Joji, AKA: Filthy Frank, Papa Franku, Pink Guy, Chin-Chin, Salamander Man and many more. Born George Miller, in Osaka, Japan. Joji would go on to become an Interdimensional traveler, a shock video pioneer, the creator of the harlem shake and now an international music hit.

Joji left Japan at the age of 18 to move to America to attend school. While in America he began creating content with a Youtube channel called DizastaMusic. On this channel he performed sketch comedy pieces where his character of Filthy Frank was born in 2011. His character helped the channel grow to the position it is in today, with over 880 thousand subscribers and around 170 million channel views. However in 2014 Miller announced he would no longer be posting to this channel due to several copyright and community strikes.

So he began the channel known as Filthy Frank. A channel that grew to 6.3 million subscribers and 880 million channel views. On this channel Papa Franku posted several different video series, including rants, reactions, gross-out type videos and original content. The original content is where Filthy Frank truly shone. Creating a universe taking place across multiple dimensions with hilarious characters, the story of Filthy Frank is truly one to behold.

Within the universe of Filthy Frank, there is a being known as pink guy (Just Joji in a pink body suit). Pink guy became a creative outlet for George. His passion for music started showing through his projects, and by creating comedic music within the Filthy Frank universe he started dipping his toes into production and vocalization.

Filthy Frank is most known for essentially starting the viral craze; The Harlem Shake. He created the original dance that blew up, and helped Baauers song hit the top of the charts. Filthy Frank is also credited with inspiring Pewdiepie. Something you can easily tell by a voice both Youtubers use as almost their signature style of speaking.

Creating videos where he ate vomit among other bodily fluids, and put his body in horrible situations took a toll on his health and in 2017 he announced due to a lack of interest, and serious health conditions he would retire from comedy. Which came as a shock to many fans.

A portion of those fans weren’t aware that as he was releasing videos and music as Pink Guy, he was developing his own musical persona. Joji. He tried to keep it a secret as to not negatively affect his comedy career. But word got out and soon Joji was signed to 88-rising a Label and Youtube Channel that highlights Asian-Americans.

The release of his first album Ballads 1 was on October 16, it quickly topped Billboards Hiphop/R&B chart. Shortly after its release, Joji announced a North American tour, when he was already on a European tour.

With his music now reaching the world as Joji. The persona that represents the “True Frank” from the multiverse. George Millers voice is now truly being heard by fans in America, his home country and beyond.

And I hope we hear alot more of it.

Last time in George Watsky a Lyrical Legend we covered the beginning of the California Rappers rise to success. Though it seems like I’m not giving him credit where credit is due, just calling him a rapper. A poet, an author and an all around artist, George Watsky continues to scribble his name into the corners of history to this day, and seems content with just that.

After the release of “All You Can Do”- an album which featured collaborations with the likes of Anderson .Paak, Dia Frampton and Stephen Stills of “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young” fame, Watsky went on yet another tour. Across North America and with stops in Australia and Europe, Watsky was starting to become a worldwide name.

 Later on in the same year, Watsky went on a club tour across North America, adding many Canadian cities he hadn’t yet performed in. (Calgary was on the list, and I didn’t get to go but a friend said it was amazing)

Early 2016 Watsky announced yet another full album. X-Infinity released August 19th, it featured collaborations with 10 artists with varying music styles and levels of fame. The album reached #58 on the Billboard 100 .

Watsky created many music videos for this album; featuring many different styles of dance and theatrics. He seems to love to share the bit of spotlight he gets, and loves to promote art in all forms.

The album had a strong focus on mental health, And trying your best to get better. A bit of a contrast from his upcoming and most recent album. Whose themes we will explore when we get to that. X Infinity featured conversations Watsky has with himself, about confidence, love and the issues every human being faced. It is about trying to get better off your own mental fortitude (at least in my opinion) and leads perfectly into his next solo album Complaint.

Before Complaint Watsky announced that for their ten-year anniversary he would be regrouping with his alternative band Invisible Inc. They released a single early March and went on tour for the album released at the end of the month. It’s difficult to find information on whether or not Watsky plans to continue exploring this avenue of music.

Complaint released January 11, 2019, features similar themes of mental health, confidence and inner conflict. however, the majority of the songs focus on themes of love and family and the support they can offer you. The progression of X-Infinity into Complaint is a perfect reflection of the idea that you must gain the strength to love yourself and then can go on to share that love, and give some of the support back. He still struggles with himself on the album and it lends credence to the fact we can have slip ups and moments of doubt, but if we can continue to keep on pushing we are all worthy of love.

No one knows what the future holds for George Watsky, except George Watsky. But if he continues on the path he has been on. We can expect a whole lot more music in the future.

