Japanese alternative hip hop trio The Blue Herb, from Sapporo, Hokkaidō, was formed in 1997 by DJ O.N.O. and Ill-Bosstino, also known as Boss the MC. The group released their first single on their own label Tha Blue Herb Records in 1997, followed by their debut album Stilling, Still Dreaming in 1998. Their breakthrough came when DJ Krush invited Boss to perform at a concert with his group Ryu in 1999. This collaboration led to the inclusion of Boss on Krush's albums Code 4109 and Zen. The Blue Herb gained prominence in the Japanese hip-hop scene, releasing their second album Sell Our Soul in 2002. They also contributed to the soundtrack for the film Heat, released in 2004. In 2005, they released a documentary DVD titled That the Way Hope Goes. The group continued with notable releases such as "Phase 3" and "Hip-hop bangaichi" in 2007, followed by their album Life Story, produced by DJ O.N.O. and DJ Dye. Throughout their career, The Blue Herb also collaborated on various side projects, including Herbest Moon and Japanese Synchro System.