Before they assumed the name Soulhead, Yoshika and Tsugumi were known as Batti Baas. Batti Baas released one vinyl single through
Handcuts Records called ''
Lovin' You, which featured Aaron Blackmon. The song was a remake of the Minnie Riperton standard. In February 2002, they released a CD single through Tokuma Japan Communications called Inside Out.'' Shortly after the release of
Inside Out, they were signed to
Sony Music Associated Records and began working under the pseudonym Soulhead. The label sent them one year abroad to
Australia and
New Zealand to improve their proficiency in English. They released their debut single,
Step to the New World, on August 21, 2002. In 2006 they were transferred to Sony Music Associated Records'
sublabel,
onenation. They appeared on various compilations with other
Japanese artists. Soulhead's sound was a blend between various genres, such as
soul,
hip-hop,
R&B,
dancehall,
reggae and
funk, with many of their lyrics in English. They usually worked with the production team known as Octopussy. They also worked on releases with other Japanese artists, such as
Kumi Koda and Soul'd Out. Yoshika is also a renowned
songwriter, who has worked with artists such as
Sowelu,
Ken Hirai and
Crystal Kay. On February 21, 2007, they released a
greatest hits album called
Best of Soulhead, which contained all of their singles released up to
Naked, along with a few
b-sides. On February 24, 2010, after a four-year hiatus, they released a new album titled
Soulhead under
Avex Group, which they transferred to from
SMEJ. On September 28, 2011, the duo released their second Avex album,
Jump Up the Wall. This has been their final release to date. Yoshika released her first solo album on July 3, 2013, titled
My Anthem, which consisted of twelve new songs and one remix. Six months later, she released another album: a remix album compiled of remixes from
My Anthem. As of March 2016, their
Avex site was unavailable. Yoshika is the singer of alternative band Free But Sharp Pain, first formed in 2014. They have released one EP,
Fall Into Reverie, in 2022. Since 2014, Tsugumi performs with fellow rapper Luna as hip hop duo MaryJane, releasing one album called
Street Names in 2014 and an EP,
Two, in 2016, via Luna's own label Lilbooty Recordings. Tsugumi released her first solo album on May 18, 2016, titled
LUVPLATE, on the Lilbooty Recordings label. She released two solo songs in 2019, "Nail Gossip" and "Braid My Hair", and an EP titled
Laid Back in 2021. It was announced in their official blog that Yoshika gave birth to a baby. In 2022 she hosted a radio show on FM Karatsu. ==Influences==