SoulJa

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Soulja
Born
Johannes Maria Leenders Zwaan[1]

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OriginHigashikurume, Tokyo, Japan
DiedScript error: No such module "person date".
GenresPage Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
OccupationTemplate:Pluralize from textSinger-songwriter, rapper
Years active2005–present
LabelTemplate:Pluralize from textRock & Hill Records
(2005–2006)
Nayutawave Records
(2007–2008)
Def Jam Japan (2008–present)
Websitesoulja.jp

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Johannes Maria Leenders Zwaan, better known as Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., is a Japanese hip-hop musician and songwriter best known for his collaborations with singer Thelma Aoyama, "Koko ni Iru yo" and "Soba ni Iru ne" – the latter of which was the former Guinness World Records holder for the best selling digital single of all-time in Japan (until it was superseded by Greeeen's "Kiseki").[2][3]

He has worked with various Japanese singers, including Thelma Aoyama, Issa, Rola, and Misslim.

Biography

SoulJa's mother is Belgian and his father is Japanese.[1] He studied music, learning how to play the violin, cello and piano from a young age, due to the influence of his mother. During his childhood, he spent time in Belgium, Japan and the United States. At 15, he grew to love hip-hop music.

In 2003, he returned to Japan, and began creating music. He got his first big break when a song of his, "First Contact," was featured in a commercial for Men's Beauteen (featuring actor Joe Odagiri) in 2005. This led to several more offers to write commercial music for companies such as magazine Oggi, along with SoulJa's independent label debut. In late 2005, he released the EP First Contact under Rock & Hill Records.

In 2007, SoulJa debuted as a major label artist with Universal Music Japan. His third single, "Koko ni Iru yo" featuring R&B singer Thelma Aoyama, became a long selling hit, staying in Oricon's top 10 singles for five weeks.[4] Eventually, by March 2008, the song had been certified by the RIAJ for selling over 1,000,000+ ringtones,[5] 1,000,000+ cellphone full-length downloads[6] and 100,000 PC downloads.[6]

SoulJa's debut album, Spirits, released two and a half months later, was a modest success, breaking the top 10 on Oricon and selling over 66,000 copies.[4]

In January 2008, Thelma Aoyama released her own answer version to the song, "Soba ni Iru ne." This version outstripped the popularity of the original, topping the RIAJ's monthly ringtone chart for three months,[7][8][9] peaking at No. 1 on Oricon's single sales charts[10] and eventually being certified by Guinness World Records as the best digital single in Japan of all-time (an award it held for a year).[2]

After the extreme popularity of this version, SoulJa re-released Spirits, featuring a self-cover of this version (featuring vocalist Yukie).

SoulJa's second album, Colorz, was preceded by two singles: Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Misslim (a pseudonym for Yumi Matsutoya) and "One Time" feat. Issei & Jin Oki. The album did not do as well as his previous, only reaching No. 106 on Oricon's album charts.[4] "Kinenbi" was a minor hit, charting in the top 20 on RIAJ's Chaku-uta chart for two months.[11][12]

In January 2010, SoulJa released his 6th single, "Way to Love (Saigo no Koi)" feat. Miho Karasawa. It was a digital hit, being certified by the RIAJ for selling 100,000 copies after charting for two months.[13] This will be followed by his third album, Letters, along with the leading single "Hanasanaide yo" featuring Thelma Aoyama. SoulJa also worked together with Aoyama on her single "Kaeru Basho," writing the song.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Information Oricon
Albums
Charts
[4]
Reported
sales
[4]
2007 Spirits

Template:Smalldiv

9 66,000
2009 Colorz

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106 2,000
2010 Letters

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36 2,300

EPs

Year Album Information
2005 First Contact

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Singles

As lead artist

Release Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[4]
Album
Oricon Singles Charts
[4]
Billboard Japan Hot 100
[14]
RIAJ digital tracks†
[15]
2007 "Dogg Pound" 100 4,000 Spirits
"Rain" 99 1,500
Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Thelma Aoyama 6 77 3* 149,000
2008 "Soba ni Iru ne" feat. Yukie Self-cover, radio single. 29* Spirits X'tended
Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Misslim 24 33 13* 9,000 Colorz
2009 "One Time" feat. Issei & Jin Oki 86 82 1,300
2010 Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Miho Karasawa 62 11 3,000 Letters
Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Saki Kayama 88 13 500
Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Thelma Aoyama 61 57 9 1,600
Script error: No such module "Nihongo". feat. Chihiro Onitsuka Radio single. 23
"Breath" 36 TBA TBA 3000 TBA

* charted on monthly Chaku-uta Reco-kyō Chart.
†Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.

Release Artist Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[4]
Album
Oricon Singles Charts
[4]
Billboard Japan Hot 100
[14]
RIAJ digital tracks
[15]
2008 Thelma Aoyama feat. SoulJa "Soba ni Iru ne" "Koko ni Iru yo" answer song. 1 1 1* 465,000 Diary
2010 Skelt 8 Bambino feat. SoulJa "What's Love?" Featured on Letters as a bonus track. 190 33 300 Love Balance
Thelma Aoyama "Kaeru Basho" Written by SoulJa. 63 26 51 2,000 TBA

Other appearances

Release Artist Title Notes Album
2008 SoulJa "Break" Negachaincompi: Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge Official Compi
"Engage"
Sly and Robbie feat. Lady Traffic, SoulJa & Chantelle Script error: No such module "Nihongo". "Soba ni Iru ne" English cover. Featured on Colorz. Amazing
2010 Yuki Koyanagi feat. SoulJa Script error: No such module "Nihongo". Featured on Letters as a bonus track. RIAJ No. 32. The Best Now & Then: 10th Anniversary
Under Graph × SoulJa Script error: No such module "Nihongo". Originally released as a digital single on 2 June 2010. "Natsukage" (single)
Issa × SoulJa "Breathe" c/w/ "Destiny" (single)

He also graduated Christian Academy in Japan.

References

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  1. ^ a b Morita, Kazuyoshi and Takeuchi, Yoshie. Music Station : M-Topics. TV Asahi. 13 March 2009.
  2. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."青山テルマ×SoulJa「そばにいるね」がギネス認定". Natalie. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Guinness certifies GReeeeN's "Kiseki"". Tokyo Graph. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 26 April 2010. (subscription only)
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:1月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2 February 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:3月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:1月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:2月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:3月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.青山テルマ、史上初のアンサーソングで1位獲得 (in Japanese). Oricon. 5 February 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:8月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."レコード協会調べ 9月度有料音楽配信チャート(「着うた(R)」)<略称:9月度レコ協チャート(「着うた(R)」)>" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信認定 <略称:2月度認定>. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  14. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Hot 100|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  15. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.有料音楽配信チャート (in Japanese). RIAJ.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

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