Monkey King (Taisuke Yamamoto)
Monkey King | |
|---|---|
| File:TaisukeYamamoto.jpeg Yamamoto at 2010 performance in Singapore | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Taisuke Yamamoto |
| Also known as | Monkey King |
| Born | October 19, 1986 Surrey, U.K. |
| Genres | Rap |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | 1OR8FACTION |
| Website | 1or8faction.com |
Taisuke Yamamoto (born October 19, 1986), better known by his stage name ‘Taisuke’ ‘Yama’ Monkey King,[1] is a rapper, CEO and entrepreneur based in Tokyo. He has released several albums, four street mixtapes and several singles, as well as download releases and videos. He has managed over 20 urban artists to date, including Sri Lankan pop star ‘Dawn Jay’[2] and Singaporean rapper ‘Kwizyne’.[3]
Taisuke was born in the United Kingdom but is a Japanese national and now resides in Hong Kong. The name Monkey King comes from the classic Chinese tale Journey To The West.[4]
Early life[edit]
Taisuke was born in Surrey, United Kingdom and moved to Düsseldorf, Germany and Tokyo, Singapore, and is currently residing in Hong Kong.
Taisuke earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from PSB Academy in Singapore and worked as a TV producer and journalist before his music career.
Musical career[edit]
Taisuke began rapping at age 13 and at 17 began selling CDs he produced to people in the streets of Japan.[5] He has also performed under the name MC Yama with bilingual rap crews 4corners and Sky-Fu.[6]
He went on to perform regularly in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Yokohama and also at the Asian Hip Hop Festival in Bangkok. In Singapore,[7] Taisuke is a veteran performer at nightlife venues such as Butter Factory, Home Club, Helipad, and Zirca, and also as an event host for brands such as Lacoste Live,[8] Maybelline, Audi fashion show, and J-Runway.
Taisuke released “We Gonna Get There,” his first single under the name Monkey King, in July 2009, and released the All Or Nothing EP in 2010. He released his full album ‘The Day Before The Decade’[9] in 2011 with singles such as ‘Hai’[10]‘Orient Express’ and ‘Intro’, and followed up with his EP ‘The Vaults’[11] in 2012. In 2013 he released songs with label-mate ‘Kwizyne’[12]
Taisuke is also a songwriter, producer, and manager and a CEO of Faction Entertainment ‘1or8faction’.
Musical influences[edit]
Taisuke has cited DMX and Ice Cube as major influences on his work. He has also mentioned Run-D.M.C., Eminem and Jay-Z as important artists as well.[13]
Record label & business[edit]
Taisuke’s record label 1OR8FACTION was founded to promote Singapore Hip-Hop and Singapore urban attire.[14] 1OR8FACTION also promotes artists from Sri Lanka, Korea and The Philippines.[15]
Taisuke was named “Most Street-Smart Bachelor” in the Cleo Bachelor Awards 2010 Singapore.[16] and also represented street brands such as ‘ATZU’.[17]
Taisuke is also an entrepreneur in the technology industry, having been a social media marketer and business manager[18] of start-up company ‘Media Pop’[19] in Singapore[20] and Hong Kong. He is known for social media strategy, and for publishing articles[21] related to digital marketing, and is currently Director of start-up company 'Geezerbuild' based in Singapore. [22]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Monkey King" Retrieved 06 May 2013 "Monkey King notes" Retrieved 06 May 2013 "Monkey King Bio" Retrieved 08 May 2013
- ↑ "Dawn Jay's Biography" Retrieved 03 May 2013
- ↑ "Kwizyne's Website" Retrieved 03 May 2013
- ↑ "Who Is The Monkey King? - Shot Entirely In Singapore - Globetrotter Official Video." aussiepete.com Retrieved 30 December 2010
- ↑ "Rapper 'Monkey King' Releases Smash Debut Single In Asia" top40-charts.com 2009-5-28. Retrieved 31 December 2010
- ↑ wavehousesentosa.com
- ↑ Shows in Singapore [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ Shows at Lacoste Live Singapore [15][16][17][18][19][20] Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ "The Day Before The Decade" Retrieved 07 May 2013 "The Day Before The Decade" at Amazon.com Retrieved 08 May 2013 "Monkey King Discography at MTV.com" Retrieved 08 May 2013
- ↑ "'Hai' from the album The Day Before The Decade" Retrieved 08 May 2013
- ↑ "Monkey King EP 'The Vaults'"[21] [22] [23] [24] Retrieved 08 May 2013 "Monkey King EP 'The Vaults'" at Amazon.com Retrieved 03 May 2013
- ↑ "Kwizyne and 1OR8RFACTION" Retrieved 03 May 2013 "Reveals new work with 1OR8RFACTION: VAGABOND album" Retrieved 03 May 2013
- ↑ "Interview: Monkey King (1or8 Faction)" Retrieved 26 April 2011
- ↑ linkedin.com
- ↑ "Hip Hop in Singapore Has Promise" spacetoparty.com 2010-10-8. Retrieved 31 December 2010
- ↑ Jaynes, Amanda (1 April 2010). "Bachelors' Night" citynews.sg Retrieved 31 December 2010
- ↑ "Interview - "I am ATZU" black label 3 - Taisuke Yamamoto A.K.A. Monkey King" Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ "Taisuke's profile at 'Media Pop'" Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ "Media Pop" Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ "Business directory for 'Media Pop'" Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ "Taisuke Yamamoto's article on Social Media" Retrieved 06 May 2013
- ↑ Grid, Founders. "Launching a Digital Development Startup in Singapore with Taisuke Yamamoto, Co-Founder of Geezerbuild". http://foundersgrid.com. Founders Grid. Retrieved 14 September 2014. External link in
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External links[edit]
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