August 2, 2010

• The future of Asian American hip hop?

  Asian American hip hop, one could argue, is still in its nascent stage, but we are starting to see the fruit from its evolution.

  Take a lookie for yourselves:

  Mike-Dash-E and Chariz: "The Funeral"

  Jimmy Boi featuring Smitty: "All the way turnt up"

  454 Entertainment (Drew Deezy, Nump Trump, Thai): "Go hard"

  I'll have to admit that the production behind these songs are a lot better than what Jin got in his album with the Ruff Ryderz (which makes me wonder what could've happened with Jin's career if he got better support):

  "Learn Chinese"

  And Chuckie Akenz in his iconic "You got beef?" video (sounds like he made the song on a computer in his bedroom):

  I'm not hatin' on the lyrical skills of Jimmy Boi, Mike-Dash-E, Chariz and the boys from 454, or questioning whether they're really from the hood or not, but I'm just wondering whether taking a step backwards is the right direction.  In trying to carve out a niche in the hip hop scene they've fashioned themselves into ghetto clones, complete with chains, grillz and the usual rap video bling.  I would much rather prefer to see Asian Americans succeed in hip hop by doing their own thing, whether it's Far East Movement with their techno rap:

  "Girls on the dance floor"

  Or, dare I say, the Notorious MSG with their comedic-blowing-up-your-butthole-Chinatown rap:

  "No good muthabitch"

  As the smallest minority with the shortest history in America, Asian America as a whole is still struggling to find that balance between assimilation and cultural identity.  There's no glorification of the Asian lifestyle (other than having exotic looking women with bad accents), unlike that with inner city African Americans and our cultures and languages do not permeate society (except for orange *cough* chicken *cough*), unlike that of Latino Americans.  Anything of entertainment value is either yellow-faced (Avatar: The Last Airbender) or denigrated into bad colloquial ethnic jokes (watch out before I Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon your ass!!!!).

  There's nothing wrong with assimilation.  That's what you're supposed to do when you move to another country and have children.  But there's also nothing wrong with finding your own way and shining so bright that the rest of America has no choice but to notice.

  So peace out, muthabitches, and enjoy the Mountain Brothers:

  "Galaxies"

  P.S.--If you're interested in checking out more Asian American hip hop artists, go look up Blue Scholars, Shogunna, Rookadamus and check out the collabo single Still a Chink.

  • 3:57 pm
  • 11 Comments