m-flo formed in 1998 when long-time friends Taku Takahashi and Ryu Young-Gi who is of Korean descent and better known as VERBAL, started creating original music. The two initially met at an international high school in Tokyo. While in their early twenties, Taku moved to Los Angeles and took up DJ-ing while VERBAL went to Boston on an exchange program. While in Boston, VERBAL embraced hip-hop and began rapping. Upon his return to Japan at Taku's persuasion he brought back his experience and the two began work in 1998. Columbian-Japanese vocalist LISA soon joined the line-up and m-flo was born.
On October 30th, 1998 m-flo released their debut single entitled The Way We Are and with that, much success followed. In July of 1999, they went major with the maxi-single the tripod e.p. which reached seventh place on the Oricon charts. m-flo signed a deal with Rhythm Zone Records and nearly topped the Oricon Charts at #6 with their first album, Planet Shining in 2000. In 2002, LISA officially left m-flo to embark on a solo-career. Seemingly unscathed, Taku and VERBAL continued on as a duo.
m-flo's remedy for the lack of a female vocalist was to employ other soloists and featuring them on specific tracks. Thus, out of the absence of LISA, the "m-flo loves" series was born. "m-flo loves" is merely an alternative tagging for "featuring". This series found success after such hits as m-flo loves Crystal Kay and m-flo loves melody & yamamoto ryohei. Many of these were featured on ASTROMANTIC, m-flo's third studio album which is the start of this three-album series. Also featured on that release were collaborations with such artists such as BoA, Chemistry, Dragon Ash, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and The Black Bottom Brass Band.
An interesting fact to point out about m-flo is the stark presence of remix albums. Every full-length album has a companion remix release. Planet Shining's album of remixes is THE REPLACEMENT PERCUSSIONISTS and EXPO EXPO’s is Expo Bôei Robot [GRAN SONIK]. Likewise, ASTROMANTIC CHARMSCHOOL is the quirky remix album of ASTROMANTIC and DOPE SPACE NINE follows up BEAT SPACE NINE. The group has also released a few best-of albums.
m-flo's 2005 album BEAT SPACE NINE follows much of the same formula as its predecessor as it is the second album of the “Loves” series. The album surprised fans as LISA reappeared in the mix when she was featured on one of the album's tracks, Tripod Baby.
The third and last of the m-flo "Loves" series is COMICOLOR which came out in March of 2007. Its elaborate two disc remix follow-up album, electriCOLOR came out the following September. The duo even released a best-of album for this series in February 2008 titled m-flo Loves Best. With the end of this series, the duo started to slow down with m-flo and started other musical projects. m-flo went on indefinite hiatus in 2008, to fully concentrate on their other musical goals.
The boys of m-flo went on to form their own record labels, Espionage and Tachytelic Records. VERBAL-produced acts such as Heartsdales and MIC BANDITZ are housed on Espionage while up-and-comer Hinouchi Emi is signed on the Tachytelic label. VERBAL is also part of the side-project TERIYAKI BOYZ, a collaboration between himself and members from Rip Slyme and Bathing Ape.
At the beginning of 2009, m-flo announced their recommencement of activities starting July 7th to celebrate their 10th anniversary. They announced a new 10th anniversary album, MF10 -10th ANNIVERSARY BEST- which came out on October 7th. In addition to this anniversary album, they released a tribute album,m-flo TRIBUTE ～maison de m-flo～ featuring many artists. Since these releases, m-flo’s activities has yet again slowed. Despite this, many people are still waiting for new projects from the duo.
