Monkey Majik

MONKEY MAJIK
Monkey Majik at Webster Hall, New York City, in November 2012
Background information
Origin	Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Genres	Pop rock, alternative rock, rap rock
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Under Horse Records (2000 - 2005) Binyl Records (2006 - present)
Associated acts	blanc., The Alphabet Project, Chemistry, m-flo, Anna Tsuchiya
Website	http://www.monkeymajik.com/
Members	Maynard Plant Blaise Plant Tax Kikuchi Dick Mori
Past members	Misao Urushizaka Chad Ivany Jan Kuypers Tom Prichard

Monkey Majik (stylised as MONKEY MAJIK) is a pop rock band formed in 2000 in Sendai, Japan. The band consists of Canadian brothers, Maynard Plant and Blaise Plant, each acting as lead vocalists and guitarists, and two Japanese members: Tax on drums, and Dick on bass. Monkey Majik is signed to Binyl Records, a subsidiary of Avex Records, and are managed by Edwards Entertainment Group. Due to the blend of Eastern and Western pop rock influences, Monkey Majik has often been referred to as a "hybrid band". Much of the band's music has been cross-promoted via television programs, commercials, and movies. They were chosen as “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the 80th anniversary of Canada-Japan relations.

The band rose to mainstream success after the 2006 success of their singles, "Fly", and "Around the World", off of the album Thank You, eventually reaching the top Oricon charts and collaborating with major Japanese sensations such as m-flo and SEAMO. As of 2012, they have released seven studio albums, four EP's, three physical live albums, three digital live albums, and three compilation albums, and have certified five singles through the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Since the debut of Monkey Majik, Maynard and Blaise have both simultaneously worked solo ventures into the music industry to much acclaim: Maynard with blanc. and Blaise with The Alphabet Project, of which they have each released two studio albums thus far.

They received much acclaim across Japan after their assisting hands-on with clean-up and rescue during the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which was later documented and broadcast by MTV Japan on a TV special surrounding their work. Since then, Monkey Majik has gained the attention of American rapper and musical entrepreneur, will.i.am, during his world travels sponsored by Intel. Blaise and will.i.am performed a special version of the Monkey Majik song, "Watching You", live in Sendai during a private event, during which performance, will.i.am incorporated a freestyle rap.