T-Pistonz+KMC

T-Pistonz+KMC is a J-pop group that formed from the ashes of a Japanese punk band, Tonkotsu Pistons, in 2008. Based in Fukuoka, Kyushu, the group underwent a number of lineup changes during its first three years of existence. Guitarist Hide King left the group in July 2010, with three additional members — guitar player Brother A King, dancer Ebirina, and dancer Shu Mai Mai — leaving in September 2011. Eventually, the lineup solidified around the combination of lead vocalist Ton-Nino, rapper KMC, dancer/choreographer In-Chiquita, and harmony vocalist Hiroshi Dot. The group debuted in 2008 with the single "Ri-yo ~Seishun no Inazuma Eleven," which was credited to "T-Pistonz." By the time "Maji de Kansha!" was released in 2009, the group had changed its name to "T-Pistonz+KMC." One year later, "Katte Nakōu Ze!" became T-Pistonz+KMC's first Top 10 hit, with the song reaching number 4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart. Ganbari-yo!, the group's first full-length album, was released that December by the Frame label. A second studio album, Gorilla Beat wa Lucky7, was released in 2011, followed in 2012 by Hakkaku!? ThiriThiri7. Although not all of T-Pistonz+KMC's music received airtime on Japanese radio, many of the bands singles were used in video games on platforms like Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo 3DS, which helped increase the band's recognition amongst a teenaged audience. This is one of the reasons the group continued to enjoy popularity long after its breakup in 2014, with the compilation album TPK ベスト ゴォーーーッ! returning to the charts (and reaching number 26 on Top 100 Albums Line Music) in 2023, nearly a decade after its original release.