Trailblazing emcee, producer and Bay Area legend Lyrics Born has always had great taste in collaborators. Perhaps best known for the hit 2003 single “Callin Out,” the Japanese-born hip-hop head has worked with DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Lateef the Truthspeaker and many others over the course of his 25-year career. His latest choice collaboration comes in the form of Rapp Nite, which he made with celebrated San Jose spinner DJ Paolo “Cutso” Bello. The final installment of San Jose Jazz’s “Do You Know San Jose?” concert series will kick off this year’s Pow! Wow! public art festival.

Lyrics Born & Cutso
Sat, 7pm, Free
320 S 1st St, San Jose

Tom Shimura apologizes for losing the thread as he weaves through heavy traffic. The 46-year-old rapper and producer is speaking over his car’s Bluetooth speaker system. It’s Pride weekend, and he’s just trying to knock out this interview on the way to his next engagement.

“It’s been a busy couple of years,” the man better known as Lyrics Born says.

Indeed. Last year, the East Bay emcee reissued two albums from his back catalog—2003’s Later That Day and a 20-year anniversary deluxe edition of The Muzapper Mixes, which he recorded as one half of Latyrx, a collaboration with Lateef the Truthspeaker.

In 2018, LB also released his fifth LP as a solo artist, Quite A Life. That same year saw the theatrical release of Boots Riley’s fantastical and comedic social commentary film, Sorry To Bother You. The movie, which garnered critical acclaim, was based and filmed in Oakland. Shimura had a small part.

Then there’s all the voice acting—one of many entertainment industry side hustles he has picked up over the years. “I work incredibly hard,” Lyrics Born says. In a region that’s as hard on creatives as the Bay Area, he has to. And he’s not the only one.

Lyrics Born dropped his latest effort, Rapp Nite, just last week. It is a collaboration with San Jose’s very own Paolo Bello, a.k.a. Cutso, who also knows a thing or two about putting in work.

Known for his prowess on the decks and behind the boards, Cutso is an integral member of local DJ and production crew The Bangerz. He’s been spinning at house parties and clubs for 20 years; he serves as one of three co-hosts on Wild 94.9’s weekly Rebel Pop Radio program; and over the past decade he has accumulated an arsenal of beats that he has only recently begun to unleash in the form of solo projects, such as 2017’s three-track Girls EP When They See Me.

Rapp Nite stands as a testament to the depth of both artists. For Lyrics Born, the set demonstrates his ability and his desire to step out of his comfort zone. I’m always looking for ways to get outside of myself.”

For Cutso, the collection is a calling card. Even though he is pushing 40, Bello says he still feels like a tenderfoot. “This is sort of my debut as a producer, as an artist.”

Funky, eclectic and fun, Rapp Nite plays like the best kind of bender—a blur of neon synths, ecstatic drums and squiggly bass that resolves in a pile of empty premium vodka bottles, an overflowing ashtray and zero regrets… well, at least none serious enough to send one looking for the nearest group meeting.

Some of the best lines on this album are all about delivery rather than lyrical dexterity.

“I killed that scotch then refilled that scotch,” LB rhymes on “Hit Number One”—“like I’m wearing a kilt in this ’iotch.”

And the simplicity of the chorus only underscores its self-assured swagger:

“I don’t do shit that I’ve already done,” Shimura explains in his blunted croak. “Except hit number one.”

The beat struts about with the confidence of rockstar as bits of overdriven electric guitar are clipped into jagged tatters and reassembled in a fuzzy mosaic. As the track fades out, it becomes easier to hear that the steady four-count hand claps are actually percussive, muted guitar strokes. The harmonic overtones of the metal strings ring out faintly and the whooshing, heavily affected intro of “Are You Experienced” comes to mind as Cutso seamlessly merges the East Side Boyz and Jimi Hendrix.

Shimura makes a point of praising Bello’s touch, noting that Cutso carefully selected the beats on Rapp Nite to jibe with the LB vibe.

“That’s the sign of a real producer,” Shimura says. “That’s the sign of a guy who really understands music.”

