AI (singer)

AI promoting FAKE feat. Amuro Namie (2010)

AI is a bilingual R&B/Hip-Hop singer. After initial recognition in an appearance in Janet Jackson's "Go Deep" music video, she debuted with BMG, before signing with Universal's Def Jam Japan label in 2003. With numerous successful album releases, tours and media appearances, she remains an influential and popular artist, bringing a heavily American R&B-influenced sound to Japanese audiences.

Profile

• Stage Name: AI
• Real Name: Uemura Carina Ai (植村 カリーナ 愛)
• Birthday: November 2, 1981
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA, United States

Biography

AI was born on November 02, 1981 in Los Angeles, CA to a Japanese father and half-Japanese, half-Italian mother. At the age of four her father's work prompted a move to Kagoshima, Japan, where she spent her elementary school and junior high school days. In 1996, she entered the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, joining the gospel choir and training in various dance genres. In 1998, her first experience of a televised broadcast came as part of the choir in a Mary J Blige concert. In the same year, she won a competition to appear as a dancer in Janet Jackson's promotional video "Go Deep". After a short stint in an Asian female group SX4, she was offered a record deal with BMG and returned to Japan to make her major label debut.

Her debut single "Cry, just Cry" (released on November 22, 2000) was followed up with two singles and the album "my name is AI". However, poor sales resulted in a transfer to Def Jam Japan, where she became the label's first female artist.

The first album with Def Jam, "ORIGINAL A.I.", reached #15 on the Oricon charts. Sold-out tour runs and the release of two albums in 2004 marked an increase in AI's popularity. Significant success then came with the single "Story" in May 2005, with the song reaching #8 on the Oricon ranking charts and selling 300,000 copies. The next album "MIC-A-HOLIC A.I." had sales in excess of 500,000 copies.

"Believe" was released on April 19, 2006 as a tie-in to the Team Medical Dragon drama, continuing a run of good sales. Later in the year, What's goin' on A.I." ranked at #2 on album sales charts and led to her first auditorium tour, which spawned a live album and DVD in March 2007. Further commercial tie-ins ("I'll Remember You" - Audio-Technica, "BRAND NEW DAY" - JAL, "ONE" - Team Medical Dragon 2), appearances at high-profile music festivals (Rock in Japan 2007, Summer Sonic '07) and the release of the "DON'T STOP A.I." album rounded off 2007.

From February to June 2008, AI's largest tour to date included 32 shows across Japan, playing to audiences up to 100,000 as well as appearances in Los Angeles. Her most recent album "VIVA A.I." was released on March 04, 2009.

Discography

Albums

• [2001.11.02] my name is AI
• [2003.07.23] ORIGINAL A.I.
• [2004.05.27] 2004 A.I.
• [2005.07.06] MIC-A-HOLIC A.I.
• [2006.09.27] What's goin' on A.I.
• [2007.12.05] DON'T STOP A.I.
• [2009.03.04] VIVA A.I.
• [2010.12.01] THE LAST A.I.

Other Albums

• [2004.09.08] FLASHBACK TO A.I. (Best Album)
• [2004.12.01] FEAT. A.I. (Featuring Album)
• [2007.03.07] LIVE A.I. (Live Album)
• [2009.09.16] BEST A.I. (Best Album)

Singles

• [2000.11.22] Cry, just Cry
• [2001.05.23] U Can Do
• [2001.09.05] Shining Star
• [2003.01.28] Saishuu Senkoku (最終宣告)
• [2003.06.25] Thank U
• [2003.10.15] My friend / Senjou no Merry Christmas (戦場のメリークリスマス)
• [2004.03.03] After The Rain
• [2004.04.16] E.O.
• [2004.08.04] WATCH OUT! feat.AFRA+TUCKER
• [2005.02.09] 365 feat.DELI
• [2005.04.20] Crayon Beats
• [2005.05.18] Story
• [2006.04.19] Believe
• [2006.08.30] I Wanna Know
• [2007.07.18] I'll Remember You / BRAND NEW DAY
• [2007.11.07] ONE
• [2008.06.04] Taisetsu na Mono (大切なもの)
• [2008.09.10] Okuribito / So Special -Version AI- (おくりびと)
• [2009.02.04] YOU ARE MY STAR
• [2010.03.31] FAKE feat. Amuro Namie
• [2010.06.30] Still... feat. AK-69
• [2010.08.25] Nemurenai Machi (眠れない街)
• [2010.10.27] Stronger feat. Kato Miliyah

