About

AI

Overview

Ai Carina Uemura (植村愛カリーナ), known as AI, was born on November 2, 1981 in Los Angeles and raised in Kagoshima. She is a Japanese-American singer, songwriter and rapper known in Japan as the "Queen of Hip-hop Soul". Her 2005 single "Story" was her breakthrough, and she has since released thirteen studio albums and earned accolades including two Billboard Japan Music Awards and three Space Shower Music Video Awards. Her work spans J-pop, J-R&B and J-rap.

Career

Early life to 1999

AI moved to Kagoshima at age four when her father's construction work brought the family to Japan. Inspired to sing after hearing gospel at the First AME Church of Los Angeles, she returned to LA for high school and enrolled at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACSA), majoring in dance, where she joined the gospel choir. In 1998 she sang with the choir at a Mary J. Blige concert, and in 1999 she appeared in Janet Jackson's "Go Deep" video. She also joined the Asian girl group SX4, but chose a solo career in Japan after an offer from BMG Japan.

2000–2005

AI debuted on November 22, 2000 with the single "Cry, just Cry" and released her first album, My Name Is AI, in 2001, with little commercial success. In 2002 she became the first woman signed to Def Jam Japan. Original A.I. (2003) debuted at No. 15 on the Oricon albums chart and led to her first solo tour, and 2004 A.I. reached No. 3 and went gold. She won Best R&B Video at the 2004 Space Shower Music Video Awards and represented Japan at MTV Buzz Asia in Seoul alongside Namie Amuro and at MTV Taipei Music Festival.

2005–2009

In 2005 "ALIVE (English Version)" became the first song by a Japanese artist used in a Korean drama (My Girl-era hit Fantastic Princess Chunhyang). "Story" debuted at No. 8 on Oricon, became one of the biggest singles of the 2000s in Japan, earned a triple million digital certification from the RIAJ, and brought her first appearance on NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Mic-a-Holic A.I. debuted at No. 4 and sold over 500,000 copies. In 2006 "Believe" (theme of the drama Iryu) and "I Wanna Know" were top-ten singles, and What's goin' on A.I. reached No. 2, followed by her first Nippon Budokan show. Live A.I. (2007), her first overseas solo concert in Australia, and Don't Stop A.I. (No. 4, her fourth consecutive top-five album) followed. In 2008 she toured 32 venues with 100,000 attendees and released "So Special -Version AI- / Okuribito" for the film Departures, co-written with EXILE ATSUSHI. In 2009 came Viva A.I., her directorial debut Take Action, and Best A.I., her first No. 1 album.

2010 to present

For her 10th anniversary in 2010 she released "FAKE" with Namie Amuro, "Still…" with AK-69 and others, and held a Budokan show; The Last A.I. ended her time at her previous label. She joined EMI Music Japan in 2011, and Independent (2012) served as her international debut, supported by tours in Japan and Los Angeles. Moriagaro followed in 2013, then The Best (2015, No. 3 on Oricon) and The Feat. Best (2016). Wa to Yo (2017) blended traditional Japanese and electronic sounds; "Kira Kira" won the Excellent Works Award at the 59th Japan Record Awards. Her 20th anniversary was marked by Kansha!!!!! – Thank You for 20 Years New and Best (2019) and the EPs It's All Me, Vol. 1 (2020) and Vol. 2 (2021). Dream (2022) included "Aldebaran", theme of the drama Come Come Everybody, her first Billboard Japan Hot 100 entry in five years; she also released "Welcome Rain (From THE FIRST TAKE)" and "Start Again" that year. Respect All (2023) featured "Life Goes On" (image song for the film Haru ni Chiru) and "Start Again" (a Nestlé Japan Kit Kat insert song). She continued with singles such as "Wareba", "Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024", "RISE TOGETHER" and "Tide"; "NAKAMA feat. AI" became the ending theme of Dragon Ball Daima in December 2024, with a full-length version in February 2025. For her 25th anniversary she released her fifth greatest hits album, 25th The Best – Alive (February 2025), followed by "my wish" in April 2025.

Musical style

AI blends R&B melodies with J-pop sensibilities to reach beyond black-music listeners. Known for a husky, low-to-mid register and strong vocal skill, she excels at ballads, and her rap skills, honed in Los Angeles, mostly appear in guest features. Her concept is "music that lifts everyone up". Michael Jackson, whom she loved through her mother's influence, shaped her, and she admires the message-driven lyrics of Keisuke Kuwata.