Lead

Lead is a Japanese Hip-Hop group under the Pony Canyon label. Since their debut on July 31, 2002, they have released 17 singles and 6 albums. They won the 'Best Newcomer Award' at the 44th Japan Record Awards, due to their popular song Manatsu no Magic.

Profile

 * Name: Lead
 * Previous Names: remix, flow
 * Members:
 * Nakadoi Hiroki (中土居宏宜)
 * Age: 24


 * D.O.B: July 26, 1985


 * Birthplace: Osaka, Japan


 * Height: 169cm / 5'6.5"


 * Bloodtype: AB


 * Tanuichi Shinya (谷内伸也)
 * Age: 22


 * D.O.B: September 23, 1987


 * Birthplace: Osaka, Japan


 * Height: 176cm / 5'9.3"


 * Bloodtype: A


 * Furuya Keita (古屋敬多)
 * Age: 21


 * D.O.B: June 13, 1988


 * Birthplace: Fukuoka, Japan


 * Height: 171cm / 5'7.3"


 * Bloodtype: A


 * Kagimoto Akira (鍵本輝)
 * Age: 21


 * D.O.B: August 20, 1988


 * Birthplace: Nara, Japan


 * Height: 177cm / 5'9.7"


 * Bloodtype: O


 * Genre: Hip-Hop

Biography
Hiroki, Shinya and Akira met each other while attending Caless Vocal and Dance School in Osaka. In March of 2002, the trio took their talents to the streets of Shiroten, Osaka under the name of 'remix'. In May of that same year, they renamed their group to 'flow' and decided to find a fourth member. In April 2002, thirteen-year-old Furuya Keita and another contestant were declared winners of the 'Kyushu/Fukuoka Starlight Audition' that was held in Okinawa. flow decided to track down to make Keita their fourth member. Later on in May, the group made their third, and final, name change, changing their name to 'Lead', whereas they wanted to become the "leading group of their age".

In early July that same year they held their first live street performance as a four member group at Osaka Castle Park, showing off their talents of street-dancing, singing and rapping. It attracted over 7,000 viewers. Lead also became the opening act for budding group w-inds for their first live tour, "1st Message", and performed in front of 120,000 people for each opening. On July 31, 2002, Lead released their first single Mid-Summer Magic, peaking in the top 20 on the Oricon Charts.

Now eight years after their debut, Lead has released 17 singles, 6 albums, 7 DVDs and have done five 5 tours. They have made numerous guest appearances on talk shows, host their own TV shows and star in movies and dramas - not to mention winning a total of three Japan Record Awards.

On July 28, 2010, they will release their 17 single SPEED STAR★