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IBU, short for Inspired By U, the name the chose as they claim to be inspired by the people they sing to. IBUs uniquely rich harmonies and outstanding dance skills quickly earned them the distinction as America’s most sought after Asian-American performing group. Now on its 7th year, IBU continues to make headlines, thrusting itself more and more to the forefront of the mainstream music scene. WGN/WB Channel 9 Chicago called them Chicagos hottest boy group, and 102.3FM introduced them as Asians with Soul. In November 2004, IBU competed with 300 artists from around the world at the New York International Music Festival in Manhattan and was voted as the best R&B Group, becoming the first ever and the only Asian-American group to ever win at the festival. In 2005, the festival named them R&B Group of the year. The year before, IBU won the state-sponsored, the Chicago Music Opportunity Project, with Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child as one of the judges. The group has become a favorite by the world series champion Chicago White Sox, performing the National Anthem at thirteen games Their songs were ranked number 6 by Hot 97.7FM in the bay area and has been played in many radio stations in the US, Asia and Europe. The group has performed from the bay area to the big apple and is one of the busiest Asian American performing groups in the country today. In 2007 IBU was featured on MTV2 On The Rise. The group has been seen internationally, on various shows ABS-CBN/The Filipino Channel, as well as the International Channel. IBU’s songs have ranked 6 on Hot 97.7FM’s playlist in April 2006, Voted 13 on 97.3FM Missouri, and 3 on WCH Radio’s top 30 songs of 2006. They have appeared on Fox TV, WGN, Cable Access TV and various TV stations in Honolulu, San Francisco and Seattle. IBU has released its first solo album entitled Redefined, in August 2005, their fourth recording project. Chicago Tribune ran a story about the groups struggle to overcome stereotyping of the Asian-American Artists by the Mainstream Music Industry and media in November 2004. IBU took a hiatus from performing in early March 2009 to work on their sophomore album. The album is titled “Inspired By U.” On this album, IBU wants to showcase their true R&B character as an artist, in the true tradition of their soulful and harmony drenched compositions. The songs will present a more mature IBU, vocally and artistically. IBU’s second album was released November 10, 2009. |
