Asians n' Hip-Hop
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Was it a coincidence that every act had at least one Asian person – actually, Filipino person – in it?
The (Asian) line up was Native Guns – MCs Kiwi and Bambu – who’ll be featured in our next issue.
Then there was Jern Eye, an MC from Lunar Heights.
And Crown City Rockers. Kat, the keyboardist – what can I say? She is a-m-a-z-i-n-g.
There were also break dancers, who all appeared to be Asian.
In Hyphen's Issue 9 (just out), I wrote an article about Asian krumpers. They're Filipino guys from Long Beach.
There’s a whole history of hip-hop in the Philippines and Filipino communities.
Recently, I've been told that I'm very "Asian-centric." Not sure what that means, if it was meant accusingly, jealously, or just as a harmless observation. But for example, it's not that I don't think all the other people in the bands are awesome - they are. And all good indie bands deserve to be in the spotlight, especially because of how corporate media has gobbled up, and continues to gobble up, more stations. You're probably not going to hear any of these acts on Clear Channel. I just think it's neat that a hip-hop show, not billed as Pinoy/Pinay or Asian-themed, happened to have at least one Filipino or Asian in the act.
If you want to catch Native Guns perform this Sunday, June 11, they're having their album release party in Los Angeles. I've never been to a rooftop party, but it sounds fun, like something from a movie.
Happy summer!!
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re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
yea, funny
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AmerieCheck out the site. Amerie needs to do some duets with some Asian dudes. Dam she is hot. Did anyone see Jin get beat on MTV2
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
i guess you learn something new everydayhttp://www.eurasiannation.com/articlespol2002-11hiphop.htm
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Filipinos and Asian-Americans are but a plague and an infestation on the world, most notably in the U.S.They either favor or despise their own kind. No medium.In the U.S. for example, Asians of the lower-class are known to discriminate, are heavily un-trusting of others and unwelcoming to others who aren't of the Asian race. The mid-to-higher, more educated, college graduate class are known to make every attempt to assimilate into the White culture and disown their own species out of embarrassment.A displaced, copy-cat swarm of people indeed.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Thats a heavy statement
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Maybe asians in hip hop are just asians with an 'african american culture' fetish.
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If Asian are into, oh, lets say riverdancing. Would that classify as white culture fetish. Pop Culture in America has always been something blacks invented and everyone else followed their lead. Especially whites. Elvis was not the true King of Rock N Roll. So why are Asians always getting criticized for independent thinking ans not always following the course. Dare to be different and you will be noticed.
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Enjoying and being interested in something such as hip-hop or river dancing is entirely different than stealing black culture, slapping your own racial identity on it or promoting race association, adopting the language/vocabulary, dressing the part and passing it all off as if you came up with it.Definitely not 'independent thinking'. Be truly innovative and come original.
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Maybe William Hung should give hip-hop a try. I'm sure he'd fit right in and sound terrific.
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Rock N Roll was invented by blacks, So was Jazz and Gospel are any of these art forms black today?
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This is a pretty deep article. What do Asians think about this subjest?http://everyshuteyeaintsleep.blogspot.com/2005/06/we-real-coolon-hip-hop-asian-americans.html
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Seriously, it some how feels that people are really trying to take credit for hip hop when everybody knows in their heart that it was started by us blacks. I know that there were Latinos (specifically Puerto Ricans) who helped spread hip ho across america but they didn't do anything to make or break it's success. Sure, there were contributions and influences that came from various ethnic groups into rap but that was after it's success. Why are SOME Asians trying to take credit for something they had no hand in building or try to steal it? I mean, Asians invented Anime and I think that's cool but you don't see us black folks trying to lay claim to that do ya. It's like everybody thinks were the only one to make cool things and once we make it, people try to lay claim to it like with Egypt and the pyramids. But on a more serious note, I think Asians should not do rap nor dress like rappers for tyhat matter as well because they end up looking silly and rediculuous that way by wearing their hair out to look like afros and getting cornrows. In terms of music it just strait up sucks. It sounds too gay, poppish and amateur and asian rappers will never produce any rap music as authentic as black rappers like Bone THugs, Tupac, Twista, 3 6 Mafia, and so one.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Seriously, it some how feels that people are really trying to take credit for hip hop when everybody knows in their heart that it was started by us blacks. I know that there were Latinos (specifically Puerto Ricans) who helped spread hip ho across america but they didn't do anything to make or break it's success. Sure, there were contributions and influences that came from various ethnic groups into rap but that was after it's success. Why are SOME Asians trying to take credit for something they had no hand in building or try to steal it? I mean, Asians invented Anime and I think that's cool but you don't see us black folks trying to lay claim to that do ya. It's like everybody thinks were the only one to make cool things and once we make it, people try to lay claim to it like with Egypt and the pyramids. But on a more serious note, I think Asians should not do rap nor dress like rappers for tyhat matter as well because they end up looking silly and rediculuous that way by wearing their hair out to look like afros and getting cornrows. In terms of music it just strait up sucks. It sounds too gay, poppish and amateur and asian rappers will never produce any rap music as authentic as black rappers like Bone THugs, Tupac, Twista, 3 6 Mafia, and so one.