Digital Singles

• [2010.07.14] For my Sis+ter feat. Judith Hill -Japanese Version-

DVDs

• [2005.01.19] ZEEBRA - THE LIVE ANIMAL'03 - TOKYO'S FINEST (#7 GOLDEN MIC (REMIX) feat. KASHI DA HANDSOME, AI, Dohzi-T,Hannya)
• [2005.02.07] MACHIGAINAI
• [2006.01.18] MIC-A-HOLIC A.I. JAPAN TOUR '05
• [2007.03.28] Nippon Budokan A.I. (日本武道館 A.I.)
• [2007.09.19] ZEEBRA - ZEEBRA Japan Tour Final The Live Animal '06 -The New Beginning- (#19 ZDo What U Gotta Do feat. AI, Amuro Namie, Mummy-D)
• [2008.01.16] ap bank fes '07 (#5 I'll Remember You, #6 Story)
• [2008.11.26] DON'T STOP A.I. Japan Tour
• [2010.06.30] VIVA A.I. JAPAN TOUR

Compilations / Other

• [2001.04.18] GROW SOUND WORKS (#8 IN RAIN AND SUNSHINE (DJ SOMA GROW SOUND MIX))
• [2002.03.20] Heartsdales - Radioactive (#8 Baby Shine feat. AI)
• [2001.11.21] Denda Mao - ONE LAST KISS (#1 ONE LAST KISS feat. AI)
• [2002.10.23] SPHERE of INFLUENCE - LUV YA (#1 LUV YA feat. AI)
• [2003.02.05] SUITE CHIC - "Uh Uh,,,,,," / Baby Be Mine (#1 "Uh Uh,,,,,," feat. AI)
• [2003.03.26] SUITE CHIC - WHEN POP HITS THE LAB (#9 "Uh Uh......" feat. AI ～REMIX feat. BIGZAM & P.H.～)
• [2003.07.30] DOUBLE - Rollin' on (#2 Rollin' on remix feat.AI(Remixed by DJ MASTERKEY))
• [2003.08.20] 51-GOICHI- - 51st DIMESION : THE YANG (#2 Fatal Attraction feat. AI)
• [2003.09.18] ZEEBRA - TOKYO'S FINEST (#13 GOLDEN MIC (REMIX) feat. KASHI DA HANDSOME, AI, Dohzi-T,Hannya)
• [2003.09.25] Heartsdales - Sugar Shine (#16 Baby Shine feat. AI (Deckstream REMIX))
• [2003.11.19] DOUBLE - Wonderful (#12 My☆Friend L'arpege Noir Mix with AI)
• [2003.11.19] GICODE - E.D.O.C.I.G. (#6 JONAN音頭 feat. AI & Def Tech)
• [2003.12.03] MICHICO - GOLD DIGGA (#1 GOLD DIGGA feat. AI)
• [2003.12.10] VOICE OF LOVE POSSE - VOICE OF LOVE～上を向いて歩こう
• [2004.01.21] QUEENS - THE MOST BRILLIANT WOMEN (#6 Thank U)
• [2004.01.28] DOUBLE - too Wonderful (#10 Rollin' on remix feat. AI, #11 My Friend with AI （R. Yamaki Remix）)
• [2004.02.25] Heartsdales - Heart Attack! - The Remixies & Video Clips (#3 Baby Shine feat. AI (Deckstream REMIX))
• [2004.03.03] Rhythm & Babe (#1 Killing Me Softly with his Song)
• [2004.04.07] KAMINARI-KAZOKU. - 330 more answer no question (#6 THUNDER BREAK BEATS feat. AI, HAB I SCREAM, DABO)
• [2004.04.07] MICHICO - O.P.D. (#2 GOLD DIGGA featuring AI DJ HAZIME REMIX)
• [2004.05.26] m-flo - Astromantic (#3 STARSTRUCK ～ The Return of the LuvBytes feat. AI & Hinouchi Emi & Rum (Heartsdales))
• [2004.06.23] DJ WATARAI - ia presents HARLEM MIX SHOW Mixed by DJ WATARAI (#4 Welcome 2 Da Party feat. HI-D, AI)
• [2004.08.04] BOY-KEN - EVERYTHIN' IS EVERYTHIN' (#3 エンジェル feat. AI)
• [2004.09.15] [[m-flo] - ASTROMANTIC CHARM SCHOOL (#6 STARSTRUCK -Sakai, Asuka Savannh Remix)
• [2004.11.24] UZI - No. 9 (#5 HOT SPOT feat. AI)
• [2005.01.26] DJ MASTERKEY - DADDY'S HOUSE Vol.3 (#3 DON'T GET IT TWISTED feat. CHRIS & AI)
