His music is an eclectic fusion of rap, pop, neo-soul, rock, afro-pop, and jazz elements, transmuting life experiences into songs in a world that refuses definition. Yaw was born in Kumasi, Ghana, and spent his first six years there before emigrating to the United States. Outside of a few talent shows in elementary school and school-mandated music learning, Yaw rarely interacted with music. Nevert
heless, adults in his household were always filled with eclectic sounds, from Michael Jackson to Avril Lavinge and everything in between. The one work that particularly caught Yaw’s ear was 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Although far removed from the “street life,” being the child of an immigrant and witnessing the stresses and hardships of everyday American life, the concept of the album spoke to him. This inflection point caused Yaw to dive deeper into hip-hop and rap, discovering acts such as Kanye West, The Game, Meek Mill, and more. In 2008, while in high school at Church Farm boarding school, Yaw began writing raps as a form of expression. Jokingly, he and his classmates would also have impromptu battle raps on school grounds. One evening, a childhood friend sent a beat, Who’s Real, by Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss. Shortly after that, he began collaborating with more artists, eventually meeting fellow New Jersey artist and long-time collaborator Sevntnth after transferring to Trenton Catholic Academy. The two and some other friends formed the collective The Freshman. After graduation, Yaw attended Hampton University to study Electrical Engineering. Disinterested in the classroom, he found himself spending hours on end in his room making music with friends on campus. After freshman year, he chose not to return to chase a music career. Yaw’s music blends real-world experiences, political thought, community activism, carefree braggadocios raps, and sweet melodies. It is a melting pot sound that embodies the true spirit of America. What does “Tokyo Yaw” mean? In akan tradition, children are given day names at birth. The name Yaw is given to a boy born on Thursday, the day of the earth. Thus, the meaning behind his birth name. The “Tokyo” portion of Yaw’s name derives from Yaw’s time spent in the United States Navy. While enlisted, Yaw was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, about an hour from Tokyo. This was when Yaw began experimenting with his sound, performing for more live audiences, and affirming his belief in himself as a musician. Who are Tokyo Yaw’s influences? Kanye West, Jay-Z, 50-Cent, Pharrell, Eminem, Cassidy, Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Drake, Kid Cudi, Tupac Shakur, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Mos Def, Linkin Park, Green Day, Michael Jackson, and Outkast.