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Totally agree with the above. Hip-Hop, Rap music and the culture have been seized by many who have found it easier to steal rather than to be innovative just so they can have culture a identity, prove that they have presence in the cultural and ethnic struggle that is America. Perpetration! Save and take back Hip-Hop.
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DIDN'T KNOW, I want to thank you very much for acknowledging and respecting the roots of Hip Hop culture and it's origins in Afican American culture and for encouraging your fellow Asian brethren to discontinue Asian Hip Hop. However, I still have to acknowledege the problem of appropriation of hip hop by Latinos. Like I said in my previous post, hip hop was started mostly and mainly by Afican Americans while the other 10 percent was by Puerto Ricans but the problem is that they trying to take credit for rap music when they know in their heart they didn't. Where were all of the Latino rappers at during the hey day of hip hop success. DJ cool herc was the inventor of rap music and his Jamaican brethren were producing reggae music which could be considered rap music and it's embryonic form. The Hip Hop culture has Afro-diasporic influences like break dancing which was derived from capoeira, an African martial art that was invented by my enslaved African brothers form Brazil. Toasting and the dozens that was incorporated into culture was based off our West African tradition that we've been practicing for thousands of years before slavery. The dozens was basically the yo mamma is so fat game that was an oral tradition West Africans still do today. But you know how everything black people do to distinguish themselves from other cultures, people eventually come along and ruin it by imitating what we do. We can't have an identity for ourselves it people keep imitating what we do. Like back in the 70's as a expression of black pride where us blacks wore our afro's out but stopped doing it because white Jews started emulating the style with the "Jewfro" (seriously, go look it up at wikipedia.) Going back to Latinos appropriatin rap music and rap culture, why are latinos still trying to lay claim to something so popular and valuable that black people made that everybody in America want to do but ignore cowboy culture that was stolen and claim by whites despite Latinos (the Spanish) being the first to do it in their culture. Back in the 1860's, cowboy culture was so popular in America that blacks, whites, and some asians wanted to be a part of it but didn't try to claim it as their own cultural invention so why do this to us Latinos? Well enough of the history lesson and back to the topic, Asians should learn to be satisfied with their culture and try to come up with their own sub culture worthy enough to be emulated by everyone instead of having to ride the bandwagon and imitate somebody else's culture. Second of all just like Bill Coby said, I wish filipinos and Latinos would stop trying to bridge us black folks together so they can try to act black. Filipinos have crab mentality, colonial mentality, identity crisis, inferiority complex and this epitomizes why they truly yearn to be black, polynesian, or white.Recognize your roots as Malays, learn to be satisfied with your culture and leave black culture alone.
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Wow, where do you get off telling people what they should or should not do? I agree that people should acknowledge hip-hop as a black artform. And I agree that Asians trying to grow fros looks damn silly. But who is to say that an Asian or Latino person shouldn't rap if he or she wants to? Or that they can be good at it? Does being black make one automatically a better rapper?Hip-hop is part of American culture. It has risen to the mainstream and appeals to all sorts of people across alot of color (not to mention income) lines. Who is to say it only belongs to blacks now? So long as people respect the origins, why be so interested in shutting other people out?