And I can’t wait.

photo:
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/2019/jan/16/130403/#

George Watsky certainly has been busy lately. With his recent Rap album release and corresponding tour, as well as recording and releasing an album with his alternative band Independent Inc. he’s certainly been on his grind.

But who is George Watsky. The 32 year old was born in San Francisco. His twin brother went on to become a helicopter pilot but George began competing in slam poetry competitions at age 15. He won dozens of slams, and placed fourth in the National Competition in 2005.

He continued with his slam poetry for a few years until 2009. When he released his first rap album, titled “Watsky”. It achieved minor success. A year later, with the help of San Francisco producer Procrastination he released his second album “Guilty Pleasures” for free on his website. At this point he still had a minor and mainly local following.

Then in 2011 His video “Pale Kid Raps Fast”, a —- rap over a Busta Rhymes beat for “Break ya Neck”, blew up. Gaining 4 million views in two days.

A week later he was performing a modified version of it on Ellen.

The next year he released yet another free mixtape. For this tape he went on his first official tour with fellow California rapper Dumbfounded. He toured the United States and even had a tour stop in London.

Another year and another album meant another tour in 2013. Which led him even farther across the globe. The album Cardboard Castles topped the itunes hip hop charts in Canada and the United States partially due to a social media campaign. Fun fact! At London Warped Tour in 2013 Watsky jumped 35 feet off the rigging and injured himself as well as two audience members.

Watsky has always been what I would call a real rapper, or a thoughtful rapper. He raps about your mindstate, as well as issues he finds with politics. It could be argued that he got in the game at the wrong time, when most mainstream rap is focused on partying and flexing his thoughtful meaningful poetry isn’t the type of music that seems to get as much radio play. But he has always had a devout fan base. He announced yet another album in January of 2014. Which was released as “All You Can Do” later on in June. This album led to him being listed as #51 of New Media Rockstars top 100 channels.

Watsky beginning and continuing his career in poetry, has always had a passion for words. His book “How to Ruin Everything” had the honour of being in the top ten New York Times Bestseller List. It is a collection of essays he has written over the years on overcoming failures and embarrassment. As well as his own path to success.

Two more Albums focusing on mental health, the advancement of his career even further and rejoining with his alternative band were all things on the horizon for George Watsky. Events I’ll be covering in next weeks blog post. The Continued Story of George Watsky.

January 23 would have been XXXTentacion’s birthday. The controversial 20 year old rapper was murdered in June last year. The group of rappers he came up with honoured his legacy by completing and releasing the fourth installment of their “Members Only” series of mixtapes. X’s diverse musical style is only briefly showcased on this album.

X started his career as a Tumblr celebrity, gaining followers mainly through posting selfies. Eventually he used it to promote his music. While his first released track is in more of a traditional hip hop style, it uses reversed vocals and a negative outlook that both became trademarks of X’s music. He began rapping with friends such as Ski mask the slump god, who he met in prison, and together with a few other rappers gaining followers on Soundcloud, formed members only. His aggression and violence (a result of a very difficult youth) heavily influenced his early music, and were key contributors to his rise to fame. His negativity and aggressive sexuality attracted attention , positive and negative. But X harnessed it all and moved himself into the spotlight.

After taking time separate from the group to focus on his solo career. He began trying to fashion a new image as a positive influence through charity works and creating his own foundation. On his solo studio albums, the lyrics took a shift in tone. While still dark his focus changed to depression and trying to help those suffering from it.

Through the release of his first two solo albums, he rose to mainstream popularity. Which also brought about negative attention. In the form of a court case. Domestic violence allegations from a previous relationship were laid, and the image of the rapper was even more heavily damaged. Constantly flickering between his role-model persona and I don’t care attitude in interviews.  Spotify removed him from their streaming service as a result of the allegations.

While leaving a motorcycle dealership, X was shot in an attempted mugging. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend and millions of fans worldwide. His music touched many, and left a lasting impact on the youth he was trying to help. Spotify put him back after his death, and he still reached the 3rd spot for artists streamed worldwide. Makes you wonder if he hadn’t been removed if he would have been first.

This past week has been a celebration of his life. His family and fans across the world released sky lanterns on his birthday, Lil Wayne released a music video for a song he made with x’s vocals after death and his son Gekyume was born. Finally, Members Only Volume 4 dropped, at the time of X’s death the group wasn’t all on good terms but they came together to put together a final project in the form of X’s second posthumous album. Bar one or two songs, it’s not exactly what his mainstream followers would be used to. It’s a return to a less pensive, more aggressive X, and therefore fittingly titled “Members Only”.

Image Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weve-only-begun-to-understand-xxxtentacions-musical-legacy-665891/