Lyrics Born - Bad Dreams

Lyrics Born (AKA Tom Shimura) has a unique approach to hip-hop. 'Later That Day' is a story, a story of everyday life and the pains of it all - the bank, telemarketers, work/bosses, relationships, and how he has has gotten to the point where he feels he doesn't have any control over his life. Sound familiar? Well, Tom does it with the deepest of hip-hop funk, the most biting of humor and lets ya know that he just wants to rock the party and forget the troubles of life. Lyrics Born is hyper-skilled and his high-density raps create introspective and amusing snapshots of his life. Although the above written paints a downer of a picture, the song's construction and cleverness keeps your head noddin' while having thoughts like, 'right there with ya man.'

He has spent some years in music - working with the likes of Lateef, DJ Shadow, The Poets Of Rhythm, Quannum MC's, and The Solesides Crew. He went solo in 1998 and spent five years in the workshop before releasing this album. It sounds like a long time to work on an album, and it is, but his efforts show in every song. He completes this little 'wearing my heart on my sleeve' trip by bringing along the talents of Lateef, The Cut Chemist, The Altered Egos and The Gift Of Gab of Blackalicous fame.

Check out this interview with him done by Hip-Hop Elements.

Bonus cut - Callin' Out