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

Latyrx Latyrx is an American alternative hip hop duo consisting of Lateef the Truthspeaker and Lyrics Born. The roots of their partnership lay in the formation of the Solesides collective at the University of California, Davis. History The crew's chart ...

with

Lateef the Truthspeaker Lateef Daumont, better known by his stage name Lateef the Truthspeaker, or mononymously as Lateef, is a hip hop artist from Oakland, California (United States). He is a member of several hip hop groups such as Latyrx, Lateef and the Chief, and t ...

Early life

Shimura was born in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

and raised in

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

and

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland and Emer ...

. He attended

Henry B. Plant High School H.B. Plant High School is a public high school located in the neighborhood of South Tampa in Tampa, Florida, United States. It opened in 1927 between South Himes Avenue on the east and Dale Mabry Highway on the west. The school is named in honor ...

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

Career

Shimura changed his

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

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. His first studio album, '' Later That Day'', was released on

Quannum Projects Quannum Projects (also known as Quannum MCs) is an American 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 ...

in 2003. Lyrics Born's collaborations with

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 ''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.Edwards, Paul, ...

'': "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."

Discography

Studio albums

:Lyrics Born ::* '' Later That Day...'' (2003,

) ::* '' Everywhere at Once'' (2008,

Epitaph Records Epitaph Records is an American independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most acts signed to the label were punk and pop punk acts, while there are many post-hardcore and emo bands ...

) ::* '' As U Were'' (2010, Mobile Home Recordings/ Decon Media) ::* ''

Real People ''Real People'' is an American reality television series that originally aired on NBC from 1979 to 1984, Wednesdays from 8 pm to 9pm Eastern Time. Its initial episodes aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones. ''Real People'' featured "r ...

'' (2015, Mobile Home Recordings) ::* '' Quite a Life'' (2018, Mobile Home Recordings)
::* ''Mobile Homies Season 1'' (2022, Mobile Home Recordings) :

(Lyrics Born with

) ::* '' Latyrx (The Album), The Album'' (1997, Solesides) ::* '' The Second Album'' (2013, Latyramid) :

Quannum MCs Quannum Projects (also known as Quannum MCs) is an American 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 ...

(Lyrics Born with

Chief Xcel Blackalicious was 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 soulful pr ...

DJ Shadow Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer. His debut studio album, '' Endtroducing.....'' was released in 1996. Biography Early years (1989–1995) DJ Sh ...

, Gift of Gab & Lateef the Truth Speaker) ::* '' Quannum Spectrum'' (Quannum Projects, 1999)

Other releases

:Remix albums ::* '' Same !@#$ Different Day'' (2005, Quannum Projects) ::* ''As U Were (Remixes)'' (2012, Mobile Home Recordings/Decon Media) :Live albums ::* '' Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live'' (2006, Quannum Projects) :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)

Additional credits

:Guest appearances ::*

Blackalicious Blackalicious was 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 soulful p ...

– "Deep in the Jungle" from ''

Melodica The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usual ...

'' (1994) ::* Blackalicious – "Release" from ''

Blazing Arrow ''Blazing Arrow'' is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Blackalicious. It was released on MCA Records on April 30, 2002. It peaked at number 49 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Critical reception Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album ...

'' (2002) ::* Diverse – "Explosive" from '' One A.M.'' (2003) ::*

Tommy Guerrero Tommy Guerrero (born September 9, 1966) is an Indigenous American musician, composer, and professional skateboarder. Early life Guerrero was born in San Francisco, California. He is of Ohlone-native, Chilean, and Filipino descent from his fa ...

– " Gettin' It Together" from '' Soul Food Taqueria'' (2003) ::*

Lifesavas Lifesavas is a hip hop group from Portland, Oregon. Their style exhibits tag-team rhymes, matter-of-fact storytelling and a soulful production. The emcee's styles and song writing skills are showcased in the arrangements of a funky collection o ...

– "Emerge" from ''Spirit in Stone'' (2003) ::* Haiku D'Etat – "Top Qualified" from '' Coup de Theatre'' (2004) ::* Blackalicious – "Give It to You" from '' The Craft'' (2005) ::*

DJ Z-Trip Zach Sciacca (born July 22, 1971), better known as DJ Z-Trip, is an American DJ and producer. He is a pioneer of the mashup movement. He was the 2009 recipient of the "America's Best DJ Award". As a producer he has worked with artists across di ...

– "The Get Down" from '' Shifting Gears'' (2005) ::*

The Mighty Underdogs The Mighty Underdogs is an American hip hop supergroup from the San Francisco Bay Area. It consists of rappers Gift of Gab and Lateef the Truthspeaker and producer Headnodic. History The Mighty Underdogs was formed when Lateef the Truthspeaker, ...

– "Ill Vacation" from ''Droppin' Science Fiction'' (2008) ::*

Joyo Velarde Joyo Velarde is a Filipino hip hop and soul singer. Her husband is Lyrics Born. She has been featured on numerous tracks by the Quannum Projects cohorts. Career Joyo Velarde's self-titled EP, ''Joyo Velarde'', was released in May 2009. She rele ...

– "Strong Possibility" from ''Love & Understanding'' (2010) ::*

– "Hardship Enterprise" from ''

Firewire IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer. It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony an ...

'' (2011) ::*

Suburban Legends Suburban Legends are an American ska punk band that formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1998 and later based themselves in nearby Santa Ana. After building a fanbase in the Orange County ska scene through their numerous regular perform ...

– "Can't Stop It" from ''

Day Job Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...

'' (2012) ::* Lotus – "Cannon in the Heavens" from ''Monks'' (2013) :Production credits ::*

– "Do This My Way" from '' Nia'' (1999) ::* R. L. Burnside – "Goin' Down South" and "Someday Baby" from ''A Bothered Mind'' (2004) :Tracks appear on ::* "I Changed My Mind" on '' Quannum Spectrum'' (1999) ::* "Send Them" on '' Solesides Greatest Bumps'' (2000)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lyrics Born 1972 births American people of Italian descent American rappers of East Asian descent Epitaph Records artists Japanese emigrants to the United States Living people Musicians from Berkeley, California People from Tokyo Quannum Projects artists Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area 21st-century American rappers Japanese people of Italian descent Anti- (record label) artists