Rapp Nite
Lyrics Born + Cutso
Available Now
All Streaming Services

Last May, local DJ Ichy the Killer competed in the semi-finals of the DMC online DJ battle, scoring 7th place, which was just high enough to advance him to the final round of the online portion of the competition.

The winner of the finals will advance to the DMC Word finals, where they will compete against 16 other DJs who have won the in-person DJ competition in their particular region. Voting for the online finals ends on August 27th. The 10 DJs with the most votes will go before the DMC panel of judges, who will decide who has the skills to advance to the world finals.

We sat down with Ichy the Killer and asked his about his history as a DJ, his thoughts on the art of spinning records and the new routine he’s worked out for the finals. To Vote for Ichy the Killer. go HERE.

Tell me about your history with the turntables. What was it that interested you enough to go out and buy a set of your own?

In high school I had some classes with this kid named Greg, I started hearing rumors that he was a DJ, so I started asking him stuff about it and eventually annoyed him enough that he let me come by his house and check out his gear. From the moment I saw his setup, it was on. The wall of records, the futuristic looking mixer and turntables drew me in instantly.

I’ve never had the desire to learn an instrument or be particularly good at any sport, but this was something I needed. I was obsessed.

How long have you been spinning records? How have you seen the art form change since you first started?

I’ve been DJing for 16 years, s0 I’ve seen the scene change a lot. The obvious change has been the analog to digital shift, which has changed the business model for damn near everything. It’s one of those things that won’t make a bad DJ good but can make a good DJ better. When I first started, I remember getting the question “What genre do you spin?” And there would be a plethora of obscure sub genres you would go through to try and make yourself sound original. “I spin tribal progressive deep house transient dolphin fusion music.”

I think that nowadays you have to be able to spin everything, and be able to do everything. When I think of the best DJs in our scene—like Goldenchyld, Cutso, Traps—these guys are balanced. They battle and scratch and they can kill a club full of drunken people who know nothing about the art. You cannot be a one trick pony anymore.

Who is your favorite DJ and biggest influence? How do you feel he approaches the turntables differently than anyone else?

The list really is too long for this one, partially because a lot of people that influence me aren’t DJs. Even more aren’t even musicians. Martial artist Bruce Lee taught me how to be passive when I play, baseball player Suzuki Ichiro taught me how to get in the zone when I work by creating repetition. Leonardo da Vinci teaches me how to think outside the box. My influences give me the potential to be myself when I create. I’m inspired by life, as cliché as it sounds it’s the only way I can describe it.

You DJ in bands that play lots of different musical styles: rap, metal, etc. How does the approach to spinning records differ when played in different musical genres? How has playing in different kinds of bands shaped your solo work?

Playing in bands was the best decision I’ve made to this date. Scratching is very percussive, but when I’m playing with a band I had to be a lot more melodic and it had to fit with what the other five members of the band were playing. Producing and recording songs in general really helped me in how I write my routines. I’ve kind of developed a rep as being more melodic when I scratch, which is great since I have no real musical training.

What do you think makes for a truly good solo DJ track? What is required of the DJ when playing solo that isn’t needed when playing with other musicians?

A good solo routine should sound like song. Traditional battle routines consist of scratching and beat juggling. I’ve tried to add a third element which is a melodic element, something that draws people emotionally to the routine so you can end strong and leave the people wanting more. Build up build up, and then right when you’re at the peak just stop. That’s how you get’ um.

When DJs are playing in a band it’s less about technique and more about filling the gaps. I think battle DJs have a tendency to want to constantly solo, but no one’s trying to listen to a DJ in a band solo for 45 minutes.

What new ideas have you got planned for the second DMC round to really up the ante and make it to the London competition?

I feel like my first round was strong but didn’t represent my style as well as would have liked. I use a Skrillex track for my routine. There are a lot of DJs that use all dubstep in their routines and I think I might have came off to the judges as a guy that jumps on trends. The routine had good beat juggling and melodic elements, but I didn’t scratch as much as I should of.

My second round has a lot more scratching in it because I think that’s my strongest element and it’s a side of me the judges haven’t seen yet. My big ender is a cover I do of Masta Ace’s track “Born to Roll.” I’m really proud of that piece and think it’s a pretty original concept, hopefully the judges feel the same.

