Michael Africk

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Michael Africk

| image =

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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|8|20}}

| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, US

| genre = {{hlist|

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| occupations = Singer-songwriter, record producer

| years_active = 1999–present

| label = {{Flatlist|

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Michael Africk (born 20 August 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-platinum record producer and entrepreneur. After signing with Disney's Hollywood Records and releasing a solo album in 1999, he toured with N'Sync and Britney Spears. He collaborated with Mai Kuraki as a producer, songwriter and featured performer on the album Delicious Way which debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and had the highest first week sales for a debut album in Japanese music history with 2,218,640 units sold and remains the sixth best selling album of all time in Japan.{{cite web |title=Best Selling Albums for First Week Sales in Japan of all Time |url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album-syodo.html |accessdate=July 15, 2016 |work=Music TV Program Japan |language=Japanese}} He has collaborated on many chart topping singles and albums with Kuraki over the years, including the multi-platinum single Never Gonna Give You Up where he is also featured as a performer. Africk has six number one albums and ten top three singles to his credit as a writer and producer, and has received 6 Japan Gold Disc Awards for album and/or song of the year.

In 2011, Africk released his second studio album with Japanese record label Northern Music/Being Music. The album was co-produced by Africk and Louis Bell.{{Cite web |title=MICHAEL AFRICK OFFICIAL WEB SITE |url=http://www.northernmusic.jp/michaelafrick/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=www.northernmusic.jp}}

Since 2006, he has founded several entertainment and tech companies, including Handcraft Entertainment and Inmoji.{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Zangba |date=2023-10-26 |title=Global Princess of J-Pop: Follow Anna Aya's Musical Journey with "Someone Else" |url=https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/anna-aya-someone-else-music-video/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Bong Mines Entertainment |language=en-US}}

Career

= Musician =

Africk sang "Someone Like Me", the theme song for Disney's animated film Doug's 1st Movie .{{cite book |last1 = Hischak |first1 = Thomas S. |last2 = Robinson |first2 = Mark A. |date = 29 July 2009 |title = The Disney Song Encyclopedia |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dimhg9t2TrUC&dq=%22Michael+Africk%22&pg=PA180 |publisher = Scarecrow Press |location = Google Books |page = 180 |isbn = 978-0810869387}} The song was written by William Squier and Jeffrey Lodin, produced by Africk, Perry Geyer and Miguel Sa Pessoa, and featured the Boston Symphony Orchestra.{{cite news|title=Entertainment Tuesday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/75504702/|agency=The Pantagraph|publisher=Newspapers.com|date=11 May 1999}} In the same year, he released his 11-track self-titled album.{{cite web |url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8564607.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170312034610/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8564607.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 12 March 2017 |title = Africk's angelic audience |publisher = The Boston Globe |author = Carol Beggy, Beth Carney |date = 3 May 1999 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}{{cite web |url = https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Africk-Michael-Africk/release/4768109 |title = Michael Africk - Michael Africk |publisher = Discogs |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}

Africk was the opening act for N'Sync and Britney Spears, and toured in Japan.{{cite web |url = http://ralphieaversa.com/2011/09/interview-bostons-michael-africk-known-for-touring-with-nsync-returns-with-new-single/ |title = INTERVIEW: Boston's Michael Africk, Known for Touring with N'Sync, Returns With New Single |publisher = ralphieaversa.com |author = Ralphie Aversa |date = 8 September 2011 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}{{cite web |url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8564607.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170312034610/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8564607.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 12 March 2017 |title = When Michael Meets Sally |publisher = The Boston Globe |author = Carol Beggy, Beth Carney |date = 5 July 1999 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}} He composed the music for the Japanese anime series Secret of Cerulean Sand (2002).{{cite web |url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1576820/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt |title = Patapata hikousen no bouken |publisher = IMDb |accessdate = 3 March 2017}} "What Can I Do", his song for the final credits, features Mai Kuraki.{{cite web |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Xv8yh_E2o |title = What Can I Do - Michael Africk Ft. Mai Kuraki |publisher = YouTube |date = 3 February 2008 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}

