Lyrics Born facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lyrics Born
Lyrics Born in Australia, 2008
Background information
Birth name	Tsutomu William Shimura
Also known as	Asia Born, Macka Dang Dang, LB
Born	(1972-09-02) September 2, 1972 (age 52) Tokyo, Japan
Origin	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative hip hop, funk
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer, producer
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Quannum Projects, Epitaph, Decon
Associated acts	Latyrx, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Blackalicious, Joyo Velarde

Tsutomu William Shimura, known to his fans as Lyrics Born, is a talented Japanese-American rapper, singer, and music producer. He was born on September 2, 1972. He is also part of a music group called Latyrx with his partner, Lateef the Truthspeaker.

Early Life and Background

Lyrics Born was born in Tokyo, Japan. His father was Japanese, and his mother was Italian. His family later moved to the United States. He grew up in places like Salt Lake City, Utah, and then Berkeley, California. He went to high school in Tampa, Florida.

Music Career Highlights

Lyrics Born started his music journey using the name Asia Born. In 1995, he changed his stage name to Lyrics Born. He wanted people to focus on his rapping skills, not his background.

His first studio album, Later That Day, came out in 2003. It was released by Quannum Projects. This album became very popular. In 2022, the magazine Rolling Stone called Later That Day one of the "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time."

Working with Latyrx

Lyrics Born often works with Lateef the Truthspeaker in their group, Latyrx. They are known for trading lyrics back and forth very quickly. This means they rap lines one after another.

Lateef explained how they write these songs. He said they often write these parts together. One person writes a line or two, then they decide who will say what. Then the other person writes a line or two. It's a very natural way of creating music.

Popular Songs and Projects

One of Lyrics Born's most famous songs is "Callin' Out." In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine listed it as one of the "100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time."

Besides making music, Lyrics Born also produces a cooking show.

Music Albums and Releases

Lyrics Born has released many albums and other music projects.

Studio Albums by Lyrics Born

• Later That Day... (2003)
• Everywhere at Once (2008)
• As U Were (2010)
• Real People (2015)
• Quite a Life (2018)
• Mobile Homies Season 1 (2022)
• Vision Board (2022)
• Goodbye, Sticky Rice (2024)

Albums with Latyrx

(Lyrics Born with Lateef the Truthspeaker)

• The Album (1997)
• The Second Album (2013)

Albums with Quannum MCs

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

• Quannum Spectrum (1999)

Other Music Releases

• Remix albums
  • Same ... Different Day (2005)
  • As U Were (Remixes) (2012)
• Live albums
  • Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born Live (2006)
• EPs (Extended Play records)
  • The Muzapper's Mixes (1998) (with Latyrx)
  • Bad Dreams (2005)
  • Disconnection EP (2012) (with Latyrx)
  • Rapp Nite (2019) (with Cutso)
• Mixtapes
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season One (2005)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Two (2006)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three (2008)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Pho (2009)
  • Latyrical Madness, Vol. 1 (2011) (with Latyrx)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Five: On the Floor (2012)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Six (2014)
  • Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Seven (2016)
• Compilation albums
  • "Now Look What You've Done, Lyrics Born!" – Greatest Hits! (2016)

Singles

• "Send Them" (1993)
• "Latyrx" (1995)
• "Burnt Pride" (1996)
• "Balcony Beach" (1996)
• "Lady Don't Tek No" (1998) (with Latyrx)
• "I Changed My Mind" (1999)
• "Hello" b/w "One Session" (2003)
• "Callin' Out" (2003)
• "Callin' Out Remix" b/w "Do That There Remix" (2004)
• "I'm Just Raw" b/w "Pack Up Remix" (2005)
• "Big Money Talk" (2006)
• "I Like It, I Love It" (2008)
• "Differences" (2008)
• "Top Shelf" (2008)
• "Hott 2 Deff" (2008)
• "Whispers" (2008)
• "Funky Hit Records" (2009)
• "Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart" (2009)
• "Oh Baby" (2009)
• "Lies X 3" (2010)
• "Diamond Door" (2022)
• "Heaven and Armageddon" (2023)

Other Contributions

Lyrics Born has also appeared as a guest on other artists' songs and produced tracks for them.

• Guest appearances
  • Blackalicious – "Deep in the Jungle" from Melodica (1994)
  • Blackalicious – "Release" from Blazing Arrow (2002)
  • Diverse – "Explosive" from One A.M. (2003)
  • Tommy Guerrero – "Gettin' It Together" from Soul Food Taqueria (2003)
  • Lifesavas – "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 – "The Get Down" from Shifting Gears (2005)
  • The Mighty Underdogs – "Ill Vacation" from Droppin' Science Fiction (2008)
  • Joyo Velarde – "Strong Possibility" from Love & Understanding (2010)
  • Lateef the Truthspeaker – "Hardship Enterprise" from Firewire (2011)
  • Suburban Legends – "Can't Stop It" from Day Job (2012)
  • Lotus – "Cannon in the Heavens" from Monks (2013)

• Production credits
  • Blackalicious – "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)