[Cover photo credit to Mark Chua]
Japanese American rapper/actor Lyrics Born has released, “Alligator Boots”, a trippy new single cut from his upcoming new studio album Vision Board arriving on November 11, 2022 via Mobile Home Recording. The song features vocals from duo Say Sway.
Written and recorded in New Orleans with producer Rob Mercurio, the track was written by Lyrics Born with his own wardrobe in mind.
He shares:
Say Sway recorded the chorus previously and I thought that it was so fantastic, I knew I had to write some thing equally outlandish. Being that I actually have at least 100 pair of alligator boots, this song was destined to be.
The track also pays homage to the late rapper and close friend Gift of Gab of Blackalicious.
Lyrics Born adds:
I was halfway thru the writing process in the studio when Chief XCel from Blackalicious called me and informed me Gift of Gab had passed. I rewrote the second verse immediately to include the nod to Gab.

As the first Asian-American solo rapper to perform at Lollapalooza and Coachella and to release a greatest hits record, Lyrics Born has broken through many barriers to cement his career. Having been part of the Quannum Projects collective of Hip Hop artists from the San Francisco Bay Area that spawned Blackalicious, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Lifesavas, and DJ Shadow, among many others, Lyrics Born has also expanded into film, including roles in Boots Riley’s Sorry To Bother You and the Netflix film Always Be My Maybe starring comedian Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Keanu Reeves.