HONEST BOYZ® Members Profile
HONEST BOYZ® (also stylized as HBZ) is a Japanese Hip-Hop unit under LDH JAPAN and signed to LDH Records. The group was officially introduced on April 15, 2016, as a collaborative project between long-time friends NAOTO and renowned fashion designer NIGO. HONEST BOYZ® is made up of four members affiliated with LDH JAPAN—three serve as rappers, while NIGO takes on the role of producer and DJ. The group’s name pays tribute to the iconic Japanese Hip-Hop crew TERIYAKI BOYZ, which both NIGO and VERBAL were previously a part of.
HONEST BOYZ® Fandom Name: –
HONEST BOYZ® Fandom Color: –
HONEST BOYZ® Official Accounts:
Official website: Page on LDH mobile
Twitter: @hbz_official
Youtube: @honestboyztopic | @exilenaototv7440
Spotify: @HonestBoyz(R)
Instagram: @honestboyz_official
HONEST BOYZ® Members Profile:
NAOTO
Stage Name: NAOTO (直人)
Birth Name: Kataoka Naoto (片岡直人)
Position: Leader, Rapper
Birthday: August 30th, 1983
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Height: 170 cm (5’6″)
Blood Type: B
MBTI Type: N/A
Nationality: Japanese
Instagram: @exile_naoto_
X (Twitter): @Naoto_EX_3JSB_
Weibo: EXILE_NAOTO
Tiktok: @honestboy_official
YouTube: EXILE NAOTO オネストTV
NAOTO Facts:
– He was born in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
– He is the leader of and performer of J Soul Brothers III.
– NAOTO was announced as J Soul Brothers’ leader on July 19th 2010. NAOTO & Naoki have been leaders since the formation of the group.
– He is a member of the group EXILE.
– NAOTO was a member of the second generation J Soul Brothers’ (Nidaime J Soul Brothers) (2007-2009).
– NAOTO is apart of the groups JAZZ DRUG & SCREAM. But it is unknown whether he is still apart of both groups and if both groups are still active.
– NAOTO is the oldest member in the group.
– He began dance activities & attended a dance school at the age of 17.
– NAOTO went to LA & New York to learn more about dance, after completing his studies there he became a backup dancer for multiple artist such as Hamasaki Ayumi, Goto Maki, Ashanti & Missy Elliott.
– He released his first photobook called Jinsei Honojigumi (人生ほの字組) on July 14th, 2015.
– NAOTO became the director of LDH apparel on January 1st, 2017.
– He has his own clothing brand called STUDIO SEVEN.
– NAOTO acted as himself in the 2016 drama Night Hero NAOTO.
VERBAL
Stage Name: VERBAL
Birth Name: yu Yeong-gi (류영기)
Position: Rapper
Birthday: August 21, 1975
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: N/A
Blood Type: B
Instagram: @verbal_ambush
X (Twitter): @VERBAL_AMBUSH
VERBAL Facts:
– He was born in Tokyo, Japan.
– He is also known by the stage names VERBAL, L Universe, Vincent Galluo, and Johnny Astro.
– He has been active in the entertainment industry since 1998.
– He debuted in 1998 as a member of the hip-hop group M-Flo, serving as the unit’s rapper and main lyric writer.
– In 2008, he co-founded the fashion brand Ambush Design with his wife, Yoon, which gained international acclaim for its innovative jewelry and accessories.
– He joined the hip-hop supergroup Teriyaki Boyz in 2005, collaborating with international artists such as Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.
– In 2014, he was appointed as an executive creative director for Reebok Asia Pacific, contributing to the brand’s design and marketing strategies in the region.
– He was previously a DJ and producer in PKCZ® .
– He is fluent in Japanese, Korean, and English, which has helped him collaborate with international artists.
– He has worked on soundtracks for major films, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, through his work with Teriyaki Boyz.
NIGO
Stage Name: Nigo (ニゴー)
Birth Name: Tomoaki Nagao (長尾 智明)
Position: Rapper & DJ
Birthday: December 23, 1970
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Height: –
Weight: –
Blood Type: –
Nationality: Japanese
Group: Teriyaki Boyz
Instagram: @nigo
NIGO Facts:
– In 2010, he launched his new brand Human Made.
– In 2014, Nigo became the creative director for Uniqlo’s UT brand.
– In 2020, Nigo partnered with Luxury brand Louis Vuitton alongside Virgil Abloh to create a capsule collection.
– In September 2021, Kenzo appointed Nigo as its new artistic director.
– Nigo speaks little or no English and uses a translator whenever he does interviews.
– Nigo has a cameo appearance in the Takashi Murakami short film Akihabara Majokko Princess shown at the “Pop Life” exhibition at Tate Modern in London.
SWAY
Stage Name: SWAY
Birth Name: Nogae Shuhei (野替愁平)
Position: Rapper
Birthday: June 9, 1986
Zodiac Sign: Geminis
Height: 1, 80 cm (5’11”)
Weight: –
Blood Type: AB
Nationality: Japanese
Twitter:@sway_official
Instagram:@sway_ldh
Ameba Blog:@sway-official
LDH Mobile:@Sway
Weibo:@SWAYTOKYO
SWAY Facts:
– He was born in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.
– He is also a member of Doberman Infinity and acive in Gekidan Exile.
– On November 6, 2021 he announced his marriage to his long-time, non-celebrity girlfriend, as well as announced they were expecting their first child.
– The song “Happiness” on his first digital EP titled “Union” is dedicated to his first child, a son.
– His stage name “Sway” originated from an English-Japanese dictionary, combining the letter “S” from his first name “Shuhei” and “WAY” to signify “my way.”
– Has a close friendship with Korean singer and 2PM member Jun. K, mentioning him in the song “Under The Stars feat. Lupe Fiasco.”
– Owns a toy poodle named “Rhythm” born in December 2020.
– Graduated from Sapporo Visual Arts.
– Started designing in third grade, creating CD jackets and event flyers.
Former Member:
Sekiguchi Mandy
Stage / Birth Name: Sekiguchi Mandy (関口メンディー)
Position: Dancer
Birthday: Janary 25, 1991
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Height: 182cm (6’0″)
Blood Type: O
X (Twitter): @mandy_s_mandy
Instagram: @mandy_sekiguchi_official / @mandysekiguchi7jr
Sekiguchi Mandy Facts:
– He is from New Jersey, USA.
– His mother is Japanese and his father is Nigerian.
– He is also part of the dance crew Rag Pound and hip-hip unit Honest Boyz.
– In 2014 Alan and Mandy passed auditions to become members of EXILE, their label’s largest and ongoing boy group. They are now members of both.
– On April 30, 2024 it was announced that Mandy would graduate from the group and depart from LDH JAPAN on June 25, 2024.
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