Jpop icon Crystal Kay celebrates 10 years

Crystal Kay, 23, is the pioneer for interracial artists in Japan. She was born to African American U.S. service father and a South Korean mother. "There is still come racial things going on," claims a mild-mannered Crystal Kay. "Some people can't accept there are a lot of foreigners out there, even in the industry." "I consider myself a Japanese artist because I was born and raised here, but nationality-wise I look, and am, foreign."

Crystal Kay grew up in Yokohama to a musical family. Her mother was a singer and her father wrote music for fun. She was even lucky enough to meet legends like Diana Ross and Bobby Brown as a child. She loved Michael and Janet Jackson, Speed and Namie Amuro.

Kay debuted, at only 13 years old with her "Eternal Memories" song in 1999, in a time when J-Pop world wasn't very influenced by foreign music. But Crystal and many others have had a great impact on the J-Pop scene that is increasingly recognizing mixed race acts. "It's very flattering to be acknowledged as one of the first, if someone tells me that my music means something. Hopefully I can set a good example!" Now, she has eight top 10 albums and is currently celebrating 10 years in the business with her her first "Best of" collection and a tour!

Her rise to the top of the charts shows the mass appeal for R&B in Hip Hop influenced by a new generation of singers, such as Japanese artists like Koda Kumi. Others include Anna Tsuchiya (half Polish American) and popular African American enka singer Jero.

Her desire to ht the international scene still remains. She had hoped to do it by 18, but she sees the 10-year celebration as a turning point in her career and the right time to plan much further ahead.

"In these 10 years I have been all over the place, and that's a good thing. I got to experience a lot of things musically, bot now I think its time for me to create something a little more focused, which suits me best and what says 'This is Crystal's style.'"

Best of Crystal Kay was released on September 2, 2009

Here's Crystal Kay ft. Mflo - "I Like It":



"Girl U Love":



If you like this, listen to the rest of the album! It's great and she's so beautiful!^^