Lyrics Born
Encyclopedia
Lyrics Born is a Japanese American
rapper
, record producer
, songwriter
, and voice over announcer. He is also one half of the group Latyrx
with Lateef the Truthspeaker
.
, Salt Lake City, Utah
, and Berkeley, California
. He is the son of Japanese author, Takao Shimura, and an Italian/Jewish-American union organizer, Charlotte Arzio-Shimura. Shimura's parents were divorced by age 2, at which point he moved with his mother from Tokyo to Salt Lake City, Utah, and then finally to Berkeley California.
Shimura attended Berkeley public schools from the time he was 6 yrs old, often excelling in creative writing. "I think I got my gift from my father. Not only the talent, but the work ethic and lifestyle. Being an author and all, I saw how hard he worked, the hours he kept, and how much focus it required." He began dabbling in Hip-Hop and rapping when he entered Berkeley High School. He left after one year, and entered Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. He left again after his sophomore year, and graduated from St. Mary's High School, located in Berkeley, California
in 1990. Shimura began his hip hop
career while at college at University of California, Davis
, where he was a DJ at the college station KDVS
. He is a founding member of the seminal, independent record label, Quannum Projects
. He came up with fellow Bay Area and UC Davis companions Gift of Gab
, and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious
, Lateef the Truthspeaker, DJ Shadow
, Joseph Patel, and Jeff Chang
(formerly known as DJ Zen).
He changed his stage name from Asia Born to Lyrics Born in 1995 citing the desire to have his career based on his merits as opposed to his ethnicity.
", under the moniker "Asia Born", on the independent record label Solesides
. In 1996 he formed the group "Latyrx", with Solesides label mate and fellow Bay-Area native, Lateef The Truthspeaker. Latyrx is a combination of the names, "Lateef" and "Lyrics". In 1997 Latyrx released the seminal album, "Latyrx-The Album". The album was well-received and is often regarded as a classic within underground circles. 1 year later Solesides was disbanded and reformed as the current Quannum Projects
label. In 1999, to commemorate the transformation of Solesides to Quannum, the label released "Quannum Spectrum", a label compilation executive-produced by Lyrics Born. The album spawned the international hit single and video, "I Changed My Mind". This would also signify Lyrics Born's first collaboration with German Funk group, The Poets of Rhythm, whom he would later executive produce for the Quannum label.
Lyrics Born released his first solo LP on Quannum Projects, Later That Day
, in October 2003, which spawned the hit single, "Callin' Out". The album features guests such as Cut Chemist
of Jurassic 5
, Gift of Gab
, Lateef the Truthspeaker and Born's wife Joyo Velarde
.
In April 2005, he released a remix album, Same !@#$ Different Day
which was again released on his own Quannum Projects label. The album features remixes of five songs from Later That Day along with a number of new tracks which feature guests such as Bay Area legend E-40
, hip-hop icon KRS-One
, Stereo MCs
, Casual of Hieroglyphics, Evidence of Dilated Peoples
, DJ Shadow
and Joyo Velarde. Also in 2005, Born released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season One CD, which was essentially an old-school mix tape vibe with remixes and blends of his studio albums as well as guest appearances on other artist's songs in addition to exclusive tracks.
He has toured relentlessly for years in North America
, South America
, Australia
, Europe
and Japan
and averages 150 shows per year.
Early in 2005, Lyrics Born replaced his usual DJ, D-Sharp
with a live band. The original band consisted of versed Bay Area musicians Kevin Choice (keys, vox), B'nai Rebelfront (guitar, vox), Darius Minaee (drums) and Uriah Duffy
(bass, vox). Over the years the line-up has also consisted of other various musicians including bassist Marcus Phillips, drummer Thomas McCree and keyboardists Mike Blankenship (Lauryn Hill
) and Kat Ouano of fellow Bay Area group Crown City Rockers
.
In 2006, he released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season Two CD mixed by DJ Enki, comprised once again of remixes, guest appearances, collaborations and exclusive material.
Lyrics Born's first live album Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born LIVE was released on October 31, 2006. It was recorded in Australia
and features half of the album from Sydney and the other half from Melbourne. The album is a live set featuring his backing band, as well as three new bonus studio tracks including the hit song "Knock Knock" produced by Hallway Productionz
.
The album received a 3.5 out of 4 star review in Rolling Stone
magazine and featured artists such as Mistah F.A.B.
