| LIKIYA |
Elliot Likiya (エリオット・力矢), better known by the stage name LIKIYA, is a Japanese performer, choreographer, actor and rapper. He is one of the leaders and performers of THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE and a rapper in its sub-unit MA55IVE THE RAMPAGE.
He participated in the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION, but didn't made to the finals.
Early Life[]
Elliot Likiya was born on November 28, 1990, in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His father, Carlos Elliott, is Afro-American, a former professional boxer and OPBF Super Welterweight champion while his mother is Japanese. He has two older siblings, a sister and a brother. His older brother is Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS' member ELLY.[1][2]
Elliot was born in a town close to a US military base and where Hip-Hop was very popular, and as he came into contact with the genre, he developed the aspiration to become an artist.[3] Additionally, he cites his family as a key factor for his affinity for dance: "My family loves music, and we often have house parties where we invite people from all over the world, so seeing them dance to music on a daily basis and listening to R&B and hip-hop played at home naturally led me to love dancing."[4] He enjoyed the music of artists such as Michael Jackson, Omarion, and Usher ever since his childhood and quotes Usher and B2K (the R&B group that Omarion belonged to) as his biggest influences. "When I saw Omarion's dancing and style as an artist, I wanted to be like him."[1][5]
Besides his interest in dancing, Elliot played basketball in his youth, and initially dreamed of becoming a professional until he was in high school. He was the captain of his elementary, junior high, and high school basketball teams.[6]
After graduating from college, he decided to pursue his dream and became a dancer.[1]
Career[]
2014[]
In April 2014, while being active as a member of the dance team SCRAP MOB, he participated in the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION to become a new member of EXILE but didn't make it to the finals. At the time of the audition, he had only been dancing for 2 years.[7]
In April of the same year, he became a candidate for EXILE TRIBE's upcoming group THE RAMPAGE.[8] After completing the group's first musha shugyo, LIKIYA was announced as an official member on September 12, 2014.[1][9]
On the November 18 broadcast of Shuukan EXILE, it was revealed that he had been appointed as the leader of the group together with Zin.
2017[]
On January 25, he made his major debut in THE RAMPAGE with the group's first single "Lightning".
In the same year he made his acting debut as "Diddy" in HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 / END OF SKY.[1][10]
During THE RAMPAGE's first tour THE RAMPAGE LIVE TOUR 2017-2018 "GO ON THE RAMPAGE" LIKIYA was introduced as a member of the group's first sub-unit alongside 4 other performers. In this sub-unit he takes on the position of a rapper, marking the first time he would provide his vocals to any work of THE RAMPAGE. The quintet made their official debut as MA55IVE THE RAMPAGE with the digital song "Determined" on February 6, 2020.[11]
2023[]
In March, he started the regular program RAMPAGE Wish Restaurant on the streaming platform cookpadLive, in which he welcomes the members of THE RAMPAGE on a monthly basis and cooks dishes that fulfill the guests' special requests.[12][13]
Personal Life[]
- Family
LIKIYA's father is Carlos Elliot, a former professional boxer and OPBF Super Welterweight champion from Alabama, United States.[14] Due to his influence, LIKIYA started practicing boxing as a hobby.
LIKIYA's older brother is Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS' member ELLY. When THE RAMPAGE first debuted, he was often compared to his older brother which frustrated him a lot. Nevertheless, both have a close relationship and share a friendly rivalry.[1]
- Health
On August 19, 2021, it was announced that LIKIYA had been diagnosed with COVID-19. As a result, the performances of THE RAMPAGE during THE RAMPAGE LIVE TOUR 2021 "REBOOT" ~WAY TO THE GLORY~ scheduled for August 21 and 22 in Nagano were cancelled. Other members, staff and visitors who were present at the previous performances during the tour were not considered to be in close contact with the virus, and no one had been confirmed to be ill at that time.[15][16]
Works[]
Filmography[]
- Movies
- [2017] HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 / END OF SKY
- [2017] HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 / FINAL MISSION
- TV Dramas
- [2016] Night Hero NAOTO
- [2024] Konna Tokorode Uragiri Meshi (こんなところで裏切り飯) (episode 9)
- Digital Shows
- [2021] Kakuto DREAMERS - Navigator and supporter
- [2023.03.25-present] RAMPAGE Wish Restaurant (ランペウィッシュレストラン)
Music[]
- Lyrics/Composition
- Choreography
- Music Video Appearances
- [2014] EXILE ATSUSHI - "MAKE A MIRACLE"
Radio[]
- [2019.01-present] RMPG DOPE STATION[23]
Trivia[]
- Hobbies: cooking, boxing, basketball
- Specialty: R&B dance, choreography
- Emoji: 👨🍳 (Man Cook)
- The oldest member of THE RAMPAGE.
