Lyrics Born: Japanese-Italian Rapper is Lyrically Born
By: Angela Pang, Oct 20, 2006
One look at Lyrics Born aka Tom Shimura and if it’s not his strong, fascinating face, it’s his deep, sultry voice that will stop you in your tracks.
This half Japanese and half Italian rapper has successfully broke out of the underground hip-hop scene, and in the last five years established himself as a well-respected artist with his music featured in Diet Coke, Motorola, Tower Records and Vans commercials.
Shimura performs in over 100 shows a year and will be performing at the Independent in San Francisco on Oct. 20-21.
“When I decided to go into hip hop it wasn’t to prove to anybody that Asian Americans can rap, I did it for the love of the music,” said Shimura. “If people want to look at me as an inspiration or as a role model, then that makes me feel good.”
He has sold over 200,000 records and in 2004, his song “Callin’ Out” received strong airplay at Live 105, an alternative/rock station not known for playing hip hop.
“As soon as I realized I wanted to go into music and that I wasn’t going to be signed on by a major record label, I created my own label [Quannum Projects] and I don’t think I would have been successful if I didn’t do this,” said Shimura. “To succeed in the music industry or anything in life, you have to be prepared to not go the conventional route, to not have a defeatist attitude, and be resourceful. I’m living proof that anything is possible.”
Shimura was born in Japan in 1972, to a Japanese father and Italian mother. They moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, when he was two years old, and three years later, they moved to Berkeley, Calif., where Shimura discovered hip hop.
“Hip hop really inspired me and motivated me to become a performer,” he said. “My parents were very supportive when I told them I wanted to go into music, my father was a writer so he understood. From my father, I definitely learned about the lifestyle and amount of work and dedication it takes to do something creative because having an artistic career is very time-consuming.”
Shimura began his career in college as a DJ at the UC Davis radio station, KDVS.
While at KDVS, Shimura met his future wife, Filipina singer Joyo Velarde who is on the Quannum Projects label he co-founded.
“Because we’re both in the same profession, we’re able to support each other in a way I think it would be a challenge for other couples,” said Shimura. “I couldn’t do it without her.”
Shimura has made frequent trips to Japan over the years, but was never able to pick up the language.
“I really regret not being able to speak Japanese, I took lessons throughout my life, but kind of lost it,” Shimura said. “I might have entertained the idea of rapping in Japanese a few times, but now I can’t say it’s one of my future aspirations, I’m more focused on doing it well in English.”
His next release, Overnight Encore, is a live concert album that will come out on Oct. 31.
By: Angela Pang, Oct 20, 2006
One look at Lyrics Born aka Tom Shimura and if it’s not his strong, fascinating face, it’s his deep, sultry voice that will stop you in your tracks.
This half Japanese and half Italian rapper has successfully broke out of the underground hip-hop scene, and in the last five years established himself as a well-respected artist with his music featured in Diet Coke, Motorola, Tower Records and Vans commercials.
Shimura performs in over 100 shows a year and will be performing at the Independent in San Francisco on Oct. 20-21.
“When I decided to go into hip hop it wasn’t to prove to anybody that Asian Americans can rap, I did it for the love of the music,” said Shimura. “If people want to look at me as an inspiration or as a role model, then that makes me feel good.”
He has sold over 200,000 records and in 2004, his song “Callin’ Out” received strong airplay at Live 105, an alternative/rock station not known for playing hip hop.
“As soon as I realized I wanted to go into music and that I wasn’t going to be signed on by a major record label, I created my own label [Quannum Projects] and I don’t think I would have been successful if I didn’t do this,” said Shimura. “To succeed in the music industry or anything in life, you have to be prepared to not go the conventional route, to not have a defeatist attitude, and be resourceful. I’m living proof that anything is possible.”
Shimura was born in Japan in 1972, to a Japanese father and Italian mother. They moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, when he was two years old, and three years later, they moved to Berkeley, Calif., where Shimura discovered hip hop.
“Hip hop really inspired me and motivated me to become a performer,” he said. “My parents were very supportive when I told them I wanted to go into music, my father was a writer so he understood. From my father, I definitely learned about the lifestyle and amount of work and dedication it takes to do something creative because having an artistic career is very time-consuming.”
Shimura began his career in college as a DJ at the UC Davis radio station, KDVS.
While at KDVS, Shimura met his future wife, Filipina singer Joyo Velarde who is on the Quannum Projects label he co-founded.
“Because we’re both in the same profession, we’re able to support each other in a way I think it would be a challenge for other couples,” said Shimura. “I couldn’t do it without her.”
Shimura has made frequent trips to Japan over the years, but was never able to pick up the language.
“I really regret not being able to speak Japanese, I took lessons throughout my life, but kind of lost it,” Shimura said. “I might have entertained the idea of rapping in Japanese a few times, but now I can’t say it’s one of my future aspirations, I’m more focused on doing it well in English.”
His next release, Overnight Encore, is a live concert album that will come out on Oct. 31.