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
, Pigeon John
and Tim "Herb" Alexander
of Primus
. The CD was the first live album to be released by Quannum Projects.
His third mixtape, "The Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three", featuring guest appearances by Chali 2na
of Jurassic 5
, The Gift of Gab
, Lateef the Truthspeaker
, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Joyo Velarde
, Jake One
, Pigeon John
and more, was released in February 2008. The album was first released as a limited edition download available only on his website for $1.99. The mixtape featured exclusive tracks from his then upcoming new album, "Everywhere at Once", as well as previously unreleased studio tracks.
Lyrics Born released his 2nd full length studio album, "Everywhere at Once" on April 22, 2008 on Epitaph/Anti- Records. The album is the MC/Producer's first studio release to integrate members of his live band instead of primarily sample-based loops. The record also features Chali 2na
of Jurassic 5
, Joyo Velarde
, C-Holiday, DJ D-Sharp, Myron Glasper and hip-hop producers Jake One
and Trackademicks
who co-produced some of the album's tracks.
The album spawned a video for the hit single, "I Like It, I Love It" which features the MC in various character costumes including Merlin
the Wizard, Army Soldiers, Mr. T
and more. The video was directed by Neon and was featured on MtvU
, Australia's Rage
and MySpace
. The song itself was featured in the 2009 reboot of the movie, Friday the 13th
, which was #1 at the box office its first week out.
Other singles off the album that followed were "Hott 2 Deff", "Differences", "Top Shelf" and "Whispers", the latter of which also spawned a music video showcasing images of the MC's late friend and one-time Solesides alum, Benjamin "Mack B-Dog" Davis (whom the song was written about) intercut with performance footage of Lyrics Born. The video was directed by HKL Films and included in Pitchfork.com's top videos of 2008.
Everywhere at Once
was the most downloaded hip-hop album of the week on iTunes
in its second week out.
In March 2009 Lyrics Born released "Funky Hit Records", the first single off of his forthcoming new album, 'As U Were'. The track was released on the internet as a free download to fans and was quickly picked up by Australia's Triple J Radio who began to play the song on air. Similar instances happened in the US when KEXP in Seattle began playing the track as well.
The Lyrics Born/Trackademicks
-produced song's launch included a music video which was featured on YouTube, gaining nearly 250,000 views to date.
Riding the momentum of the song's buzz, the track was worked to college radio where it ended up at #1 on both RapAttack and RapNetwork charts.
Lyrics Born released a fourth mixtape in his hit franchise, 'The Lyrics Born Variety Show', featuring collaborations, remixes, exclusives and special guests. The mixtape is released via Born's own Mobile Home Recordings in conjunction with VTech
. The mixtape's release date was July 7, 2009 and features artists such as Kasabian, Soulico, Dosmoccos, Joyo Velarde
, J-Boogie and more.
Coinciding with the mixtape release was a new single and music video for the Latyrx
reunion track, "Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart". The track features Lateef the Truthspeaker while the video was directed by Ra LaMotta from ApSci
.
Lyrics Born released a second proper single from his album As U Were
titled "Lies X 3" with a video directed by Yoram Benz in the summer of 2010.
The album As U Were was released on Decon Records and Born's own Mobile Home Recordings on October 26, 2010.
's new Friday night franchise, 'You Are Here'. The MC currently voices bumpers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, Batman
, The Secret Saturdays
, Ben 10: Alien Force
and more.
In 2009 the vocalist was featured as part of an exclusive radio ad campaign for the California Academy of Sciences
in San Francisco, CA.
, internal rhyme
, and double entendre
s. His style also frequently blends such techniques with melody
, for which he has coined the term "Em-singing". His style is influenced by groups and artists such as James Brown
, Curtis Mayfield
, Syl Johnson
, KRS-One
, John Hendricks
, Rakim
, Kool G. Rap, The Sugarhill Gang
and Ice Cube is often conversational, observant, and melodious. His signature, sandy baritone
speaking/rapping voice and "Bay Area drawl" has drawn comparisons to Barry White
, Tone-Loc, and Tom Waits
. Songs such as "Before and After" explore the subtleties of day-to-day human relations while "The Last Trumpet" (with Lateef) features a very politically charged and globally conscious mindset.
