Rip Slyme

What Rip Slyme does

RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip-hop music group formed in 1994 and operating out of Tokyo. The group's core product is original recorded music — ten studio albums spanning the major debut in 2001 through the 2010s — supplemented by best albums, singles, vinyl reissues, and video works distributed via Warner Music Japan across physical retail (Tower Records, HMV, Tsutaya, Rakuten Books, Amazon.co.jp) and major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music). The four-MC-plus-one-DJ lineup (RYO-Z, ILMARI, PES, SU as MCs; FUMIYA as DJ and primary track-maker) combines hip-hop fundamentals with pop-accessible melodic sensibility, with FUMIYA also producing commercial tracks for outside artists (HALCALI, TOWA TEI, Mr.Children, SoftBank/Android/PlayStation campaigns).

The business model is diversified across four revenue streams: one-time music sales (CDs, vinyl, digital), live concert ticket sales (arena concerts, hall tours, festival appearances, the long-running Dance Floor Massive series, and a 2025 DFM FINAL tour), official merchandise through the dedicated online store and venue stands, and licensing royalties from TV drama theme songs and commercial tie-ups. Pricing is publicly disclosed — concert tickets range from ¥11,000 standing to ¥20,000 per day for the final arena shows with included goods, vinyl at ¥6,930 per 2-LP volume, and best albums at ¥4,200-¥5,500. Live events serve as the primary marketing and merchandising engine, with the 2025-2026 25th anniversary cycle featuring a sold-out 3-day arena run at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO that drew approximately 30,000 attendees and over 110,000 ticket applications.

Customer segments are primarily B2C Japanese music fans across general listeners, festival audiences, and the dedicated collector fan base ("RS5 Fans"). Key B2B relationships include Warner Music Japan as the label/distribution partner and major sponsors — Adidas Japan, Asahi Beer, Daiichi Koukou, and GENDA GiGO Entertainment — for the 25th anniversary final concert. The group has announced activity suspension scheduled for March 22, 2026, with the official goods store closing June 21, 2026, marking the end of the active touring entity while the back catalog and brand legacy continue.

Name

Rip Slyme

Legal name

株式会社SKIYAKI

Website

https://ripslyme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip-hop music group (formed 1994, major debut 2001) that produces and distributes original albums, singles, and vinyl records through Warner Music Japan, performs at Japanese festivals and arena concerts, and sells official merchandise and licensed content, with a 25th anniversary finale culminating in a planned March 2026 activity suspension.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Music Sales: Sales of CDs, vinyl records, and digital downloads/streaming. Releases include singles, original albums (10 total), best albums, and video works (DVD/Blu-ray). Revenue from physical media (limited editions with special goods) and digital streaming platforms.
2. Concert & Live Events: Ticket sales for arena concerts, hall tours, festival appearances, and special events. Live streaming tickets for online viewing. Merchandise sales at venues.
3. Official Merchandise: Online store sales of apparel, accessories, and other branded goods. Limited-edition items tied to anniversaries and releases.
4. Licensing & Royalties: TV drama theme songs, commercial tie-ups, and media appearance fees generate licensing revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip-hop music group that produces, releases, and performs original hip-hop music. The core offering includes studio albums, singles, best-of compilations, and vinyl records distributed through physical retail and digital streaming, complemented by arena concert tours, festival appearances, and live events. The group also sells official branded merchandise and licenses music for TV dramas and commercial tie-ups.

Product overview

RIP SLYME is a Japanese hip-hop group offering a comprehensive entertainment portfolio centered around music releases and live performances. The core offerings include a complete discography spanning 10 original albums from FIVE to 10, numerous singles, best albums (GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, GREATEST FIVE), and vinyl record reissues. The group provides live entertainment through concert tours (DANCE FLOOR MASSIVE series, anniversary arena shows), festival appearances, and special events. Supporting offerings include an official merchandise store, the RIP SLYME THE MOVIE documentary film, commemorative photo books, and fan membership services via the Bitfan ID platform for mail magazine subscriptions and exclusive content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GREATEST FIVE Best Album (CD and digital) Best-of compilation album featuring 48 tracks including new songs, released as part of the 25th anniversary celebration. Available in Limited Edition (3CD with special box packaging and live ticket serial code) and Regular Edition.
• GREATEST FIVE LP EDITION (Vinyl Records Vol.1 & Vol.2) Limited-edition vinyl reissue of the GREATEST FIVE best album in two volumes (2-LP set each) with remastered audio and new jacket artwork.
• GREATEST LIVE VIDEO (Blu-ray & DVD) Live performance video work featuring the 25th Anniversary GREATEST LIVE – Final Three Nights – concert recordings, available on Blu-ray and DVD in multiple configurations.
• RIP SLYME THE MOVIE -25th ANNIVERSARY GREATEST MEMORY- Commemorative documentary film featuring recent live performances, backstage footage, and interviews documenting the 25th anniversary journey of RIP SLYME.
• RIP SLYME 25th Anniversary PHOTO BOOK Official commemorative photo book documenting the 25th anniversary year activities including live performances, recording sessions, and behind-the-scenes content.
• 「どON」Single First single following the 5-member reunion after approximately 9 years; a coined word representing what members are passionate about.
• STEPPER'S DELIGHT (2025ver.) Special Movie Re-recording of the major debut single commemorating the 25th anniversary, with updated lyrics reflecting the 5-member reunion, accompanied by a special music video.
• Chill Town (J-WAVE Summer Campaign Song) J-WAVE summer campaign collaboration song created for 'CHILL TOWN TOKYO ~COOL SUMMER 2025~', aired exclusively on J-WAVE before general release.
• Wacha Wacha (Pre-release Single & Music Video) Pre-release track from the GREATEST FIVE best album, released digitally ahead of the album with an accompanying music video.
• 結果論 Music Video Music video for the song '結果論' from the GREATEST FIVE best album, directed by Yudai Maruyama.
• RIP SLYME 25th Anniversary GREATEST LIVE – Final Three Nights – Final 3-day arena concert at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO marking RIP SLYME's activity suspension, with live streaming, live broadcast, and theater live viewing options.
• RIP SLYME TOUR 2025 DANCE FLOOR MASSIVE FINAL Concert tour continuation of the long-running Dance Floor Massive (DFM) series that began in 2004, known for turning venues into dance floors with non-stop medleys of hits.
• RIP SLYME Official Goods Store