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Its funny now that Hip Hop is American Culture. I remember 20 years ago when it was jungle music, better yet N--gg- music and should only be played in the black nieghborhoods. During the 80s the music was an expression for Black Radicals along with the emergence of Gangsta rap and the Occasional Will Smith bubblegum tunes. Once the Run DMC fame ran out. 10 years before that Hip Hop was mainly fun music. Everyone hated Hip Hop, but its originators stayed loyal to it. Rock N Roll was once jungle Music, as Jazz and blues to its non-black critics. As time went on White kids from the suburbs caught on to it, then the international community followed there after, As always the whites imitate the blacks, and as usual Asian think there has to be some kind of white stamp of approval for beforehand describing what is and what is not POP CULTURE. Thats why we lagg behind in Pop culture. Black people, a race that all other people around the world despise for what ever reason, or another seems to be the most imitated. Yet I see a lot of non-black girls going against their parents will to date black men, adore black culture and ignore the stereotypes shown by the media. Maybe this is what all the critics were afraid of. If you love Hip Hop, knowing its origins is just a small perequesite. Its deeper then that. Im half Black/Half Asian so I understand some of the feelings from both communities. I know that Hip Hop at one time took Martial Arts and incorporated it into its culture, with WU-TANG and the GRAVE DIGGAS. I tell my black friends Martial Arts is not White, or Black, its Asian. This is just my opinion. The present state of Hip Hop is horrible. Commercialism is to blame for that and the fact that its crossed over to so many different nationalites. Everyone wants credit for Hip Hops expansion. You can only give credit to one Race.
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Well RELAX about the martial arts thing, that was invented by us black folks thousands of years ago by our egyptian brethren known as sebekka (egyptian for crocodile).Hip hop is part is part of and ALWAYS will be a part of black american culture just like anime will be always be apart of Japanese culture even though it's globally popular and everybody uses the drawing style. Sure i acknowledge the origins of every popular thing made in history and others can't stop others from doing so but what am I to say now? Appropriating hip hop in a high sense has a negetaive connotation if theres been some history of racial or ethinic conflict between two groups. For example, take blacks and koreans thing in U.S. 50 years ago they hated blacks because of our skin color(how fucking retarded is that?) and because we look like freaks but yet the people you so depise of decide to imitate your enemy's subculture. I already know about that bubble sisters thing where those korean girls put on black face made fun of black women. I think the only Asians that can do rap are the Chinese and Japanese as well as all other SE Asians since they had no documented racial or ethnic history between blacks. I think that some people shouln't dress like blacks because you look goofy and looks as if you're making fun of black culture which is why SOME blacks hate other races for imitating their style. Hip hop will never fall into the hands of become a part of Amerikkkan culture. It's already bad enough that white people stole rock and roll music along with techno music from afro americans and we're not going to loose any more of our genre of musics to whites. We have worked hard for many years to make an identiy for ourselves to help make us resist white culture and heal our selves from a history of slavery only to have our cultural creations taken from us by greedy whites. Amerikkans have no worthwhile culture of their own to be satisfied with because they lack orignality or creativity to do so, so they steal whatever they can from non-euro cultures and say it's their own.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
There are some statements I disagree with you on. Japanese Hip Hop is Horrible, but AI and Misia are hot. Chinese Hip Hop is behind like most Asian Hip Hop, Garbbage. Koreans are Copy Caters , but because of the large US Military presence there Japan and Korea has an added advantage over most Asian Nations. Oh, Club Pegasus in Shanghai was tight. The best Asian dancers I saw were in Singapore. The best DJs are fillipino as far as Asian go. I really havent heard to many good Asian rappers. Jin did his little thing on 106th and Park. Blacks have been known in America for being the best Dancers, Singers and Entertainers for hundreds of years, its synonoymous with Asians and Math. I hate to sound stereotypical, but art form reflects culture. Someone said Hip Hop is American Culture. My mother is Asian and Father Black American. White Americans have their culture, Blacks have their sas Asians. Hip Hop is Black culture, thats why they simply do it better.
