Michael Africk | |
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Born | Boston, Massachusetts, US | August 20, 1975
Genres | |
Occupations | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
Michael Africk (born 20 August 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-platinum record producer and software entrepreneur. After signing with Disney's Hollywood Records and releasing a solo album in 1999, he toured with N'Sync and Britney Spears. [1] [2] [3] He collaborated with Mai Kuraki on several singles, including the platinum Never Gonna Give You Up . [4] Africk also collaborated with her on the album Delicious Way which debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and had the highest first week sales for a debut album in Japanese music history and sixth overall. [5] In 2011, Africk released his second studio album with Japanese record label Northern Music/Being Music. The album was co-produced by Africk and Louis Bell. [6]
Since 2006, he has founded several mobile software companies, most notably Inmoji in 2014. [7] [8]
Africk sang "Someone Like Me", the theme song for Disney's animated film Doug's 1st Movie in 1999. [1] The song was written by William Squier and Jeffrey Lodin, and featured the Boston Symphony Orchestra. [1] [9] In the same year, he released his 11-track self-titled album. [3] [10]
Africk was the opening act for N'Sync and Britney Spears, and toured in Japan. [2] [11] He composed the music for the Japanese anime series Secret of Cerulean Sand (2002). [12] "What Can I Do", his song for the final credits, features Mai Kuraki. [13]
Africk collaborated with Mai Kuraki for the song Baby Tonight, a single from the album Delicious Way. The album debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart with 2,218,640 units sold, making it the highest first week sales for a debut album in Japanese music history and sixth overall. [5] He collaborated with Kuraki on other songs, including Never Gonna Give You Up from the same album. The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). [4] He composed "Love One Another" with Kuraki for the benefit of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami victims. [14] The song, featuring his vocals, was released on his self-titled album and Kuraki's album Over the Rainbow in 2012.
In 2006, Africk started his tech career when he co-founded XLR8 Mobile. He would go on to found Dijit, Echotag, and Openboard as well. [15]
Africk founded Inmoji with Perry Tell in Boston in May 2014. [8] Inmoji is a software company offering a software development kit to messaging apps and an extension for smartphones that both create clickable icons that enable users to share their favorite brands, products, and experiences directly within the apps without leaving the message. [7] Inmoji raised $2.5 million in seed funding in 2015 and $6.5 million in Series A round in 2016. [16] [17]
Africk was named one of the 12 Top Tech Leaders To Watch In 2017 by Inc. [18]
Year | Title | Label |
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1999 | Michael Africk [10] | Hollywood Records |
2011 | Michael Africk II | Giza Studio |
Year | Title [19] | Writers | Producers | Label |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | My Heart Belongs To You (Sexified) [20] | Michael Africk, Perry Geyer, Miguel Pessoa | Hollywood Records | |
2011 | Make It Loud | Michael Africk, Louis Bell, Jordan Knight, [2] | Louis Bell [2] | Handcraft Music |
No... Yeah (featuring Sammy Adams) | Michael Africk, Sammy Adams, Matty Trump | Louis Bell | Handcraft Music - MusicBall / Souldiggaz | |
2012 | So Beautiful | Michael Africk, Louis Bell | Louis Bell, Michael Africk | Handcraft Music |
Year | Title | Label | Album |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Boyfriend | Giza | Future Kiss |
2011 | "Love One Another" (Mai Kuraki featuring Michael Africk) [21] | Handcraft Music/Cybersound Music | Over the Rainbow |
Year | Title [22] | Label | Album | Performer | Peak chart position in Japan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | "Never Gonna Give You Up" | Giza Studio | Delicious Way | Mai Kuraki (ft.) Michael Africk) | Weekly: 2 (Count Down TV), [23] 2 (Oricon) [24] Yearly: 58 (Count Down TV), [25] 59 (Oricon) [26] |
2000 | Baby Tonight | Giza Studio | Delicious Way | Mai Kuraki | |
2001 | Come on! Come On! | Giza Studio | Perfect Crime | Mai Kuraki | |
2001 | "Never Gonna Give You Up (Never Never Land Mix One)" | Giza Studio | Start in My Life | Mai Kuraki (ft.) Michael Africk) | |
