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Lyrics Born is a half-Japanese American, half-Italian American rapper. He is one half of the group Latyrx with Lateef the Truthspeaker.

Through his childhood, he lived in Tokyo, Japan, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Berkeley, California, although he moved to Tampa, Florida for four years to attend Henry B. Plant High School. He began his hip hop career while at college at University of California, Davis, where he was a DJ at the college station KDVS. He is a founding member of the seminal independent record label Quannum Projects. Born came up with fellow Bay Area and UC Davis companions Lateef, Gift of Gab, and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, and Jeff Chang (formerly known as DJ Zen).

In 1993, Lyrics Born released his first single “Send Them”, under the moniker “Asia Born”, on the independent record label Solesides, which he co-founded.

Tom Shimura changed his stage name from Asia Born to Lyrics Born in 1995 citing the desire to have his career based on his merits as opposed to his race.

Lyrics Born released his first solo LP, Later That Day, in October 2003, which spawned the hit single, “Callin’ Out.” The album featured guests such as DJ Shadow, Gift of Gab, and his wife Joyo Velarde. In April 2005, he released his second album, Same !@#$ Different Day which was released on his own Quannum Projects label. The album features remixes of five songs from Later That Day along with a number of new tracks which feature guests such as Bay Area legend E-40, KRS-One, Stereo MCs, Casual of Hieroglyphics, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, and Joyo Velarde. Also in 2005, Born released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season One CD, which was essentially an old-school mix tape with remixes and blends of his studio albums and appearances on other songs in addition to new songs.
In 2006 he released The Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season Two CD mixed by DJ Enki.

He has toured relentlessly for years in North America, South America, Australia, Europe and Japan and averages 150 shows per year.

Early in 2005, Lyrics Born replaced his usual DJ, D-Sharp with a live band. The original band consisted of versed Bay Area musicians Kevin Choice (keys, vox), B’nai Rebelfront (guitar, vox), Darius Minaee (drums) and Uriah Duffy (bass, vox).

The live album Overnite Encore: Lyrics Born LIVE was released on October 31, 2006. It was recorded in Australia and features half of the album from Sydney and the other half from Melbourne. The album is a live set featuring his backing band, as well as three new studio tracks including the hit song “Knock Knock”. The album received a 3.5 out of 5 star review in Rolling Stone magazine and featured artists such as Mistah F.A.B., Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Pigeon John and Tim “Herb” Alexander of Primus.

LB recently released his third mixtape, “The Lyrics Born Variety Show Season Three”, which features many notable hip-hop icons such as Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, The Gift of Gab, Lateef The Truthspeaker, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Pigeon John. The album was released as a limited edition download available only on his website for only $1.99. This mixtape also features exclusive tracks from his then upcoming new album, “Everywhere At Once”, as well as previously unreleased studio tracks.
Lyrics Born released his 3rd studio album, “Everywhere at Once” on April 22nd, 2008 on Epitaph/Anti- Records. The album is the first studio release to feature members of his live band and also features Chali 2na, Joyo Velarde and hip-hop producers Jake One and Trackademicks.

The album has spawned a new video for the hit single, “I Like It, I Love It” which features the MC in various character costumes including Merlin the Wizard, Army Soldiers, Mr. T and more. The video was directed by Neon.