Towkio
Towkio | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Preston Oshita |
| Also known as | Preston San, Tokyo Shawn |
| Born | 1993 (age 30–31) Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 2012–present |
Preston Oshita[1] (born 1993[2]), better known by his stage name Towkio, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois.[3] He is previously known as Preston San and Tokyo Shawn.[4] He is a member of the Savemoney crew.[5] On April 10, 2015, his song called "Heaven Only Knows" was chosen by Stereogum as one of their 5 Best Songs of the Week.[6]
Life and career
Towkio was born Preston Oshita in Chicago, Illinois in 1993 to a Mexican mother and a Japanese father.[2] He attended Lane Tech College Prep High School.[2] In 2012, he released a collaborative EP with producer Mojek, titled Community Service.[2] In 2014, he released another EP, titled Hot Chips n Chop Stix, which was produced by A Billion Young.[2]
In 2015, Towkio released a mixtape called .Wav Theory, which included guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Donnie Trumpet.[7] It was described by Stereogum as "a turbulent mix of cascading, joyful tracks and tense downers",[8] while Pitchfork Media called it "an enjoyable album that asks few questions and gives few answers."[9] He was listed by HipHopDX as one of their Top 8 Rising Stars of 2015.[10]
Style and influences
Towkio's musical style has been described by Chicago Tribune as "an adventurous mix of rap, '90s soul, jazz and generally weird, fuzzed-out beats."[11] He cited Kanye West and Lil Wayne as his biggest influences.[2]
Discography
Mixtapes
- .Wav Theory (2015)
EPs
- Community Service (2012) (with Mojek)
- Hot Chips n Chop Stix (2014)
Guest appearances
- Brian Fresco - "She's the Type" and "Steamer" from Mafioso (2013)
References
- ^ Julious, Britt (May 14, 2015). "Towkio sometimes seems too good to be true". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Barber, Andrew (October 8, 2015). "Towkio Is the Next SaveMoney Rapper to Blow". Complex. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Grebey, James (April 8, 2015). "Chance the Rapper and Towkio Smoothly Soar on 'Heaven Only Knows'". Spin. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Towkio - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Leight, Elias (February 25, 2015). "Billboard Exclusive Premiere: Towkio's 'Free Your Mind' Featuring Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. April 10, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Ramirez, Erika (May 21, 2015). "Towkio Premieres Intense 'Reflection' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ White, Caitlin (May 21, 2015). "Towkio – "Reflection" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 30, 2015). "Towkio: .Wav Theory". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
- ^ Dowling, Marcus (January 7, 2016). "HipHopDX's Top 8 Rising Stars Of 2015". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ Stewart, Allison (December 18, 2014). "Towkio doesn't want to be last to break big". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
External links
- Towkio on SoundCloud
- Towkio discography at Discogs