Beckii Cruel | |
---|---|
Beckii Cruel in Rome, April 2015
|
|
Background information | |
Birth name | Rebecca Anne Flint |
Born |
Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK |
5 June 1995
Origin | Ramsey, Isle of Man |
Genres | Pop, J-Pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer Entertainer, Vlogger, YouTuber |
Instruments | Vocals, synthesizer, programming |
Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Life Is So Cruel, Ltd. Tokuma Japan Communications |
Associated acts | Cruel Angels, Area 11 |
Website | Official Website |
Rebecca Anne Flint (born 5 June 1995), better known by her stage name Beckii Cruel, is a British pop dancer and singer from England. In 2010 she reached popularity in Japan after her YouTube videos of her dancing to dance pop songs were posted around the Internet. She was the 17th most subscribed user (3rd most in the Musician category) in Japan on YouTube as of 25 August 2010. Her YouTube account has reached 20 million upload views and over 100,000 subscribers.
Flint was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, the daughter of a police inspector and a former dance instructor. She moved with her family at the age of 2 to Ramsey on the Isle of Man, where she attended Ramsey Grammar School. She became interested in anime and manga at the age of 11, when she first started reading Fruits Basket. On 22 July 2007, she began a YouTube channel under the name "xBextahx" (from a nickname she had when she was younger). On 15 April 2009, she posted a video of herself dancing to Danjo, a popular Japanese Internet meme. Her YouTube video was uploaded to the Japanese video streaming website Nico Nico Douga, where she instantly attracted fans.
Flint signed onto a talent ageny, Life Is So Cruel, Ltd., in August 2009. Emerging under the stage name "Beckii Cruel" she flew to Japan, where she was able to perform with Taro in Akihabara. Although Cruel had experience in dancing, having taken ballet for most of her life, she was required to undergo vocal training. She began seeking advice from David Holland (an agent who also worked with Samantha Barks), and, according to her father, "works with him at least once a week".
In October 2009, Cruel visited Japan with a group called the Cruel Angels.
On 4 November 2009, Cruel herself released two songs on two different albums, titled "No, Upper Matsuri" (の、アッパー祭? No, Appā Matsuri) and "No, Ballad Matsuri" (の、バラード祭? No, Barādo Matsuri) as part of the "No, Matsuri" (の、祭り?) CD series which features other singers popular from the Japanese Nico Nico Douga Video community. On 9 December, she released her first idol DVD, titled This is Beckii Cruel!. It debuted at number 8 on Japan's DVD charts.