When I last heard Lyrics Born, it was for the song “Callin’ Out“. It was a very catchy song and omnipresent on local radio stations. It got licensed to various commercials, including Diet Coke and Motorola. To be honest, the song struck me as a one-hit wonder. Never heard much of him until now…
On April 22, Lyrics Born just released his new hip-hop album, Everywhere at Once. Never knew he was signed to Anti-, the Epitaph Records subsidiary. Epitaph Records, if you don’t know, is the world’s preeminent punk label. This record will change his life and jack up his profile in the music world. It’s been getting rave reviews from influential taste-makers like Pitchforkmedia and Billboard. I listened to some of it and I have to agree. How good is it? My neighbors downstairs came up to tell me to keep it down. They must not have appreciated my stompin’ and clappin’ to “I like it I love it“. What really wigged them out was that I like dancing naked. I’m a one man party and you’re invited.
The album represents a new change of direction. He’s replaced his samples with live instrumentation and produced a very funk-heavy sound. Very danceable and ready for your summertime bbq parties. Or late night booty calls. Uhhh, na naa na na.
Read Lyrics’ background and be enthralled. Lyrics Born, aka Tom Shimura, was born in Tokyo. A combination of Japanese and Italian heritage, he spent time in Tokyo, Utah and Florida. He now makes his residence in the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout it all, he’s plied his trade in hip-hop and gradually raised his visibility. From Tokyo to UC Davis and onwards towards international stardom, he’s showing you that there are no barriers. Just a normal guy who sat next to you in anthropology class ready to take over the world of entertainment. Lyrics will tour across the nation these next few months. So please, do yourself a favor and catch his show. And now, I’m off to Target to get the album. $9.99 babbyy!
Lyrics Born performs “I like it I love it” on Jimmy Kimmel
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards took place yesterday at UCLA’s Royce Hall. After scanning over the winners, nominees and performers, I was rather surprised. This past year, many Asian artists produced a lot of great films and shows. Too bad Asians have to make up their own awards show just to get recognized. Soon, Hollywood will wake up.
Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars) and Bobby Lee (MADtv) hosted this year’s presentation. Performers included Jabbawockeez (yea!), Kaba Modern (yea!) and Roscoe Umali (yea, i’ve never heard of him either). Special awards were given to Steve Chen of Youtube (Pioneer Award) and Kristi Yamaguchi (Inspiration Award). Just so they didn’t take themselves too seriously, Rob Schneider received the “Half Asian” award.
Meanwhile, presenters and attendees ran the gamut from Quentin Tarantino to Steven Segal to Mini Me. Holy moly! This show just might be worth watching. Bobby Lee is a loose cannon who can be pretty funny at times. Luckily, E! Entertainment broadcasts the show on May 1st at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and it will also be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7th. So, set your tivos!
Bai Ling, attendee, performs her awards show rain dance
Put your fly gear on, get your nails did and make sure you look good. Se7en is coming to LA. Twice! Yesterday, he appeared at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards. Se7en handed out the award for outstanding film actor. He didn’t talk much. Actually, he didn’t say anything. Strange because his English is fine.
Also, on May 2nd, he’ll perform at Highlands in Los Angeles. Opening up will be Three 6 Mafia and Far East Movement. Never heard of Far East Movement until now, but check out their song ‘Satisfaction’. It’ll make you want to jump up and shake what yo mama gave you. The guest list for Se7en’s appearance looks pretty stellar. John Singleton’s on it. Maybe he can open some doors for Se7en.
One week later on May 9th, Rain will be in LA to promote Speed Racer. Too bad they couldn’t be here the same day. I want to see them cross paths, stare each other down and answer the question: Who is the greatest Korean pop star?
Visionshock will present Se7en’s appearance at Highlands. They’ll also put on Alex Lynn’s Birthday Bash this Friday also at Highlands. Who’s Alex Lynn you ask? I have NO clue, but there’s semi-naked women on the flyer, so it’s sure to be exciting.
I want to visit the MTV studios and investigate. Do they really have network execs there who try to be creative? Or do they have monkeys come in and point to pictures on the wall. “Good Bobo! I think another season of “Parental Control” is a splendid idea.” I may be giving monkeys a bad name. What mammal would even want to put another season of “A Shot at Love” on the air? When the monkeys heard the news, they threw their hands in the air and just shook their heads. Some were even seen flinging poo at Tila Tequila posters. Others used MTV’s schedule for toilet paper. “The Hills”, “The Paper”, “Parental Control”, “Rock the Cradle”…mmm hmm..makes for good wiping.
Getting a show on air means nothing these days. How hard is it? Read the New York Daily News article on Tila:
One of Tequila’s potential suitors from the first season, Domenico Nesci, garnered his own MTV dating series, “That’s Amore,” which just completed its first season
It’s like a copy of copy and each successive generation gets worse. Actually, the monkeys must be secretly smiling. Soon, we will devolve back to simple lifeforms and monkeys will take our place.
Asians should take pride in the their progress within the entertainment world. Equality is here. You are free to participate in crappy ass shows and join the ranks of airheads like Lauren Conrad or Heidi Montag. Like the mysteries of Stonehenge or the paranormal, Tequila’s talent is unknown to millions around the world. Best I can tell, her talent was getting six million people to add her as a friend on Myspace. And now she’s famous. All those students at Juilliard or UCLA’s acting program must cry themselves to sleep at night.
To be fair, Tila did immigrate from Singapore and become “something”. She was able to overcome poverty and public housing. Also, staying in the entertainment game does take determination. It’s just mystifying why she wouldn’t do more with herself than this. Oh crap. I sound like my mother now.
Interesting article on fame and the Myspace generation [New York Times]
I’m noticing a subject pattern for the Talented Mr. Lee. Wedding Banquet, released in 1993, revolves around a gay Taiwanese-American man attempting to hide his sexuality from his visiting parents. Brokeback Mountain stars the doe-eyed Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger as two cowboys in love. And Hulk. Who could forget that movie. That was gay as anything. A gentle man, Bruce Banner, releases his alter ego when angered. His hidden alter ego. And who’s his alter ego? A smooth, hairless, muscle upon muscle bodybuilder type. It’s a metaphor people. It could not have been more obvious if you dressed Hulk in tight, cut-off denim shorts.
Now, Ang has signed on to direct “Taking Woodstock”, a memoir of Elliot Tiber. Elliot staged the Woodstock concert and guess what? He’s gay. The book talks about his attempts to hide his homosexuality. Once again, another gay character. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Sounds like the movie centers around Elliot and the cast of characters he meets. Whenever you have Ang direct, it’s worth taking notice. Even Hulk had its redeeming qualities, though it will be measured against the upcoming The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton. On a side note, we really need more gay superheroes. “Omigod, I cannot save the world today. Just look at this cape. It totally clashes with my boots. Robin, Robin! Come adjust my codpiece, will you dear?” Yes, more gay superheroes.
When I last heard Lyrics Born, it was for the song “Callin’ Out“. It was a very catchy song and omnipresent on local radio stations. It got licensed to various commercials, including Diet Coke and Motorola. To be honest, the song struck me as a one-hit wonder. Never heard much of him until now…
The 
