Ai (singer)

, known mononymously as Ai (, stylized as AI or A.I. ), is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, spokeswoman, and actress. Born in Los Angeles, California, Ai moved to Kagoshima, at age 4. Motivated to become a singer, Ai returned to Los Angeles, attending the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. While in Los Angeles, Ai began her musical career performing as part of a gospel choir at a Mary J. Blige concert and as a dancer for Janet Jackson's music video, " Go Deep". She briefly joined the Asian girl group SX4 in 1999 until she graduated high school.

After being discovered by BMG in 2000, Ai relocated to Japan and released her debut album, ''My Name is Ai'' (2001), to very little commercial success. Signing to Def Jam Records Japan in 2002, Ai became the first woman signed to the label. She released two studio albums under the label, ''Original Ai'' (2003) and ''2004 Ai''. With the release of her third studio album, Ai rose to mainstream prominence in Japan. Signing to Island Records, Ai released her fourth studio album, ''Mic-a-Holic Ai'' in 2005. Its second single " Story" became one of the biggest singles of the 2000s in Japan, peaking at number 8 on the Japanese Oricon singles chart, and was the sixth single in history to receive a triple million digital certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Ai's fifth studio album, ''What's Goin' On Ai'' (2006), featured the top-ten singles "Believe" and " I Wanna Know", the latter receiving a Gold certification from the RIAJ. Her sixth studio album, '' Don't Stop Ai'' (2007) saw similar success, which received a Gold certification. In 2009, she released her seventh studio album, '' Viva Ai'', which charted in the top ten of the Japanese Oricon albums chart. Ai's compilation album, '' Best Ai'' (2009), became her first number one album and was certified Platinum. In 2010, she released her eighth studio album, '' The Last Ai'', which marked her last release under Island Records.

In 2011, Ai left Universal Music Group and signed a global publishing deal with EMI. Her Gold certified ninth studio album ''Independent'' (2012) served as her international debut and first release under EMI Music Japan. To promote the album, Ai toured in Japan and her hometown, Los Angeles, California. Her tenth studio album '' Moriagaro'' (2013) marked her first release under EMI Records Japan following EMI Music Japan's absorption into Universal Music Japan as a sublabel. Her fourth compilation album, ''The Best'' (2015) peaked at number 3 on the Oricon Albums chart and number 2 on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot Albums chart, later being certified Gold by the RIAJ. Its successor, ''The Feat. Best'' (2016) charted within the top 30 of both the Japan Hot Albums and Oricon Albums chart.

Ai's eleventh studio album, '' Wa to Yo'' (2017) experimented with traditional Japanese and electronic sounds. Its second single, " Kira Kira" was nominated for the Grand Prix award and won the Excellent Works Award at the 59th Japan Records Awards. Her sixth compilation album '' Kansha!!!!! - Thank You for 20 Years New and Best'' (2019) was issued to celebrate her twenty years in the music industry. Further celebrating her twenty-year anniversary, Ai released the extended plays '' It's All Me, Vol. 1'' (2020) and '' It's All Me, Vol. 2'' (2021). In December 2021, Ai announced her twelfth studio album, '' Dream''. The album was released in February 2022.

Life and career

1981–1997: Early life and education

Ai was born in Los Angeles in 1981. Her father is Japanese and her mother is American of Italian and Native Okinawan descent. She moved to Kagoshima in Japan when she was 4, and went to elementary school and junior high school in Japan.

Ai was motivated to become a singer in her early teens, after singing at a cousin's wedding, having many people ask her if she wanted to be a professional singer, and hearing a gospel performance at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles in 1993. After graduating from junior high school in Japan, Ai returned to Los Angeles for high school, enrolling at Glendale High School, however found high school difficult due to never formally studying English. After making it through the audition process, she switched to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, majoring in ballet. She became a member of the school's gospel choir.

1988–1999: Career beginnings

While attending Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Ai began her musical career by performing in a gospel choir at a Mary J. Blige concert at the Universal Amphitheatre, performing of "A Dream". In the same year, she appeared as a dancer in the music video for Janet Jackson's song " Go Deep". In 1999, Ai joined an Asian girl group called SX4, who were produced by George Brown of Kool & the Gang. Later in 1999, the group was offered a record label deal.

2000–2004: Relocation to Japan

While on a summer holiday in Kagoshima, Ai performed Monica's " For You I Will" on a local radio station, which led to her being scouted by BMG. She decided to take the offer, and after leaving SX4 and graduating from high school in June 2000, moved to Tokyo and debuted as a musician later in 2000.

Ai debuted under BMG Japan sublabel RCA Records with the single "Cry, Just Cry" in November 2000. Two additional singles were released, "U Can Do" and "Shining Star". Although the latter failed to chart, "Shining Star" charted and peaked at number 98 on the Oricon singles chart. Eventually, her debut studio album, ''My Name Is Ai'' was released in November 2001. Although not commercially successful, the album peaked at number 86 on the Oricon albums chart.

In 2002 Ai moved to Def Jam Japan and became the first female artist signed to the label. Ai claimed that she felt more at home under Def Jam, as many of her co-workers shared her musical tastes. Her first album under the label in 2003 ''Original Ai'' debuted at 15 on ''Oricons album charts, and her second, ''2004 Ai'', debuted at number three. In 2004, she won the Space Shower Music Video Awards' award for Best R&B Video, with her song "Thank U".

After moving to Def Jam, Ai increasingly began collaborating with musicians, especially Japanese hip-hop and rap artists (though under BMG, Ai had collaborated with Mao Denda, and Soul'd Out rapper Diggy-Mo'). She was featured as a rapper on the Suite Chic single "Uh Uh,,,,,", a collaboration between Namie Amuro, Verbal of M-Flo, and music producer Ryōsuke Imai in 2003. Other musicians Ai collaborated with in this period were Afra, Boy-Ken, Joe Budden, Dabo, Deli, Double, Heartsdales, Ken Hirai

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