguro district, where both were born.

At their inception, the girls were produced by Oshare Track Factory (OTF) comprised of producing artists RIP SLYME, RYO-Z and DJ Fumiya and signed to Tokyo-based record label, For-Life Music Entertainment (FLME).

Their single, Tandemu (Tandem) and accompanying music video paid "double homage" to the Rip Slyme song "Steppers Delight" which originally parodied the song "Rapper's Delight" by American artists The Sugarhill Gang as well as various video game and pop-culture references. Following the success of this single, were the equally-successful songs "Elektorikku Sensei" (Electric Teacher) and "GiriGiri Safuraida" (Roughly translated to "Cool", "Awesome" or "Ultimate" Surfer).

Their initial album, "Harukari Beekon" (HALCALI BACON) was released in 2003 along with their second album "Ongaku no Susume" (Recommended music) with FLME before moving to Epic records to release their remix album "Harukari Mikkusu" (HALCALI Mix) in 2005 and their most recent 2007 release "Saiboogu Oretachi" (We, the cyborgs).

So far, the two rapping popstars have released eight singles, two original albums, one remix album, and one DVD detailing their performances. Their Song "Tip Taps Tip" was used in the Japanese animation series "Koukyou Shihen Eureka seveN" (Symphonic Poem Eureka 7) as the 3rd ending theme.

HALCALI's sound has been progressively and markedly different from their period of inception -- initially being focused upon peppy, high-energy beats with equally fast and furious lyrics, moving onto more creative songs which seem to weave between genres and sounds, a la "Ongaku no Susume", and more particularly "Cyborg Oretachi", which included their somewhat rock-inspired "Tougenkyo" single.

Their initial album is more of a rap-pop release, with various collaborations with artists within the Japanese rap, hip-hop and pop genre as backing vocals and as more prominent vocal contributors in remix and b-side releases. It should be noted that, the creative and interesting songs' beats, lyrics and compositions originate or are inspired from the duo's own creative talents.