His collaborations with Lateef
on Latyrx
records often see them trading lyrics back and forth in quick succession - Lyrics Born and Lateef's methodology for writing this type of lyric is described by Lateef
in the book How to Rap
: "With Latyrx stuff, when we have parts that we’re writing that we’re both going to be trading off, we write them together for the most part. I’ll sit there and write a rhyme, like I’ll write a line or two and then we’ll break up who’s gonna say what, and he’ll write a line or two and we’ll break up who’s gonna say what. It’s a very organic process."
, DJ Z-Trip
(on the 2005 song "The Get Down"), Diverse
(on the song "Explosive"), Tommy Guerrero
, R. L. Burnside
(on the song "Someday Baby"), Morcheeba
, Zion I
, Mistah F.A.B.
and Pigeon John
.
He was instrumental in the signing of Pigeon John to Quannum in 2005 and executive produced and A&R'd the first album from the Los Angeles-based rapper on Quannum Projects, Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party, which was released in 2006. He executive-produced the debut EP and album from Joyo Velarde and is currently working on his forthcoming record, 'As U Were', due in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and voice over announcer. He is also one half of the group Latyrx
Latyrx
Latyrx is a hip hop music group consisting of Lateef the Truth Speaker and Lyrics Born. The roots of their partnership lay in the formation of the Solesides collective at the University of California, Davis.-History:...
with Lateef the Truthspeaker
Lateef
Lateef the Truthspeaker also known as The Truthspeaker or simply Lateef, is an American hip-hop artist who is part of the groups Latyrx and The Maroons AKA Lateef and the Chief...
.
History
Through his childhood, Shimura lived in Tokyo, JapanTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. He is the son of Japanese author, Takao Shimura, and an Italian/Jewish-American union organizer, Charlotte Arzio-Shimura. Shimura's parents were divorced by age 2, at which point he moved with his mother from Tokyo to Salt Lake City, Utah, and then finally to Berkeley California.
Shimura attended Berkeley public schools from the time he was 6 yrs old, often excelling in creative writing. "I think I got my gift from my father. Not only the talent, but the work ethic and lifestyle. Being an author and all, I saw how hard he worked, the hours he kept, and how much focus it required." He began dabbling in Hip-Hop and rapping when he entered Berkeley High School. He left after one year, and entered Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. He left again after his sophomore year, and graduated from St. Mary's High School, located in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in 1990. Shimura began his hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
career while at college at University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...
, where he was a DJ at the college station KDVS
KDVS
KDVS is an American student and community radio station based in Davis, California. Featuring a freeform programming format, the station is owned by Regents of the University of California...
. He is a founding member of the seminal, independent record label, Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects is a hip hop collective based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been active since 1992, when it was formed at UC Davis under the moniker Solesides Records. It is also the name of the independent record label that releases their records, as well as those of a number of other...
. He came up with fellow Bay Area and UC Davis companions Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab (rapper)
Gift of Gab is an American MC best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious with DJ Chief Xcel...
, and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious
Blackalicious
Blackalicious is an American hip hop duo from Sacramento, California made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel . They are noted for Gift of Gab's often "tongue-twisting", multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's "classic" beats...
, Lateef the Truthspeaker, DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
, Joseph Patel, and Jeff Chang
Jeff Chang (journalist)
Jeff Chang is an American journalist and music critic on hip hop music and culture. His 2005 book, Can't Stop Won't Stop, which chronicles the early hip hop scene, won an American Book Award in 2005...
(formerly known as DJ Zen).
He changed his stage name from Asia Born to Lyrics Born in 1995 citing the desire to have his career based on his merits as opposed to his ethnicity.
Career
In 1993, Lyrics Born released his first single "Send ThemEntropy / Send Them
"Send Them/Entropy ", is a double A side EP by Asia Born and DJ Shadow and the Groove Robbers. This was released 1993 from Solesides...
", under the moniker "Asia Born", on the independent record label Solesides
Solesides
Solesides was an underground hip hop label based in Northern California, founded in 1991. It comprised various DJs and MCs, the most notable being DJ Shadow, MC–producer Lyrics Born, and the duo, Blackalicious. The members of Solesides all met via the radio station, KDVS, the 5000-watt community...
