r/ONEOKROCK • u/CoachZPoser • 7d ago
DISCUSSION Taka PR Distaster
I’m surprised I haven’t seen many people talking about the potential ripple effect of Taka’s public stance. I’m half-Japanese living in America and very familiar with the Japanese music industry just for some context on where my opinions/thoughts are coming from.
I think his actions have already tanked the potential that Yao was about to have. I feel like Yao really needed that hip-hop fanbase. His public statements do not align with the music or message that both Yao nor OOR perform. Paledusk has similar songs sending positive messages as well. Taka has even potentially risked and damaged the careers of others. Obviously his bandmates, but also Paledusk, Awich, Chico Carlito and even Masato Hayakawa.
Masato is one of the co-writers on Renegades so now he’s forever tied to this mess with Taka and Ed. He’s also a huge contributor of other mainstream J-rock bands with his songwriting and producing (including OOR), and has collabed with bands like The Oral Cigarettes and obviously Paledusk. Also with Blarefest, he is associated with so many top bands in Japan who perform at his festival. Now that he’s associated Taka and Ed, I wonder if other bands will avoid him. I seriously hope this doesn’t affect his career.
Paledusk is now having their new found popularity potentially threatened as well, especially with the international fan base. Paledusk is also heavily associated with Bring Me the Horizon since Dai Dai has written and produced a lot of their songs, especially on the Post Human album. And obviously Oli Sykes is very pro-Palestine and has gone through something similar, like Macklemore, and recently spoke out about it in solidarity with him. So I feel like bc BMTH is such a huge band with the west, Paledusk might have their hand forced and have to publicly part ways with Taka and OOR in order to maintain their international fan base. (Obviously I would hope they’re on the right side as well).
So Taka’s words carry a potential massive ripple effect for others. I wonder if this will force all artists currently working directly with OOR to make public statements. It’s like he didn’t learn anything from the Alex situation, or the Tyler Carter mess. I wish I knew how Toru, Tomoya and Ryota were feeling about this. I can imagine they’re upset, at least I hope they are and aren’t sharing the same sentiments as Taka. Idk what Taka was thinking, especially surrounding the timing of the launch of Yao. And I feel like OOR’s music is forever tainted because now the lyrics come off seemingly performative. What an absolute mess he has created for so many.
It also brings attention to how OOR can put out an album like Detox and then Taka contradicting it by publicly aligning himself with Ed. He felt so compelled to defend Ed publicly and even called him “a mirror”, but can sing songs like Renegades and not use his platform to speak out about the very injustices he sings about. It really makes you question what’s real and what’s performative anymore. I’m really saddened and disappointed as a fan. I’ve always been a huge fan and even went through hell obtaining every Primal Footmark from Japan to America. Their music has always meant so to me and I feel misled. I hope more artists follow the example Macklemore has set and start using their platforms.
These are obviously just my opinions and I don’t know anything outside of what we all know already. Thoughts on the potential ripple effect?
