The hip-hop band Rip Slyme returned from a series of side projects and extracurricular activities in 2006 for their fifth album, Epoch. The album marks the return of DJ Fumiya, on hiatus since his marriage the year before. It also marks the return of Ilmari and Ryo-Z from their side project the Teriyaki Boyz. Major hits on the album include "Hot Chocolate" and "Party People" (with m-flo's Verbal, also in the Teriyaki Boyz), and put the album into the Oricon Top Ten.