Africk collaborated with Mai Kuraki for the song Baby Tonight, a single from the album Delicious Way. The album debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart with 2,218,640 units sold, making it the highest first week sales for a debut album in Japanese music history and sixth overall. He collaborated with Kuraki on other songs as a writer and/or producer, including Never Gonna Give You Up, Secret of my heart, Love Day After Tomorrow, Stay By My Side, and others from the same album. Never Gonna Give You Up, which features Africk as a performer was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).{{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年8月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. August 2000 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2000/200008.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=August 2000 |volume=489 |page=8 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117092718/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2000/200008.pdf|archivedate=January 17, 2014 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}} He composed "Love One Another" with Kuraki for the benefit of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami victims.{{cite web |url = https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-one-another-single/426792954 |title = Love One Another - Single. Mai Kuraki & Michael Africk |publisher = iTunes |access-date = 3 March 2017}} The song, featuring his vocals, was released on his self-titled album and Kuraki's album Over the Rainbow in 2012.

= Handcraft Entertainment =

Africk founded Handcraft Entertainment with the vision of globalizing the J-Pop genre. Handcraft Entertainment operates as a production and management company as well as a record label. Currently Handcraft and Africk represent artist, influencer and model Hana Kuro as well as artist, actress and model Anna Aya.{{Cite web |last=Connection |first=Music |date=2024-10-22 |title=Handcraft Entertainment Signs Hana Kuro for Management and Partnerships |url=https://www.musicconnection.com/handcraft-entertainment-signs-hana-kuro-for-management-and-partnerships/#:~:text=Handcraft%20Entertainment%20Signs%20Hana%20Kuro%20for%20Management%20and%20Partnerships,-Latest,%20Music%20News&text=Michael%20Africk,%20CEO%20and%20Founder,a%20worldwide%20production/management%20deal. |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.musicconnection.com |language=en-US}}

= Entrepreneur =

In 2006, Africk started his tech career when he co-founded XLR8 Mobile. He would go on to found Dijit and Inmoji as well.{{cite web |url = http://hacktheentrepreneur.com/podcast/michael-africk/ |title = Driven to Create |publisher = Hack The Entrepreneur |author = Jon Nastor |date = 21 June 2016 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}

Africk founded Inmoji in Boston in May 2014.{{cite web |url = http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/01/07/startup-inmoji-offers-mobile-marketing-via-messaging-apps/ |title = Inmoji Gets Initial Funding, Launches SDK to Boost Sharing of Brand Content via Messaging |publisher = BostInno |author = Rebecca Strong |date = 7 January 2015 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}} Inmoji is a software company offering a software development kit to messaging apps and an extension for smartphones that both create clickable icons that enable users to share their favorite brands, products, and experiences directly within the apps without leaving the message.{{cite web |url = https://venturebeat.com/2015/02/26/hoping-to-make-clickable-brand-icons-more-common-in-messaging-inmoji-nabs-1m/ |title = Hoping to make clickable brand icons more common in messaging, InMoji nabs $1M |publisher = Venture Beat |author = Barry Levine |date = 26 February 2015 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}} Inmoji raised $2.5 million in seed funding in 2015 and $6.5 million in Series A round in 2016.{{cite web |url = http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2016/03/11/inmoji-raises-5m-for-branded-interactive-emojis/ |title = Inmoji Raises $5M For "Branded Interactive Emojis" |publisher = Xconomy |author = Jeff Engel |date = 11 March 2016 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}{{cite web |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/startups/2015/05/adtech-startup-backed-by-startup-evangelist-david.html |title = Adtech startup backed by startup evangelist David Chang quietly lands more funding |publisher = Boston Business Journal |author = Sara Castellanos |date = 10 May 2015 |accessdate = 3 March 2017}}

Africk was named one of the 12 Top Tech Leaders To Watch In 2017 by Inc.{{cite news|last1=Hendricks|first1=Drew|title=12 Top Tech Leaders To Watch in 2017|url=http://www.inc.com/drew-hendricks/12-top-tech-leaders-to-watch-in-2017.html|accessdate=3 March 2017|publisher=Inc.|date=19 January 2017}}

Discography

= Producer & Composer =

class="wikitable"

! align="left" |Year

! align="left" |Title{{cite web |title=Person: Michael Africk |url= |publisher=aniDB}}

! align="left" |Label

! align="left" |Album

! align="left" |Performer

! align="left" |Peak chart position in Japan

!Certification &

Units Sold

RIAJ

1999

Michael Africk

Career

= Musician =

= Handcraft Entertainment =

= Entrepreneur =

Discography

= Producer & Composer =

= Albums =

= Singles =

= Featured artist =

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Accolades

= Japan Gold Disc Awards =

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External links