What do you think sets you apart from your competition?

I think I’m a better producer than most battle DJs. I have more experience writing tracks, and that carries over into my routines. Also I’m the first person to criticize myself, I am always looking for ways to improve my style. I’ve come a long way but I know that there is tons of room for improvement and that’s comforting to me. I’m glad that I can be doing something for 16 years and still not be able to call myself a master. I can’t say I know where I’m going, but I can say I’m going to try new things, some will be good, others will suck, but It’ll be my journey and I am proud of that.

Ichy the Killer performs at Johnny V’s on Tuesday, August 21st.

It’s been 15 years since Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker recorded together as Latryx. But after performing on each other’s solo releases, they’re back in the studio for a new Latryx album, and they’ve signed on the South Bay’s most successful hip-hop crew the Bangerz to produce some of the tracks. Latryx will also be taking a break from recording to perform at the Pagoda in San Jose on April 28, with the Bangerz’s Paolo “Cutso” Bello opening with his first-ever solo performance.

The collaboration isn’t too surprising when you consider how many connections there were between the East Bay duo and the Bangerz. Some were more abstract, like DJ Mike Wong, aka Mike Relm. He has toured with both Lyrics Born and Lateef, and also directed the video for the Bangerz’s song “Devastating Stereo,” which featured the Jabbawockeez dance crew. It was their collaboration with the Jabbawockeez, of course, that originally got the Bangerz national attention, on the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew.

But the Bangerz also know Lyrics Born and Lateef from the Bay Area scene, and have opened for them. It got to the point, Bello tells me, where “Me and Lyrics Born made a connection after running into each other hundreds of times.”

Bello has been the main liaison for the Bangerz in the studio, recording and working on arrangements with Latryx, and then getting feedback and ideas from Dominic “Goldenchyld” Cueto and the rest of the tight-knit group. Bello says Latryx have been easy to work with and very open-minded (“it was like homies hanging out in the studio”), but everyone knows that a high bar was set by the group’s groundbreaking 1997 debut.

“I try to really get crazy with them, because we have a lot to live up to,” he says.

Metro Newspaper’s Best of 2012 issue hit new stands today, highlighting a variety of local talent selected online by readers. From cutting-edge DJs, to old-school blues and cover bands, this is the best of Silicon Valley.

READER’S PICKS

Best Local Cover Band
The Peelers
Considering how long it’s been automatic for DJs, it’s remarkable how long it took cover bands to catch on to the mash-up concept. The Peelers were, in fact, the first ones we heard doing it, and according to our readers, they’re still the best. Whether it’s layering T.I. raps over Tim McGraw or sliding from ’80s pop to hip-hop, the Peelers are monster mashers.
Runners-up:
Joe Sharino
Sage

Best Local Original Band
JC Smith Band
It’s about time one of the South Bay’s most talented bluesmen got his due. What’s led to his jump in popularity all of a sudden? We’d be willing to bet it’s Smith’s profile-raising stint as leader of the all-star blues band that grew out of the Metro Fountain Blues Festival. Whether it is his fellow blues artists who sign on to play with him or the fans who vaulted him to the top of this category, the South Bay loves the group.
Runners-up:
Whiskey Avengers
Anya & the Get Down

Best Singer/Songwriter
Anya
Anya Kvitka’s rise in the South Bay scene has been a perfect storm. Her vocal gifts went fully operational at the same time she came into her own as a songwriter, brought together a killer band for Anya and the Get Down, and found the support of some of the most influential people in the hip-hop scene. The songs she has been working on for her album show her new level of confidence, projecting her voice across genre boundaries and creating a sound that’s both classic and electro-futuro.
Runners-up:
Ben Henderson
Justin Morales

On Saturday March 10th, Black & Brown, San Jose’s finest purveyor of thrift store couture will celebrate its seventh anniversary with a spring fashion show titled “Seven’s Bloom.” In anticipation of the evening’s fête de fashion, they’ve released a sleek promo featuring model/musician Biljana Markovski doing her best Guy Bourdin impressions.

The video was directed by Gordon De Los Santos, shot by Jeremy Castillo, and features the futuristic hip-hop of local producer Joob.

More info.