Published
Thu, May 6, 2004, 08:31
Lyrics Born aka Tom Shimura is part of the Quannum collective, a group of five plus diverse members that includes Lateef the Truth Speaker, Gift of Gab, DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel and others. He is a Japanese rapper, thus the background for his previous recording alias Asia Born, who met his Quannum colleagues while at the University of California, Davis, in the early nineties.
Lyrics Born was last in Australia as part of the celebrated hip-hop act Latyrx, which he formed with Lateef The Truthspeaker. In 2003, Lyrics Born released his debut solo album "Later That Day", featuring his vocals with a 70's disco/funk production style. The album is regarded as somewhat of a concept album since it tells a story about one typical day in his life. It has been featured as a Triple J album of the week, and includes guest appearances from Blackalicious, Cut Chemist, Lateef and more, and is in stores now.
You can catch Lyrics Born in Melbourne on Sunday 13 June (Queens Birthday long weekend) at the Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom, where he will be joined onstage by Joyo Velarde who provided the female vocals on “Later That Day”, and turntablist DJ D-Styles. Its time to check the man who is revitalising hip hop!