Lyrics Born
Lyrics Born in Australia, 2008
Lyrics Born in Australia, 2008
Background information
Birth nameTsutomu Shimura[1]
Also known asLB, Asia Born, Macka Dang Dang
Born (1972-09-02) September 2, 1972
Tokyo, Japan[2]
OriginBerkeley, California, U.S.
GenresAlternative hip hop, funk
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, producer
Years active1992–present
LabelsQuannum Projects, Epitaph, Decon
Websitewww.lyricsborn.com

Tsutomu "Tom" Shimura (born September 2, 1972), better known by his stage name Lyrics Born (formerly Asia Born),[3] is a Japanese-American rapper, singer, and producer.[4] He is one half of the duo Latyrx with Lateef the Truthspeaker.[2]

Early life and education

Shimura was born in Tokyo and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah[5] and Berkeley, California.[6][7] He attended Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida.[8]

Career

Shimura changed his stage name from Asia Born to Lyrics Born in 1995, citing the desire to ensure that he won fans based on his merits as a rapper rather than his ethnicity.[9] His first studio album, Later That Day, was released on Quannum Projects in 2003.[10]

In an article published by Rolling Stone in 2022, Later That Day was listed as one of the "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time."[11]

Lyrics Born's collaborations with Lateef the Truthspeaker 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."[12]

In 2023, Lyrics Born's most popular song "Callin' Out" was mentioned as one of the "100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

Lyrics Born
Latyrx (Lyrics Born with Lateef the Truthspeaker)
Quannum MCs (Lyrics Born with Chief Xcel, DJ Shadow, Gift of Gab & Lateef the Truth Speaker)

Other releases

Remix albums
Live albums
A capella albums
  • A Capella's Vol. 1 (2008)
EPs
  • The Muzapper's Mixes (1998, Solesides) (Latyrx)
  • Bad Dreams (2005, Jam Recordings)
  • Disconnection EP (2012, Mobile Home Recordings/Latyramid) (Latyrx)
  • Rapp Nite (2019, Mobile Home Recordings) (with Cutso)
Mixtapes
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season One (2005, Mobile Home Recordings)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Two (2006, Mobile Home Recordings)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three (2008, Mobile Home Recordings)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Pho (2009, Mobile Home Recordings)
  • Latyrical Madness, Vol. 1 (2011, Mobile Home Recordings/Latyramid) (Latyrx)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Five: On the Floor (2012, Mobile Home Recordings/Decon Media)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Six (2014, Mobile Home Recordings)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Seven (2016, Mobile Home Recordings)
Compilation albums
  • "Now Look What You've Done, Lyrics Born!" – Greatest Hits! (2016, Mobile Home Recordings)
Singles
  • "Send Them" (1993, Solesides)
  • "Latyrx" (1995, Solesides)
  • "Burnt Pride" (1996, Solesides)
  • "Balcony Beach" (1996, Solesides)
  • "Lady Don't Tek No" (1998, Solesides) (Latyrx)
  • "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)
  • "Diamond Door" (2022, Maximum Flavor Media, LLC)

Additional credits

Guest appearances
Production credits
Tracks appear on

References

  1. ↑ "Lyrics Born – Home". Facebook.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. 1 2 DaRonco, Mike (2008). "Lyrics Born – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  3. ↑ Nguyen, Joe (July 17, 2009). "Face2Face with Lyrics Born". AsiaXpress.com. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  4. ↑ Birnam, Ian (September 5, 2012). "Local Limelight: Lyrics Born". The Daily Californian.
  5. ↑ "New Music: Lyrics Born, Billy Bragg and More". National Public Radio. April 2, 2008. Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  6. ↑ Patel, Joseph (November 18, 2003). "Lyrics Born". You Hear It First. MTV News. Retrieved February 5, 2005.
  7. ↑ "Lyrics Born". Genius.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  8. ↑ Tatangelo, Wade (May 7, 2008). "The best thing from Sweden since ABBA?". Creative Loafing Tampa. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Lyrics Born Is 'Everywhere at Once'". NPR. June 25, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  10. ↑ Pemberton, Rollie (October 27, 2003). "Lyrics Born: Later That Day". Pitchfork Media.
  11. ↑ Weingarten, Charles Aaron,Mankaprr Conteh,Jon Dolan,Will Dukes,Dewayne Gage,Joe Gross,Kory Grow,Christian Hoard,Jeff Ihaza,Julyssa Lopez,Mosi Reeves,Yoh Phillips,Noah Shachtman,Rob Sheffield,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Christopher R.; Aaron, Charles; Conteh, Mankaprr; Dolan, Jon; Dukes, Will; Gage, Dewayne; Gross, Joe; Grow, Kory; Hoard, Christian (June 7, 2022). "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 9, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Edwards, Paul (2009). How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Chicago Review Press. p. 219.
  13. ↑ "The 100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 1, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ Jon Blistein (February 2, 2015). "Cali Hip-Hop Veteran Lyrics Born Details 'Real People' LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  15. ↑
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