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Not to bust your chops or anything RELAX but I heard that Misia was horrible and I heard this from Erikah Badu when I was reading an article back in March of this year on japantoday.com while she was in tour in Japan. You see, the problem with Asian rappers is that they make the assumption that they can imitate hip hop culture and expect to be 100% good at it. The only Japanese hip hop artist and r&b I think is good is Crystal Kay along with Kenny Amai, even R&B singer Babyface said that Kenny Amai might have a chance in America if he start releasing some songs in English.Like you say there's not too many good rappers that are good enough to make it i the game and they will always be known as underground rappers. The specific reason why Asian hip hop sucks is because of the music and beats, like i said before, sounds gay, poppish, and amateur like. The only way Asian rappers will be successful IMHO, is if they collaborate with Black rappers, like Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Timbaland or Twista since they're known to make tight assbeats and that they will sound helluva alot better than those cheesey beats Asian rappers make.I don;t have a problem with Asian rappers as long as they refrain from using the N-word intheir rap songs, and acknowledge us blacks as the creators and expanders of hip hop. BTW, do you know if Asian rappers freestyle,because I've never seen or heard an Asian rapper do that before.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Its all horrible, ive heard all these artist, not impressed either. I just thought Misia was hot. harai Ken is not bad. Toshi Kabuta is the best ive heard. Rain is an Usher want to be. But to each his on
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Yeah I heard about that Korean rapper Ba Rain being a J Timberlake, M.J and Usher wannabe. I remember one time this one poster on japantoday.com say that watching japanese rappers perform is like looking at a live version of Parappa the Rapper.
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here was where I was coming from: many is the post from asian americans complaining about white boys having an 'asian fetish' or yellow fever or complaining about tatoos and what have you, BUT they never seem to see that the 'appropriation' of b-boy 'stylings' could be viewed in that same light. When challenged, there is talk of the 'free assimilation of American Pop culture' and the like, yet for some reason Asian 'culture' is [theoretically] not available to non-asians with that same freedom.America is a CuisineArt culture - everything is subject to slice, dice and puree.Good for the goose - good for the gander.
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http://www.aamovement.net/art_culture/poetry/standards1.htmlGOOD TOPIC
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJkVLwdJnjg&mode=related&search=Great dancing, who wouldve ever thought a Japanese guy woould win a dance contest at the Apollo theatre
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=When the apollo theatre notices you, you have arrieved
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=When the apollo theatre notices you, you have arrieved
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=when the apollo notices you, you have arrived
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For an Asian guy to win at the Apollo says a lot about his talent. MOMO, get an interview
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Some of you people are so stupid I cannot beleive it. There is no black culture, it is all just garbage. And the whole world knows this. Other than music and sports you cannot do anything else. Big fucking deal???
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Hello my name is Gabriel and I just happen to be a black person. So far what I've been hearing is some what hate and jelousy. So what if the young asian people want to rap and do R&B let them do it because people can do what they want,and for some of you people who don't know a thing thier are some black fillipinos in Asia. One more thing those well known rap artist have also been doing world tours it is a proven fact thats why rap and r&b are so popular in Asia.
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I have never seen an Asian hip hop/rap artist wear Grillz . Correct me if I'm wrong?
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Ive seen it
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To all those rippin on Filipino Culture, you couldnt be any more wrong, i bet none of you (of those dissin) have ever been to the Philippines, i have travelled all of asia and the Philippines has to be one of the most interesting on my list in terms of culture, traditions and people.Back to the topic, Hip Hop is part of my life and many others, lets get this straight, HIP HOP is our voice, you can convey so many things in the lyrics, theres so much more to it.Those people saying Hip Hop is ONLY for black african-americans, you couldnt be any more wronger, as long as the lyrics and people are for real, they deserve their place, Filipino, Hispanic or South American, its all the same.And when will people get over it, c'mon.SKIN IS SKIN.there are many black-filipinos out their in the USA, through the Philippine-American colonisation and contact. one good example is apl.de.ap from Black Eyed Peas, hes African-Filipino.Filipinos have contributed a lot to Hip hop, morely Turntablism, like someone suggested, the Invisibl Skratch Piklz where pioneers for Turntablism, they invented the basics for djing, the majority where Filipino. Mixmaster mike, DJ Babu from Dilated Peoples/Beat Junkies are filipino.. i dont need to go further cause you all get our point.Hip Hop is for Everyone, to the black and the white, red, brown, purple and Yellow. just like Master Gee from Sugar Hill gang states.Skin is skin, get over it.