. In 1996 he formed the group "Latyrx", with Solesides label mate and fellow Bay-Area native, Lateef The Truthspeaker. Latyrx is a combination of the names, "Lateef" and "Lyrics". In 1997 Latyrx released the seminal album, "Latyrx-The Album". The album was well-received and is often regarded as a classic within underground circles. 1 year later Solesides was disbanded and reformed as the current Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects
Quannum Projects is a hip hop collective based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been active since 1992, when it was formed at UC Davis under the moniker Solesides Records. It is also the name of the independent record label that releases their records, as well as those of a number of other...
label. In 1999, to commemorate the transformation of Solesides to Quannum, the label released "Quannum Spectrum", a label compilation executive-produced by Lyrics Born. The album spawned the international hit single and video, "I Changed My Mind". This would also signify Lyrics Born's first collaboration with German Funk group, The Poets of Rhythm, whom he would later executive produce for the Quannum label.
Lyrics Born released his first solo LP on Quannum Projects, Later That Day
Later That Day
Later That Day is the debut album by Lyrics Born, one half of the group Latryx,and an American hip hop musician. Four years of work was put into the album to ensure that the audience will be satisfied. This was an important release for Quannum Projects because it was a huge introduction to Lyrics...
, in October 2003, which spawned the hit single, "Callin' Out". The album features guests such as Cut Chemist
Cut Chemist
Lucas MacFadden , better known as Cut Chemist, is an American DJ and record producer. He is a former member of the funk Latin band Ozomatli, and of hip hop group Jurassic 5...
of Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab (rapper)
Gift of Gab is an American MC best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious with DJ Chief Xcel...
, Lateef the Truthspeaker and Born's wife Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde is a Filipino hip hop and soul singer.-History:Originally from Manila, Joyo Velarde studied Opera in Rome before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area where she attended UC Davis in northern California. While planning to be a news anchor, it was at Davis that she met up with her now...
.
In April 2005, he released a remix album, Same !@#$ Different Day
Same !@$ Different Day
Same !@#$ Different Day is the second album by Lyrics Born, one half of the group Latyrx, and an American hip hop musician. As well as containing five new tracks, Same !@#$ Different Day contains new lyrics over remixed beats from Lyrics Born's debut album Later That Day...
which was again released on his own Quannum Projects label. The album features remixes of five songs from Later That Day along with a number of new tracks which feature guests such as Bay Area legend E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, hip-hop icon KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs
Stereo MCs are an English electronic dance group, which formed in Clapham, London in 1985. They are best known worldwide for their 1992 transatlantic Top 20 hit single, "Connected"...
, Casual of Hieroglyphics, Evidence of Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples
Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
, DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
and Joyo Velarde. Also in 2005, Born released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season One CD, which was essentially an old-school mix tape vibe with remixes and blends of his studio albums as well as guest appearances on other artist's songs in addition to exclusive tracks.
He has toured relentlessly for years in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and averages 150 shows per year.
Early in 2005, Lyrics Born replaced his usual DJ, D-Sharp
D-sharp
D-sharp may refer to:*The musical pitch D♯*D-sharp major musical scale*D-sharp minor musical scale*D# programming language...
with a live band. The original band consisted of versed Bay Area musicians Kevin Choice (keys, vox), B'nai Rebelfront (guitar, vox), Darius Minaee (drums) and Uriah Duffy
Uriah Duffy
Uriah Duffy is an American bassist. He is best known as the former bassist of Whitesnake.-Has been a member of/played with:* Whitesnake – rock...
(bass, vox). Over the years the line-up has also consisted of other various musicians including bassist Marcus Phillips, drummer Thomas McCree and keyboardists Mike Blankenship (Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
) and Kat Ouano of fellow Bay Area group Crown City Rockers
Crown City Rockers
Crown City Rockers are a five-member hip hop band from Oakland, California, by way of Boston, Massachusetts and Pasadena. Formerly known as Mission:, they play old school inflected hip hop music with live instrumentation , citing influences such as: A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, KRS-One and De...
.
In 2006, he released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season Two CD mixed by DJ Enki, comprised once again of remixes, guest appearances, collaborations and exclusive material.
Lyrics Born's first live album Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born LIVE was released on October 31, 2006. It was recorded in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and features half of the album from Sydney and the other half from Melbourne. The album is a live set featuring his backing band, as well as three new bonus studio tracks including the hit song "Knock Knock" produced by Hallway Productionz
Hallway Productionz
Hallway Productionz is a 2x Grammy Award Nominated, Dove Award winning production duo made up of Teak "Tha Beatsmith" and Dee Underdue. The pair reside in Stockton, California. Teak and Dee's production is most notably featured on Ice Cube, WC & T-Bone records....
.
