Not A Simple Coincidence

Life often has a peculiar way of sequencing events. A farmer's wife loses her wedding ring in her potato field, finding it forty years later while dining on a potato grown from her own field. Many would call this coincidence. Coincidences are defined everywhere from a synchronicity of related occurrences all the way to minor miracles. It is a coincidence then, that the 24 year old Keith Fujimoto from West Covina, California was born not only with an ability to masterfully manipulate words into thought-provoking lyrics, but also an uncanny ear for music production. In tandem with a vivid mind that echoes that of Larry David and Woody Allen, Fujimoto embraces the concurrences that have granted him a unique talent, and creates music under the moniker "Coincidence." "Coincidence" is the rapper and producer who, by mere coincidence, you've yet to hear.

"Whether it's one cupcake or the other," he says, referring to his dual talent of being able to rap and make beats, "I can get my sprinkles on."

Where he's from, "Coincidence" is a bit of a hometown hero; supporters, fans and friends always follow in tow wherever he performs. This includes recent appearances at some of Los Angeles' most fabled locales, including the Troubadour, which has also played host to Neil Young, Radiohead and Johnny Cash.

"It's been way more overwhelming than I had ever imagined," he graciously says of the support that he receives from family, friends and fans. They are drawn not only to his dominant presence on the microphone, which exudes an unthreatening coolness, but also to the sincerity to which he approaches music.

Beginning with Vanilla Ice and Kriss Kross and developing into Nas, Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang Clan, "Coincidence" embraced music with open arms and never looked back. With saved lunch money, and a little help from Grandma, he purchased his first set of turntables, Technics SL-1200's, in 8th grade on layaway. A decade later, Coincidence now boasts a collection of over 3,000 vinyl records that sit on wooden shelves in his tiny bedroom, bowing and in danger of collapsing under the weight of the auditory significance which they bear. Luke's Raise the Roof, a compilation of the 1988 Los Angeles Lakers championship team rapping, poorly, and the soundtrack to Bruce Lee's Game of Death are among the gems in his vast collection. The "Coincidence" of today has now gone where a young Keith Fujimoto of ten years ago would never have dreamt of going.
"I always thought that, at this point in my life, I'd be attempting to be in Grad School to be a doctor," he relates of his past ambitions, which broke from its path in his final year in high school, following a performance in a talent show. It was then that he began accepting the fact that he could "make" it.

"Maybe I can rap," Fujimoto thought to himself, "It's not that hard." Invigorated by writing Haikus in Middle School, he began breaking from the constraints of poetry to scribbling raps on graph paper in Geometry class. Thinking back, he fondly remembers that the first song that he put his lyrics to was Naughty by Nature's Jamboree.

Since then, "Coincidence" has developed his above average skill for the delivery of rhymes into something distinctive; clever word selection coupled with a voice that never lacks in zest or confidence. His production complements a lively lyrical presence with its use of tinny drums strewn amongst bits of piano jingles and horns, thanks to influences from everything: from the artists of the so-called "Golden Age" of hip hop, movie soundtracks including Ghostbusters, and Jazz greats Ahmad Jamal and Yusef Latif.

A Myspace Featured Artist of the Week in January 2006, "Coincidence" has found the website to be all opportunity, amongst the many that have been offered to him. "Coincidence" has chosen to cast his lot with independent label Innercurrent Recordings as a result of his desire to be with a record company with which he agrees and Innercurrent has allowed him to flourish and create the music that he wants to. His first record with Innercurrent is a joint collaboration titled Breathing Room with labelmate Akello of North Carolina, where each artist will perform over the other's production. "Coincidence's" latest work, Oatmeal with Rhymes is now available, along with a compilation album of instrumentals aptly titled Beat Cakes.

Explore the mind of "Coincidence" for yourself at myspace.com/coincidenceuno.

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