Taboo (rapper)
Jaime Luis Gomez[2] (born July 14, 1975),[3] better known by the stage names Taboo,[4] or Taboo Nawasha is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, DJ, and comic book writer, best known as a member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas.
"Jaime Gomez" redirects here. For other uses, see Jaime Gomez (disambiguation).
Taboo
Jaime Luis Gomez
Taboo Nawasha
Bobby Green Toes
Jim Louis Angryfoot[1]
July 14, 1975
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
- actor
- DJ
1995–present
Nawasha Networks
Early life[edit]
Jaime Luis Gomez was born in Los Angeles, California.[5] His parents were both from Mexico.[5][6][7] He attended Rosemead High School (class of 1993), and was educated at Richard Garvey Intermediate School. He also has Shoshone heritage from his grandmother.[8]
Music career[edit]
Since 1995: The Black Eyed Peas[edit]
The Black Eyed Peas date back to 1988, when eighth-graders William Adams (will.i.am) and Allan Pineda (apl.de.ap) met and began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles. The pair signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E) in 1992, catching the attention of Eazy-E manager, Jerry Heller's nephew. Along with another friend of theirs, Dante Santiago, they called their band Atban Klann (ATBAN: A Tribe Beyond a Nation).[9] Will 1X (aka will.i.am), apl.de.ap, Mookie Mook, DJ Motiv8 (aka Monroe Walker) and Dante Santiago formed Atban Klann. Their debut album, Grass Roots, was never released because Ruthless founder Eazy-E had died.
Other work[edit]
Acting[edit]
Taboo's first acting role was in the film Dirty with Wyclef Jean, playing the part of Ramírez. He then appeared in the 2007 independent film Cosmic Radio, which also stars Michael Madsen, Wes Studi, Irene Bedard, Daryl Hannah, Ricardo Chavira, and other well-known actors. He played the character Vega in the 2009 film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.[18] Taboo appeared as a judge on the reality show MTV's Top Pop Group. He also had a cameo in Blue's Big City Adventure.[19]
Writing[edit]
Taboo later collaborated with Benjamin Jackendoff and Scot Eaton to write the third volume of the Marvel Comics series Werewolf by Night.[20]
In 2021, Taboo, who identifies as Native American and Mexican, authored a children's book called A Kids Book About Identity, stating that he "had a long journey of educating myself and learning about both of my cultures, both being rooted in an Indigenous ancestry of course."[21]
In February 2022, it was announced that Taboo and B.Earl would write a miniseries entitled Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which sees Spider-Man going to Los Angeles and facing off against the Demon Bear. The series debuted in October 2022 and was illustrated by Juan Ferreyra.[22]
Personal life[edit]
Taboo married Jaymie Dizon in Pasadena, California, on July 12, 2008, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, two days before his 33rd birthday. will.i.am and apl.de.ap served as groomsmen. The couple had their first child in 2009 and their second in 2011.[23] He has another son from a previous relationship, Joshua,[24] who was born October 13, 1993.[25][26]
His autobiography, Fallin' Up: My Story, co-authored with Steve Dennis, was released in February 2011.