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ downloads for tropical night single

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• PARCOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Collaboration for 'Kaze to RIP' exhibition at Shibuya PARCO featuring photography and merchandise. Also collaboration with JUNYA WATANABE MAN and COMME des GARÇONS HOMME for fashion features.
• Adidas Japan Co., Ltd.majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2026Official sponsor for RIP SLYME 25th Anniversary GREATEST LIVE – Final Three Nights – arena concerts. Collaboration on adidas-branded merchandise and promotional activities at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO.
• Daiichi Koukou (第一興商)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2026Sponsor providing LIVE DAM karaoke equipment and services. Supporting the final live concert events at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO.
• Asahi Beer (アサヒビール)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2026Sponsor of the final concerts with Super Dry collaboration tumbler merchandise sold exclusively at venue. Cross-promotional brand activation during the 3-day event.
• GENDA GiGO EntertainmentmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2026Sponsor providing game center venue support (Tempo) for promotional activities during the 25th anniversary celebration period.
• Warner Music JapanmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecord label handling distribution of RIP SLYME releases including the 25th anniversary best album GREATER FIVE, vinyl reissues, and video works.
• TOYOTA ARENA TOKYOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the 25th Anniversary GREATEST LIVE – Final Three Nights – final concerts. Location is significant as the site of former Zepp Tokyo where RIP SLYME performed numerous times.
• J-WAVEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummer 2025 campaign song partnership. RIP SLYME wrote 'Chill Town' as J-WAVE's summer campaign song for 'CHILL TOWN TOKYO ~COOL SUMMER 2025~'.
• Tower Records JapanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner with exclusive merchandise (original can badges, tote bags) and in-store campaign events for vinyl record releases at TOWER VINYL SHIBUYA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Creepy Nuts: Currently dominant Japanese hip-hop duo, scheduled as guest for RIP SLYME's BACK to BACK tour. Direct genre peer representing the newer generation of Japanese hip-hop artists.
• Dragon Ash: Japanese hip-hop/rock band featuring guest appearances with RIP SLYME on BACK to BACK tour. Similar era, similar Japan-domestic concert-driven business model with crossover hip-hop/rock appeal.
• SOUL'd OUT: Japanese hip-hop group from the same 2000s era as RIP SLYME with comparable mainstream breakthrough trajectory and pop-hip-hop crossover sound.
• Shonan no Kaze: Japanese hip-hop/reggae group with comparable long-tenured mainstream presence, festival and arena tour business model, and similar cultural footprint in Japanese entertainment.
• RHYMESTER: Long-running Japanese hip-hop duo that RYO-Z has collaborated with. Comparable veteran status in Japanese hip-hop scene with established concert and catalog business model.
• TERIYAKI BOYZ®: Japanese hip-hop supergroup featuring RIP SLYME members RYO-Z and ILMARI. Direct overlap in personnel, genre, and Tokyo-based Japanese hip-hop scene positioning makes it the most natural peer comparison.
• HALCALI: Japanese hip-hop/pop act whose music was produced by RIP SLYME's FUMIYA. Direct creative relationship and comparable Tokyo-based hip-hop performance business.
• Ketsumeishi: Long-established Japanese hip-hop group with similar career arc to RIP SLYME. Comparable mainstream Japanese hip-hop positioning, festival circuit presence, and long-tenured fan base.
• FUNKY MONKEY BABYS: Japanese hip-hop/pop trio with similar mainstream commercial appeal, festival circuit presence, and arena-level concert draw as RIP SLYME.
• KICK THE CAN CREW: Japanese hip-hop group of the same era as RIP SLYME, scheduled as guest artist for RIP SLYME's BACK to BACK tour. Direct genre, generation, and audience match.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ripslyme_com
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rip Slyme