IO from KANDYTOWN meets by SCHOTT.
The true face of a rare rapper who wears down.

This decision seems surprising considering that he is a member of a large hip-hop crew of his generation, based in Kitami, Setagaya. It is a glimpse into the life-size figure of a man who has grown out of the youth scene and matured into a seasoned adult.

. I still spend several days a week in Tokyo. I work and meet with friends, but basically I spend time with my family by the sea, surfing, going to a haircut shop near my house, and living a normal life.

In recent years, many creators and artists have moved out of Tokyo to pursue new lifestyles, and rappers are one example of this trend. When we asked him about his recent musical activities that he is creating at his new base, he told us after prefacing his answer with, "I'm often asked about it.

I have always taken the stance that I create when I want to create. I am sure the members of KANDYTOWN are the same way. I don't like to be urged by anyone to create, and I don't like being pressed by deadlines. I think there are people who push themselves to create, but my premise is to create what I want to create when I want to create it.

I would work on music, of course, but I would also work on other visuals and video productions as well, as long as I was interested in them at the time. Actually, I don't really think that deeply about it (laughs). (laughs). The most fun is when an idea comes to me on a moment's notice and takes shape. It may come from a conversation with my friends, or when I am driving to the airport for a change of pace.

Behind his words, there was no hint of self-consciousness or pretension, and IO was relaxed in a good sense of the word. He is always thinking about what he enjoys above all else, and this is what makes his works so compelling.

Of course we want to respond to the people who listen to our music, but we don't want to live our lives worrying about what someone else will think or say. Sometimes that can be a positive thing, but when things don't go the way I want, I don't want to blame anyone or anything on anyone else. But I do have something in mind for next year that will surprise everyone.

Many artists and people who know IO's true face tell of a frank side of him that is not always apparent on the surface.

People often say I'm difficult to talk to based on first impressions, but I don't think that's actually true. But as a rapper on stage, there is a part of me that naturally switches between my daily life and the stage, and I think that balance is something that every artist has.

When talking about IO, KANDYTOWN is an indispensable presence. As is well known, KANDYTOWN is a next-generation hip-hop crew that burst onto the scene like a comet and quickly took the scene by storm, establishing itself as an icon. They have signed with a major label, Warner Music Japan, and released their second EP, "LOCAL SERVICE 2," in February of this year, and continue to work energetically. . How do you think about your activities in the crew?

Because there are so many of us, it is not often that we all get together in one place. . We often get together with some of the members, but in such a situation, we are all working at our own rhythm. KANDYTOWN has been working without a leader since that day.

That day was February 14, 2014 . The day I lost my best friend YUSHI in an accident. In a sense, that was the day that KANDYTOWN started its full-fledged activities.

Everyone has come to look up to him, and he has influenced them. It all started with YUSHI, and when he disappeared, we all naturally developed a sense of mission. So, I think the only thing that has remained constant for KANDYTOWN is the core of the group, as it is for me. Each of us will continue to work as a solo artist, and we will come back to the group with the parts that have grown and become more powerful. I think we are constantly evolving day by day.

Hip-hop music has transcended categorization and has become big content that reaches many people, and this remains true today. There is one more thing that has not changed for IO.

. "I wouldn't go so far as to call it an aesthetic, but there has always been a sense of not wanting to do this or feeling like it would be tacky to do that. This is not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of mindset. Our definition of "cool" is also based on a paradoxical idea.

In this sense, it is the same with fashion. I don't wear what I don't want to wear, and what I think is authentic naturally becomes my staple. Maybe I am particular about that.