The album received a 3.5 out of 4 star review in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine and featured artists such as Mistah F.A.B.
Mistah F.A.B.
Stanley Petey Cox , better known by his stage name Mistah F.A.B. , is an American rapper. He attended Oakland Technical High School and Emery High School. He is signed to Bay Area rap legend Mac Dre's label, Thizz Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Mistah F.A.B...
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
, Pigeon John
Pigeon John
Pigeon John is an American hip hop rapper raised in Hawthorne, California and based in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Pigeon John is a Los Angeles area rapper who has recorded four studio albums as a solo artist, as well as several others as a member of the groups like L.A. Symphony and...
and Tim "Herb" Alexander
Tim Alexander
Tim "Herb" Alexander is an American musician, best known as the former drummer for the rock band Primus. Tim played on the Primus recordings Suck on This to Tales from the Punchbowl, before leaving the band in 1996, only to rejoin in 2003 for the EP Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People...
of Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
. The CD was the first live album to be released by Quannum Projects.
His third mixtape, "The Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three", featuring guest appearances by Chali 2na
Chali 2na
Charles Stewart , better known as Chali 2na is an American rapper and hip hop artist, formerly associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli.-Early life:...
of Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, The Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab (rapper)
Gift of Gab is an American MC best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious with DJ Chief Xcel...
, Lateef the Truthspeaker
Lateef
Lateef the Truthspeaker also known as The Truthspeaker or simply Lateef, is an American hip-hop artist who is part of the groups Latyrx and The Maroons AKA Lateef and the Chief...
, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde is a Filipino hip hop and soul singer.-History:Originally from Manila, Joyo Velarde studied Opera in Rome before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area where she attended UC Davis in northern California. While planning to be a news anchor, it was at Davis that she met up with her now...
, Jake One
Jake One
Jacob Dutton, better known as Jake One, is an American hip hop record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Biography:Dutton grew up in Capitol Hill and moved to the North End of Seattle when he was 15. He started making music on a Casio keyboard in 1992. He attended the University of Washington and...
, Pigeon John
Pigeon John
Pigeon John is an American hip hop rapper raised in Hawthorne, California and based in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Pigeon John is a Los Angeles area rapper who has recorded four studio albums as a solo artist, as well as several others as a member of the groups like L.A. Symphony and...
and more, was released in February 2008. The album was first released as a limited edition download available only on his website for $1.99. The mixtape featured exclusive tracks from his then upcoming new album, "Everywhere at Once", as well as previously unreleased studio tracks.
Lyrics Born released his 2nd full length studio album, "Everywhere at Once" on April 22, 2008 on Epitaph/Anti- Records. The album is the MC/Producer's first studio release to integrate members of his live band instead of primarily sample-based loops. The record also features Chali 2na
Chali 2na
Charles Stewart , better known as Chali 2na is an American rapper and hip hop artist, formerly associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli.-Early life:...
of Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde is a Filipino hip hop and soul singer.-History:Originally from Manila, Joyo Velarde studied Opera in Rome before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area where she attended UC Davis in northern California. While planning to be a news anchor, it was at Davis that she met up with her now...
, C-Holiday, DJ D-Sharp, Myron Glasper and hip-hop producers Jake One
Jake One
Jacob Dutton, better known as Jake One, is an American hip hop record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Biography:Dutton grew up in Capitol Hill and moved to the North End of Seattle when he was 15. He started making music on a Casio keyboard in 1992. He attended the University of Washington and...
and Trackademicks
Trackademicks
Trackademicks is an American Hip-Hop artist. He was born and raised in Alameda, California and is also part of the San Francisco-Bay Area music collective, the Honor Roll Crew.- Biography :...
who co-produced some of the album's tracks.
The album spawned a video for the hit single, "I Like It, I Love It" which features the MC in various character costumes including Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
the Wizard, Army Soldiers, Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
and more. The video was directed by Neon and was featured on MtvU
MtvU
mtvU is a division of Viacom's MTV Networks which produces a 24-hour television channel that is available on more than 750 college and university campuses across the United States, as well as several digital cable packages...
, Australia's Rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
and MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. The song itself was featured in the 2009 reboot of the movie, Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th (2009 film)
Friday the 13th is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Marcus Nispel and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, which began in 1980 and the twelfth Friday the 13th film in total...
, which was #1 at the box office its first week out.
