After touring throughout Asia and Europe, critically acclaimed Japanese rap queen TIGARAH returns to the U.S. and is pleased to announce she has inked a deal with Universal Records Japan for her debut album to be released in Spring 2008. Gearing up for the promotion of the album’s first single “Roppongi-Dori”—a culturally inspired song titled after a major street in Tokyo—the Japanese queen is scheduled for several promo activities in America. This includes a video shoot as well as a special engagement at The Highlands Thursday, October 18, marking her first appearance in Los Angeles in over a year. In addition, TIGARAH’S single "Color, Culture, Money, Beauty" will be featured in the upcoming EA game Fifa 2008.
TIGARAH is a female MC who raps in Japanese and English. Heralded as a pioneer in international rap, her songs--produced with production partner MR. D--are inspired by many different styles found around the globe: electro, baile funk, Baltimore club, pop and hip-hop, topped with her clever rhymes covering such topics as culture clash, fake people and defending your own style, all elements of creativity from a self-confident woman.
After contemplating a career as a politician or ambassador, TIGARAH felt she could speak her mind best if she made music her life. Shortly after majoring in political science at Tokyo's renowned Keio University, she started writing songs on her own in her tiny room in Tokyo, inspired by the baile funk music from Brazil. With several trips to Sao Paulo and Rio, TIGARAH immersed herself in Brazilian culture and recorded music together with various musicians including LA-based producer MR.D who was on tour in South America at the time. Since 2003, TIGARAH and MR. D have been recording tracks together. Expect their new material to transcend cultural boundaries.
TIGARAH’s 2006 seven-song EP garnered great notice in the press:
“…Tigarah has something more interesting than copycat tricks…”
---DAZED & CONFUSED (U.K.)
“Imagine Gwen Stefani, Anglo-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., Hellos Kitty and crunk stalwart Lil’ Jon put through a distinctly J-pop immersion blender and you’ll come close to understanding Tigarah’s signature sound—rapped in Japanese, of course.”
---LOS ANGELES TIMES
“Beautiful and surprisingly mean on the mic: Meet the world’s first Japanese-rap-baile-funk-crunk star.”
---BLENDER
“With her global musical brew sprinkled with socially conscious lyrics, Tigarah sees herself as the voice of a new generation of Japan’s multiculturalism.”
---URB
“Subtitles aren’t necessary to enjoy rhythmic bursts of rap when it flows this smoothly from such an attractive source. Tigarah is beyond cute and is extremely talented. The music is suitable for all ages and the lyrics stick in your head – in a good way.”
---MUSIC CONNECTION
“Like Lady Sovereign and M.I.A. before her, Tigarah is a sponge soaking up influences—baile funk, hip-hop, grime, crunk—then flipping it her way, taking aggressive ownership.”
---METRO SILICON VALLEY
“Tigarah seems poised for dancefloor domination as the outsourcing of hip hop adds more international talent to its ranks.”
---SF WEEKLY
“Mixing baile funk, grime, crunk, and good old-fashioned pop, the 24-year-old Tokyo native makes the kind of music that often doubles as foreplay.”
---THE ONION (SAN FRANCISCO)
“The Japanese are now in the running for the queen of hip hop with their girl Tigarah…Tigarah is a mix of hip-hop, rock and her own unique ability to make you nod your head. With amazing stage presence and sound that grabs at you she is the it girl.”
---SF STATION
www.tigarah.net
www.myspace.com/tigarah
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