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Tommy B,I'm from the old school and I was around when Hip Hop was in its infant stages. Im talking the origins, the genesis and how it evolutionized into what it is today. Hip Hop is always going to be identified with Black Americans for various reasons. For one thing, they did invent it. There was a time when Hip Hop was only in the Black American neighborhoods with the exception of Puerto Ricans, which most of them were Afro Latino. Many say the roots of Hip Hop music and rapping is hundreds of years old, getting its base directly from Africa that was passed down to the slaves. Hip Hop derives from a long list of Jazz, Rock, Funk and Reggae. All of these art forms came From Blacks. Now that MTV realizes it can make much money from Hip Hop, the giant conglomerate commercialized it and pretty much destroyed the music. In the beginning the music was primarily about uplifting Black Americans sending positive messages throughout the black communities with hopes of uplifting a race. The pioneers of Hip Hop will always be Africa Baambaata, Kool Herc, DJ Red Alert, and Grand Master Flash. They can never be replaced. Today there are many races that listen to Hip Hop, adopted the music as their own. Yet others would like to sabbotage it. Asian Hip Hop, Latino Hip Hop, Desi Hip Hop. I mean every where you go there is a hip hop for every race. Just because you emulate and appropiate something does not make it yours. I dont care how many Steven Seagulls and Chuck Norris you put out there, Martial Arts came from Asia. Asians built the foundation for martial arts the same way black Americans built the foundation of Hip Hop. How can you argue that Hip Hop is not theirs. I agree with you on one thing, People are free to listen to what ever they want and this is a free world. But Tommy, you lack music history
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Who will win the battle between Kanye West and 50 cent? Kanye West album is really good.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
I likes bapes it is a really dope brand to buy but I cant afford no authentic bape cuz right now Im on the welfare, so I just usually look up bape on google and buy a replica one usually the quality is pretty good. I think Bape needs some new styles though.
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Who won this battle between Jin and Serius Jones. Was Serious Jones using the race card in order to win and beat Jin. Check it outhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ighblDZgQ&mode=related&search=
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
This is what happens when two Asians battle each other. I think the Japanese beat Jinhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxnRbZovb2c&mode=related&search=
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o be honost with you all Asian Hip Hop sucks, sorry. But Black people always innovate and create new trends of music and the rest of the world always follow their lead. fillipinos are the best Asian EntertainersPosted by: DIDNT KNOW at June 19, 2006 4:38 PMFilipinos the best Asian entertainers?FIRST OF ALL NONE OF THEIR MEDIA CAN EVEN BE BROADCASTED OUTSIDE OF THE PHILLIPPINES. TWO DEFINE WHAT BEING A "FILIPINO IS" By eating ur crappy foods? having this pinoy/pinay bullshit pride? HAVING HISPANIC LOOKING PEOPLE ON TV? For nothing filipinos are corny, ALL THEY WANNA FUCKING DO IS ACT WHITE OR BLACK AND SWEAR THEIR SO COOL AND THINK THERE BETTER THAN EVERY OTHER FILIPINO IN THE PHILLIPPINES AND SWEAR THEY CAN BE ACTORS IF THERE BORN ABROAD OR MOVE OUT. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK FILIPINO HIP-HOP IS STRAIGHT EMULATING BLACK MEN IN AMERICA THATS WHY YOUR WOMEN LEAVE YOU FOR THEM WHY HAVE SOME FAKE BULLSHIT? FILIPINOS HAVE NO STYLE AND JUST COPY. I OWN A HONDA AND BLAST BIGGIE. "REAL FILIPINO"
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Dude, that was really uncalled for. I see you relly took offense to the comment about Fillipinos being great Entertainers, why?
re: Asians n' Hip-Hop
Im surprised Hyphen madazine isnt following the MTVs, Americas Best Dance Crew. The Executive Producer is Randy Jackson of American Idol.For the next few months B-Boys and B-Girls of all races from all over America will be competing for bragging rights as Americas best hip hop dancers. Believe it or not, a lot of Asians made the cut and are in the competiton.The best crew is probably Kabba Modern. They are all Asian students from the University of California Irvine, their front runners in the compettiton, YOu should read their bios in the post, its interesting.The second Asian crew is the Jabbawockees, they apper to be promising as wellFish and Chicks is a biracial crew, but one of the members is a Japanese American. Here are some links to the competition.http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/crews.jhtml?crew=kaba_modernhttp://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/voting.jhtml?episodeId=1http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/crews.jhtml?crew=fish_and_chicks