Other singles off the album that followed were "Hott 2 Deff", "Differences", "Top Shelf" and "Whispers", the latter of which also spawned a music video showcasing images of the MC's late friend and one-time Solesides alum, Benjamin "Mack B-Dog" Davis (whom the song was written about) intercut with performance footage of Lyrics Born. The video was directed by HKL Films and included in Pitchfork.com's top videos of 2008.
Everywhere at Once
Everywhere at Once
Everywhere at Once is a 2008 album by Lyrics Born.-Track listing:# "Intro Tag"# "Don't Change" # "Hott 2 Deff" # "Differences"...
was the most downloaded hip-hop album of the week on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in its second week out.
In March 2009 Lyrics Born released "Funky Hit Records", the first single off of his forthcoming new album, 'As U Were'. The track was released on the internet as a free download to fans and was quickly picked up by Australia's Triple J Radio who began to play the song on air. Similar instances happened in the US when KEXP in Seattle began playing the track as well.
The Lyrics Born/Trackademicks
Trackademicks
Trackademicks is an American Hip-Hop artist. He was born and raised in Alameda, California and is also part of the San Francisco-Bay Area music collective, the Honor Roll Crew.- Biography :...
-produced song's launch included a music video which was featured on YouTube, gaining nearly 250,000 views to date.
Riding the momentum of the song's buzz, the track was worked to college radio where it ended up at #1 on both RapAttack and RapNetwork charts.
Lyrics Born released a fourth mixtape in his hit franchise, 'The Lyrics Born Variety Show', featuring collaborations, remixes, exclusives and special guests. The mixtape is released via Born's own Mobile Home Recordings in conjunction with VTech
VTech
VTech is the common name of Video Technology Ltd. , a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of consumer electronics...
. The mixtape's release date was July 7, 2009 and features artists such as Kasabian, Soulico, Dosmoccos, Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde
Joyo Velarde is a Filipino hip hop and soul singer.-History:Originally from Manila, Joyo Velarde studied Opera in Rome before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area where she attended UC Davis in northern California. While planning to be a news anchor, it was at Davis that she met up with her now...
, J-Boogie and more.
Coinciding with the mixtape release was a new single and music video for the Latyrx
Latyrx
Latyrx is a hip hop music group consisting of Lateef the Truth Speaker and Lyrics Born. The roots of their partnership lay in the formation of the Solesides collective at the University of California, Davis.-History:...
reunion track, "Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart". The track features Lateef the Truthspeaker while the video was directed by Ra LaMotta from ApSci
Apsci
ApSci is a video-centric avant pop duo with origins in indie hip hop. As individuals, their roots go back to punk rock and opera. The duo consists of Bronx born, New Jersey-bred Ra Lamotta and his Filipino-Australian wife Dana Diaz-Tutaan...
.
Lyrics Born released a second proper single from his album As U Were
As U Were
As U Were is a 2010 album by Lyrics Born set for release on Decon Records and Mobile Home Recordings October 26th, 2010.The album currently has two proper singles, "Pushed Aside/Pulled Apart" featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker and "Lies X 3"....
titled "Lies X 3" with a video directed by Yoram Benz in the summer of 2010.
The album As U Were was released on Decon Records and Born's own Mobile Home Recordings on October 26, 2010.
Voiceover
In the fall of 2008 Lyrics Born became the voice over announcer for Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
's new Friday night franchise, 'You Are Here'. The MC currently voices bumpers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)
-Production:At April 2005's Star Wars Celebration III, Lucas stated that "we are working on a 3-D continuation of the pilot series that was on the Cartoon Network; we probably won't start that project for another year." In July 2005, pre-production had begun on the series, according to Steve...
, Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, The Secret Saturdays
The Secret Saturdays
The Secret Saturdays is an American animated television series created by Canadian cartoonist Jay Stephens for Cartoon Network. It debuted on October 3, 2008, in the United States...
, Ben 10: Alien Force
Ben 10: Alien Force
When it recalibrated it gained a more watch-like shape, a green wristband, became smaller and sleeker, and the face dial became black and green. The inside of the hourglass shape glows in different colors at special moments; these colors signify the state that the Omnitrix is presently in...
and more.
In 2009 the vocalist was featured as part of an exclusive radio ad campaign for the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
in San Francisco, CA.