• [2005.03.24] JHETT a.k.a. YAKKO for AQUARIUS - JHETT (#13 Uh Uh......" feat. AI / SUITE CHIC" Ver. 2K5)
• [2005.07.27] DJ HIRAKATSU - ON MY BLOCK (#17 Alive)
• [2005.09.07) Tokyo Engi -TKO HIP HOP- Original Soundtrack
• [2005.09.07] DELI - TIME 4 SOME ACTION (#6 TELL ME feat．Hannya, 565, AI)
• [2005.10.05] DELI - 24 (#17 TELL ME feat．Hannya, 565, AI)
• [2005.10.19] DJ KAORI - DJ Kaori's Inmix (#25 LAST WORDS feat. Joe Budden)
• [2005.10.26] Zettai Kyoufu New Generation Thriller Series Soundtrack (#2 QUEEN)
• [2005.10.26] DJ MASTERKEY - DADDY'S HOUSE BEST (#2 HOLIDAY feat. CHRIS)
• [2006.02.15] ZEEBRA - The New Beginning (#15 Do What U Gotta Do feat. AI, Amuro Namie, Mummy-D)
• [2006.05.24] 嫌われ松子の歌た (#5 What Is A Life / AI & Oikawa Rin)
• [2006.06.07] THANK YOU... -SUNAO NA KIMOCHI DE- (#2 Thank You)
• [2006.06.07] DJ MASTERKEY - Adventure Of Daddy's House (#28 HOLIDAY feat. CHRIS & AI)
• [2006.08.23] DELI - Still Burnin' (#26 TELL ME feat．Hannya, 565, AI)
• [2006.09.13] Rain - Eternal Rain (#2 Oh Yeah! feat. AI)
• [2006.12.20] Heartsdales - THE LEGEND ～Final Live～ (#35 Baby Shine feat. AI)
• [2006.12.20] Rain- Rain's World (#11 Oh Yeah! feat. AI)
• [2007.01.24] DJ MASTERKEY - From The Streets (#7 Rollin' on remix feat. AI(Remixed by DJ MASTERKEY))
• [2007.03.07] KASHI DA HANDSOME - Dime Pieces (#14 GOLDEN MIC (REMIX) feat. KASHI DA HANDSOME, AI, Dohzi-T,Hannya)
• [2007.03.07] Giant Swing - Giant Swing Deli (#5 BITTER LIFE feat. AI)
• [2007.06.13] DJ MASTERKEY - From The Streets Vol. 2 (#9 "Uh Uh......" feat. AI)
• [2007.06.13] remistura / Rmixed and Compile by Liga Oriente (#3 My Friend -Liga Oriente Remix-)
• [2007.10.17] Heat Island - Songs & Tracks (#12 No Way]]
• [2007.10.24] Trey Songz - Trey Day (#15 Are You A Perfoma feat. AI)
• [2007.10.24] DJ KAORI - DJ Kaori's Japanese Mix (#2 Thank U, #8 I Wanna Know, #25 Luv Ya feat. AI)
• [2007.11.07] Ryuha-R TV Soundtrack (#11 365 feat. DELI)
• [2007.11.07] Tears -J-Pop Selection- (#4 Story)
• [2007.12.05] Ai no Uta - (#5 My Friend)
• [2008.03.26] DJ KAORI - DJ Kaori's "Ride" into the Mix Japanese Mix (#4 2 HOT feat. SPHERE of INFLUENCE)
• [2008.03.26] Girls Be Ambitious!! (#26 Love is...)
• [2008.05.28] [[DOUBLE] - THE BEST COLLABORATIONS (#6 My friend I'arpege noir mix with AI)
• [2008.06.11] Tsuchiya Anna - Crazy World feat. AI
• [2008.07.02] Koi no Uta (#7 ONE)
• [2008.07.09] Natsu Uta (#7 Summer Time)
• [2008.07.23] 20 Nen 200 Kyoku (#73 "Uh Uh......" feat. AI)
• [2008.10.29] Tsuchiya Anna - NUDY SHOW! (#3 Crazy World feat. AI)
• [2009.02.25] GICODE - HOME SWEET HOME (#1 HOME SWEET HOME with AI, JAMOSA)
• [2009.03.11] Tsuchiya Anna - Nudy Xxxremixxxxxxx!!!!!!!! Show! (#1 Crazy World (FPM Hyper Society mix))

Filmography

• [2006.04.28] Music From "Memories of Matsuko" -Kiraware Matsuko no Ongaku- Making of Kiraware Matsuko no Issho

External Links

• Official Website
• Japanese Wikipedia