2001 | Promised You | B-Gram | Toki no Tsubasa | Zard | |
2002 | What Can I Do | Giza Studio | Michael Africk | ||
2003 | Just a Little Bit | Giza Studio | If I Believe | Mai Kuraki | |
2003 | Same | Giza Studio | If I Believe | Mai Kuraki | |
2003 | Mi Corazon | Giza Studio | If I Believe | Mai Kuraki | |
2005 | Don't Cry | Madacy Records | The Fix | Jordan Knight | |
2005 | "Chocolate: Kimi no Santa ni Naritakute" | Mainichi Adventure | Sparkling Point | ||
"Winter*Swear" | Giza Studio | Growing of My Heart | Mai Kuraki | ||
2011 | "Kimi e" | Tenshi no Clover | Aimi | ||
2023 | Someone Else | Handcraft Entertainment/Virgin Music | Anna Aya |
Year | Song | Album | Director |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Never Gonna Give You Up | Delicious Way | |
2011 | "You Were Right" (live) [27] | Michael Africk II | |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Credit | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | 15th Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock Album of the Year | Delicious Way | Writer, Producer | Won |
Song of the Year | "Secret of My Heart" | Writer, Producer | Won | ||
2002 | 16th Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock Album of the Year | Perfect Crime | Writer, Producer | Won |
2003 | 17th Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock Album of the Year | Fairy Tale | Writer, Producer | Won |
2004 | 18th Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock & Pop Album of the Year | If I Believe | Writer, Producer | Won |
2005 | 19th Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock & Pop Album of the Year | Wish You the Best | Writer, Producer | Won |
Mai Kuraki is a Japanese pop and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.
"Evolution" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist and lyricist Ayumi Hamasaki, released on January 31, 2001, as the second single from her fourth studio album I Am... (2002).
The discography of Japanese singer Mai Kuraki consists of fifteen studio albums, six compilation albums, twenty-three video albums, three remix albums, fifty-six singles, and sixteen promotional singles. Kuraki debuted in 1999, while she was still in high school, through Giza Studio. The label initially marketed Kuraki in the United States under the name Mai K, and released the single "Baby I Like" (1999). However, the single was a commercial failure which prompted the label to send her back to Japan. There, they released her single "Love, Day After Tomorrow", which peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The second single, "Stay by My Side" became her first number one single on the chart. Kuraki's debut album, Delicious Way, topped the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified triple million by the RIAJ.
Delicious Way is the debut album by Japanese recording artist Mai Kuraki. It was released by Giza Studio and Giza Inc. in Japan on June 28, 2000. The album was entirely co-written by Kuraki herself, with the help of Michael Africk and Yoko Blaqstone in some tracks, while production was handled by Kanonji. The album's background and development started in mid-to-late 1999 after her American debut single "Baby I Like", where East West Records and Giza Studio sent her back to Japan. To promote the album, four singles were released; "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up".
Perfect Crime is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Mai Kuraki. It was released on July 4, 2001, by Giza Studio.
"Love, Day After Tomorrow" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki, taken as the lead single of her debut studio album Delicious Way (2000). It was released on December 8, 1999, via Giza Studio and Tent House in two physical editions: a CD single and 12-inch vinyl. The track was written by Kuraki herself, while production was handled by Kanonji. The conception of the song started after the commercial failure of her English language single "Baby I Like", which led her American label Bip! Records to send her back to Japan, and she subsequently reverted to the Japanese market.
"Stay by My Side" a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on March 15, 2000, as the second single from Kuraki's debut studio album, Delicious Way (2000). It was written by Kuraki, Aika Ohno, and the Boston-based music production team, Cybersound. It is a gospel-infused J-pop and R&B song that talks about the protagonist's dream to be with her partner as long as possible.