Style
Lyrics Born's rhymes showcase a large vocabulary, and often complex rhythmic patterns, deployed via regular use of various rhyming techniques, such as alliterationAlliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
, internal rhyme
Internal rhyme
In poetry, internal rhyme, or middle rhyme, is rhyme that occurs in a single line of verse.Internal rhyme occurs in the middle of a line, as exemplified by Coleridge, "In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud" or "Whiles all the night through fog-smoke white," in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." ...
, and double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s. His style also frequently blends such techniques with melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, for which he has coined the term "Em-singing". His style is influenced by groups and artists such as James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
, Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson is an American blues and soul singer and record producer.-Biography:Born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf in the 1950s, before recording with Jimmy Reed...
, KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, John Hendricks
John Hendricks
John Hendricks is the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications, a broadcasting and film production company which owns the Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet cable tv networks, among other ventures.-Early life:...
, Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
, Kool G. Rap, The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for their 1979 hit, "Rapper's Delight", the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. The song uses the instrumental track from the classic hit "Good Times" by Chic as its foundation....
and Ice Cube is often conversational, observant, and melodious. His signature, sandy baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
speaking/rapping voice and "Bay Area drawl" has drawn comparisons to Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
, Tone-Loc, and Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
. Songs such as "Before and After" explore the subtleties of day-to-day human relations while "The Last Trumpet" (with Lateef) features a very politically charged and globally conscious mindset.
His collaborations with Lateef
Lateef
Lateef the Truthspeaker also known as The Truthspeaker or simply Lateef, is an American hip-hop artist who is part of the groups Latyrx and The Maroons AKA Lateef and the Chief...
on Latyrx
Latyrx
Latyrx is a hip hop music group consisting of Lateef the Truth Speaker and Lyrics Born. The roots of their partnership lay in the formation of the Solesides collective at the University of California, Davis.-History:...
records often see them trading lyrics back and forth in quick succession - Lyrics Born and Lateef's methodology for writing this type of lyric is described by Lateef
Lateef
Lateef the Truthspeaker also known as The Truthspeaker or simply Lateef, is an American hip-hop artist who is part of the groups Latyrx and The Maroons AKA Lateef and the Chief...
in the book How to Rap
How to Rap
How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC is a book on hip-hop music and rapping by Paul Edwards. It is compiled from interviews with 104 notable rappers who provide insights into how they write and perform their lyrics.- Publication :...
: "With Latyrx stuff, when we have parts that we’re writing that we’re both going to be trading off, we write them together for the most part. I’ll sit there and write a rhyme, like I’ll write a line or two and then we’ll break up who’s gonna say what, and he’ll write a line or two and we’ll break up who’s gonna say what. It’s a very organic process."
Collaborations
Lyrics Born has collaborated with many artists including Kasabian, Galactic, DJ Shadow, The Bamboos, Soulico, Dosmoccos, Blackalicious, Jurassic 5Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
, DJ Z-Trip
DJ Z-Trip
Zach Sciacca, better known as Z-Trip, is an American DJ and producer. He is best known as a pioneer of the mashup movement.A Phoenix, Arizona native, who now resides in Los Angeles, California, he was known early in his career for performing with the Bombshelter DJs . He became widely known when...
(on the 2005 song "The Get Down"), Diverse
Diverse
Diverse is an American rapper. An underground hip-hop artist, he has received critical acclaim "from knowledgeable heads worldwide".-Career:...
(on the song "Explosive"), Tommy Guerrero
Tommy Guerrero
Tommy Guerrero is an American skateboarder and musician. As a teen, he was one of the prominent members of the Bones Brigade, Powell Peralta's professional skateboarding team that was successful during the 1980s...
, R. L. Burnside
R. L. Burnside
Not to be confused with R. H. Burnside, stage director.R. L. Burnside , born Robert Lee Burnside, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who lived much of his life in and around Holly Springs, Mississippi. He played music for much of his life, but did not receive much attention...
(on the song "Someday Baby"), Morcheeba
Morcheeba
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
, Zion I
Zion I
Zion I are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I...
, Mistah F.A.B.
Mistah F.A.B.
Stanley Petey Cox , better known by his stage name Mistah F.A.B. , is an American rapper. He attended Oakland Technical High School and Emery High School. He is signed to Bay Area rap legend Mac Dre's label, Thizz Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Mistah F.A.B...
and Pigeon John
Pigeon John
Pigeon John is an American hip hop rapper raised in Hawthorne, California and based in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Pigeon John is a Los Angeles area rapper who has recorded four studio albums as a solo artist, as well as several others as a member of the groups like L.A. Symphony and...