- The fatherly figure in THE RAMPAGE.
- Described as a calm, quiet and very reliable person with a strong sense of leadership.[24] According to his members, he also has a mischievous side and occasionally makes a joke to calm the mood.
- According to Fujiwara Itsuki, he is the most mature thinker in the group, and "if you don't understand something, just ask him and he will teach you".[25]
- According to his fellow members, he is an "ideal man" with no basic flaws or weaknesses, as he is kind, patient and gentle, and likes to clean, smells great, and is a great cook.[26]
- In charge of the choreography of THE RAMPAGE.[25]
- His serious and calm image is the opposite of his brother ELLY, who has a free-spirited and mischievous image.
- He is very good at cooking. His skills are so good that he even invented his own curry, "Likiya-man's Indian Spinach Curry" (リキヤ～マンのインド風ほうれん草カレー), which is actually sold in Japan. In 2020's first broadcast of "RMPG DOPE STATION", he talked about his dream of appearing on a cooking show.[1][27]
- When he was little, he used to cook meals for the whole family instead of his mother.[28]
- When he was a university student, he worked part-time at a Chinese restaurant, an Italian restaurant, and an izakaya since he had always liked cooking. He quotes his stressful work days at that time as the driving force for him to break out of this situation one day. Additionally, he was motivated by customers who would come to the kitchen and praise the food he made. "I felt that making people happy with what I (could) offer is fundamentally the same as entertainment."[4]
- Also had a part-time job as a dispatcher before debuting.[4]
- Acquired his dance skills by watching and learning on his own.[4]
- He likes to incorporate Hip-Hop culture (e.g. the C-walk step) into his choreographies.[1]
- Likes going out on his electric kickboard LUUP as it is convenient, inexpensive and fast.[22]
- Is scared of insects.[29]
- Doesn't really eat sweets.[30]
- Frequently visits saunas and does fasting.[1]
- Likes actor Denzel Washington.[31]
- His favorite color is white. He collects white clothes and white things, and most of his furniture and accessories are white.[28]
- Close with fellow member Goto Takuma. Their relationship is described as "like that of a parent and a child".[32]
Honorary Titles[]
| Honorary Titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceeded by First |
Oldest Member of THE RAMPAGE April 2014 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceeded by First |
Leader of THE RAMPAGE September 2014 - present (alongside Zin) |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceeded by First |
Oldest Member of MA55IVE THE RAMPAGE February 2019 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 https://realsound.jp/2020/03/post-518846.html
- ↑ https://jj-jj.net/lifestyle/90277/
- ↑ https://mdpr.jp/interview/amp/1701608
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://www.arukita.com/column/baito-ga-atte/2849/
- ↑ https://block.fm/news/therampage_interview
- ↑ https://www.tokyoheadline.com/688006/3/
- ↑ https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1345573
- ↑ https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1355036
- ↑ https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1417462
- ↑ https://mdpr.jp/cinema/detail/1730442
- ↑ https://natalie.mu/music/news/366118
- ↑ https://www.ldh.co.jp/eng/news/detail.php?lang=eng&site=TRIBE&newsid=0000043090
- ↑ https://natslive.jp/episodes/14820
- ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2019/11/04/kiji/20191104s00041000313000c.html
- ↑ https://m.tribe-m.jp/news/detail?news_id=34504
- ↑ https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202108190000920.html
- ↑ https://news.line.me/articles/oa-shujoprime/898e294b16f4
- ↑ https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/252458
- ↑ https://realsound.jp/2019/10/post-437562_2.html
- ↑ 【THE RAMPAGE・新曲インタビュー＆直筆サイン色紙プレゼント】LIKIYAさん＆龍さん＆与那嶺瑠唯さん＆後藤拓磨さん
- ↑ https://realsound.jp/2021/04/post-736636.html
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 https://jj-jj.net/lifestyle/170579/
- ↑ https://www.ldh.co.jp/news/detail.php?lang=jpn&site=TRIBE&newsid=0000018283
- ↑ https://ar-mag.jp/articles/-/16370?display=full
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 https://hochi.news/articles/20220324-OHT1T51246.html?page=1
- ↑ https://www.vivi.tv/post346501/
- ↑ https://ananweb.jp/news/335670/
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 https://www.vivi.tv/post346084/
- ↑ https://www.vivi.tv/post392070/
- ↑ https://ananweb.jp/news/528997/
- ↑ https://ar-mag.jp/articles/-/8858
- ↑ https://realsound.jp/2020/07/post-588541_2.html
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