"Secret of My Heart" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her debut album Delicious Way (2000). It was released on April 26, 2000, and peaked at number two on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on June 7, 2000, in Japan as a CD single and as a 12" vinyl by Giza Studio, Giza Inc., and Tent House as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album, Delicious Way (2000). The track features lyrics in Japanese and English language, written by Kuraki and Michael Africk, respectively. He also served as the single's composer, backing singer and producer, alongside Kanonji, Miguel Sá Pessoa, and Perry Geyer. The CD release of the track included the B-side recording "Trying to Find My Way". Musically, "Never Gonna Give You Up" is an R&B and pop song whose lyrics delve on themes of love and relationships, a common trait on its parent album.
All My Best is the second greatest hits album by Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter, Mai Kuraki. It was released on September 9, 2009, to commemorate her tenth anniversary in the music business. The album was issued in seven formats: a regular 2CD, a limited 2CD+DVD, a limited microSD, a USB flash drive, a MiniDisc, a compact cassette and an LP album. The album debuted at the top of the Japanese Oricon weekly album chart with sales over 137,050.
"Dancing" ("ダンシング") is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki from her fifth studio album, Fuse of Love (2005). The song was written by Kuraki and her long-time collaborator, Akihito Tokunaga, and produced by Kuraki herself. The song served as Dwango's television commercial song. The single was released on 23 March 2005 through Giza Studio as the third single from Fuse of Love.
Future Kiss is the ninth studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on 17 November 2010, by Northern Music. The album was originally scheduled to be released on 20 October 2010; however, it was pushed back to 17 November 2010.
Over the Rainbow is the tenth studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on January 11, 2012, by Northern Music. Some of the songs on Over the Rainbow are themed about the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, from which Kuraki has continuously contributed to the reconstruction in several ways.
"Try Again" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her third compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on 6 February 2013 by Northern Music. The song was written by Kuraki herself and her long-time collaborator Akihito Tokunaga.
Smile is the eleventh studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. The album was released on February 15, 2017, by Northern Music. It is the follow-up to her 2014 compilation album, Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope. The album was released on three editions: standard edition, fan club edition, and limited edition, which is accompanied with a bonus disc. Smile
"Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" (渡月橋 ~君 想ふ~, Togetsu-kyō Kimi Omou, lit. "Togetsu-kyō: Think of You") is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her fourth compilation album Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru! (2017). It was released on April 12, 2017 on physical format and April 19, 2017 on digital format by Northern Music and served as the theme song to the 2017 Japanese animated film Detective Conan: Crimson Love Letter. "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" is a Gagaku-inspired ballad. The song was written by Kuraki herself and her long-time collaborator Akihito Tokunaga. The song was later included on Kuraki's twelfth studio album Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō.
"Boyfriend" is a song from Japanese singer Mai Kuraki and American singer-songwriter Michael Africk, taken from Kuraki's ninth studio album Future Kiss.
Secret of My Heart is the first English-language studio album by Japanese recording artist Mai Kuraki, under the name Mai-K. It was released on January 10, 2002 under Giza USA. Secret of My Heart consists of two songs from the lead single "Baby I Like" and English versions of 8 songs from her debut album Delicious Way, which sold over 3.5 million copies in Japan. However, her fourth Japanese single "Never Gonna Give You Up" is included as the original version.
Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō is the first concept album by the J-pop singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on October 10, 2018, via Northern Music.
Japanese singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki has released twenty-five video albums and three video singles, and been featured in sixty-six music videos, two television series, and eleven commercials. Kuraki debuted in 1999, while she was still in high school, through Giza Studio. The label initially marketed Kuraki in the United States under the name Mai K, and released the single "Baby I Like" (1999). However, the single was a commercial failure which prompted the label to send her back to Japan. There, they released her single "Love, Day After Tomorrow", which peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAJ). The second single, "Stay by My Side" became her first number one single on the chart. Kuraki's debut album, Delicious Way, topped the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified triple million by the RIAJ.
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