.
He was instrumental in the signing of Pigeon John to Quannum in 2005 and executive produced and A&R'd the first album from the Los Angeles-based rapper on Quannum Projects, Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party, which was released in 2006. He executive-produced the debut EP and album from Joyo Velarde and is currently working on his forthcoming record, 'As U Were', due in the fourth quarter of 2010.
LPs
- "Latyrx (The Album)Latyrx (The Album)Latyrx is the debut full-length studio album by the American underground hip-hop duo Latyrx, consisting of San Francisco Bay area rappers Lateef the Truthspeaker and Lyrics Born. The album was released on August 25, 1997 on the Solesides record label...
" (1997, Solesides) - "Latyrx-The Muzapper's Remixes" (1998, Solesides)
- Later That DayLater That DayLater That Day is the debut album by Lyrics Born, one half of the group Latryx,and an American hip hop musician. Four years of work was put into the album to ensure that the audience will be satisfied. This was an important release for Quannum Projects because it was a huge introduction to Lyrics...
(2003, Quannum Projects) - Lyrics Born Variety Show Season One (2005, Mobile Home Recordings)
- Same !@#$ Different DaySame !@$ Different DaySame !@#$ Different Day is the second album by Lyrics Born, one half of the group Latyrx, and an American hip hop musician. As well as containing five new tracks, Same !@#$ Different Day contains new lyrics over remixed beats from Lyrics Born's debut album Later That Day...
(2005, Quannum Projects) - Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Two (2006, Mobile Home Recordings)
- Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born LiveOvernite Encore: Lyrics Born LiveOvernite Encore: Lyrics Born Live is the third album by Lyrics Born, a Japanese-American hip hop musician. For this album Lyrics Born is backed by a live band as he performs hits from his previous album Later That Day, as well as more recent songs...
(2006, Quannum Projects) - Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three (2008, Mobile Home Recordings)
- Everywhere at OnceEverywhere at OnceEverywhere at Once is a 2008 album by Lyrics Born.-Track listing:# "Intro Tag"# "Don't Change" # "Hott 2 Deff" # "Differences"...
(2008, Epitaph Records) - Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Four (2009 Mobile Home Recordings)
- As U WereAs U WereAs U Were is a 2010 album by Lyrics Born set for release on Decon Records and Mobile Home Recordings October 26th, 2010.The album currently has two proper singles, "Pushed Aside/Pulled Apart" featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker and "Lies X 3"....
(2010 Mobile Home Recordings/Decon Media)
Singles
- "Send Them", 1993, Solesides
- "Latyrx", 1995, Solesides
- "Burnt Pride", 1996, Solesides
- "Balcony Beach", 1996, Solesides
- "Lady Don't Tek No", 1998, Solesides
- "I Changed My Mind", 1999, Quannum Projects
- "Hello" b/w "One Session", 2003, Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Callin' Out", 2003, Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Callin' Out Remix" b/w "Do That There Remix", 2004, Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "I'm Just Raw" b/w "Pack Up Remix", 2005, Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Big Money Talk", 2006, Decon Recordings
- "I Like It, I Love It", 2008, Mobile Home Recordings/Anti- Records
- "Differences", 2008, Mobile Home Recordings/Anti- Records
- "Top Shelf", 2008, Mobile Home Recordings/Anti-Records
- "Hott 2 Deff", 2008, Mobile Home Recordings/Anti- Records
- "Whispers", 2008, Mobile Home Recordings/Anti- Records
- "Funky Hit Records", 2009, Mobile Home Recordings
- "Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart", 2009, Mobile Home Recordings
- "Oh Baby", 2009, Mobile Home Recordings
- "Lies X 3", 2010, Mobile Home Recordings/Decon Recordings
Production credits
- "Latyrx: The Album", Solesides/Quannum Projects
- "Latyrx 'The Muzapper's Remixes EP'", Quannum Projects
- "Quannum Spectrum", Quannum Projects
- "Poets of Rhythm 'Discern/Define'", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Later That Day", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Same !@#$ Different Day", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "R.L. Burnside 'A Bothered Mind'", Fat Possum
- "Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born LIVE!", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Pigeon John 'and the Summertime Pool Party'", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Everywhere At Once", Mobile Home Recordings/Anti- Records
- "Joyo Velarde 'Joyo Velarde EP'", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects
- "Joyo Velarde 'Love and Understanding'", Mobile Home Recordings/Quannum Projects