Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

topic posted Tue, November 13, 2007 - 5:40 PM by  Le
Thoughts and feedback welcomed for this documentary idea I've had for a while....

people.tribe.net/le4life/b...7e63edd7a0

another documentary I want to write and direct someday is one on Asian-Americans in hip hop. In honor of that, here are some of the artists who are contributing to the movement, with links to pics. Read more info at my myspace blog...
blog.myspace.com/index.cfm



The Invisible Skratch Piklz, pioneers of the team battle and winners (3 yrs in a row in the early 1990's) of the World DMC's. Member Qbert has long been regarded as the best scratch artist on earth, and Mix Master Mike became the DJ for the Beastie Boys. They disbanded in 2000 and are all working separately now. Qbert recently invented the QFO, a single turntable/mixer instrument.
www.djtimes.com/original/d...es/F1-b.JPG
www.hiphopslam.com/news/g/0...t-QFO.jpg




Tyra from Saigon: composer, pianist, guitarist, and scratch DJ, one of the many fine ladies featured on Femaleswitfunk.com
www.femaleswitfunk.com/fwf2/b...tfs.jpg



DJ Mike Relm. If you're ever lucky enough to catch him on tour, you'll be treated to some synchronized music and cinematic montage. The fuker sets up a live system where he has edited footage (mostly from random films) that he can manipulate when scratching his vinyl.
www.sfgate.com/c/pictures...d20c_at.jpg



Kid Koala, scratch DJ and downtempo producer. I just had to include him cuz I don't know many artists (much less Asian-American ones) who do his style of music.
image.listen.com/img/356x2...56x237.jpg




Mike Shinoda got his claim to fame with Linkin Park, but then went on to form his own hip hop band Fort Minor, whose debut album featured a track about his Japanese-American family's internment during World War II.
www.rafu.com/images/mike_shinoda_2.jpg


Lyrics Born, MC from Berkeley/Oakland (hooray!!!) who has worked with artists and producers such as DJ Shadow.
media.musictoday.com/store/b...D118.jpg



Native Guns = two MC's and one DJ. In addition to their collaborative album, they also do a lot of community and youth work. And they're in Oakland, yaaayyy!!!
i42.photobucket.com/albums/e...d0ee5.jpg


Chad Hugo is one half of The Neptunes and one third of N.E.R.D. He produced his first song (Rump Shaker) with Pharrell Williams when they were both 18.
www.bbc.co.uk/collective/...319/nerd.jpg



If Solow is part of the Southern Cali-based crew featured in Hypen Magazine and the documentary Rize, then he must be a member of The Rice Track, one of the few (if not only) groups of Asians in the underground dance scene known as krumping.
www.krumpkings.com/images/bio/solow.gif



Several years back, Jin made his television debut on BET 106 & Park's Freestyle Friday competition and ended up beating seven consecutive challengers, becoming the show's longest running champion. He then got signed onto the Ruff Ryders label but his debut album flopped. He has been releasing albums with other labels since and continuing to win MC battles all over the world.
bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/vlimg...62.jpg



I don't know if these fools are actually with any record label, but if you find any of their albums or songs online (I'm sure they have a Myspace) you might get quite a laugh. Three Chinamen from NYC rapping about the perils of being Asian in America.
www.escapist.net/receptacl...ousmsg.jpg



The Far East Movement, sort of like Notorious MSG but not as much absurdity and they're probably more attractive too. Passionate lyrics about what it means to be Asian-American. They got their first track deal by being on the soundtrack for Fast & the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift.
www.theplatform2006.com/photo/...UP1.jpg



Miss Info, radio personality and host who got into an argument on the air with her fellow DJ's at Hot 97 in NYC. The station had recently released a song poking fun at the tsunami disaster which had just struck Southeast Asia. Apparently, she was the only one there who thought the song was too racist and insensitive.
i29.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Miss.jpg




Jeff Chang, Berkeley graduate and hip hop author/editor. One of his recent books Can't Stop Won't Stop has been hailed as the best scholastic/literary work on this music culture.
mcc.studentaffairs.duke.edu/imag...p.gif
www.giantpeachnews.com/news/d...ang.gif
posted by:
Le
offline Le
Los Angeles
  • Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

    Wed, November 14, 2007 - 1:35 AM
    What, no Mountain Brothers?
    • Le
      Le
      offline 56

      Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

      Wed, November 14, 2007 - 10:13 AM
      Mountain Brothers? Never heard of them. My list up there is just the beginning, so I would definitely add more to that, ones I also know or don't know yet. As for Chairman Mao, heheh hell yeah!!!! Ego Trip's Big Book of RAcism is one of the funniest books ever. They also did one on the history of hip hop too.
      • Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

        Wed, November 14, 2007 - 11:35 AM
        Wow--making a documentary on Asians in hip hop and never heard of the Mountain Brothers?

        wm06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll

        They only had maybe 1 album but it was a pretty big deal at the time. I believe it was the #1 or at least close to the #1 selling album of all time at sandbox. They hit right at the peak of the indie/underground hip hop movement--even were in a Sprite commercial. Their debut was OK--at the time I thought they were kind of overrated. Their producer, Chops, has been doing stuff for other groups lately.

        They had a second album, and it's listed on Allmusic...but I'm not entirely sure it actually came out. I think I have the sampler CD somewhere.

        You also can't forget the legendary Nasty NES...pacific northwest hip hop legendary DJ.

        www.myspace.com/nastynes

        Used to be Sir Mixalot's DJ. (And known for his taste in sunglasses)
      • Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

        Wed, November 14, 2007 - 11:35 AM

        Dude, besides his work w/ EGO TRIP, Ch. Mao has some of the deepest crates of dope vinyl I've ever heard . . .

        He's respected all over the globe!!!

        His party @ APT is bananas









        • Le
          Le
          offline 56

          Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

          Wed, November 14, 2007 - 11:46 AM
          Thanx for the info yall. What's APT?
          • Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

            Wed, November 14, 2007 - 2:00 PM
            Def. one of the most hip lounge/clubs in NYC... www.aptwebsite.com/
            Lovebug Starski
            Spinna
            Bobbito
            Citizen Kane
            Chairman Mao
            Rich Medina
            Ursula 1000
            Justin Carter
            Akalepse
            Prince Paul
            Angola
            Neil Aline
            Spun
            Duane Harriot
            Jazzy Jeff
            Sean Holland

            Guests:
            Peanut Butter Wolf
            Kenny Dope
            Cash Money
            King Britt
            Q-Tip
            Melle Mel
            Lord Sear
            Darshan Jesrani
            Jon Cutler
            Smash
            etc.

            Oh yeah, NO REQUESTS ALLOWED ! ! !
            It's posted right on the DJ booth ~~
            Gotta love it ;-)




            • Le
              Le
              offline 56

              Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

              Wed, November 14, 2007 - 7:06 PM
              Fuck I've never been to NY and probably won't go for years. I'm too broke to travel. But I did just myspace Mao, so thanx :)

              Anyway I don't mean to be an asshole but can I ask you two guys (or whoever else responds to this thread) for a favor? Please go to my blog either on tribe or myspace and post a reply with info and suggestions you wanna contribute so that I can access it easily in the future cuz this thread will slowly get lost under newer threads as times passes.

              Tribe blog:
              people.tribe.net/le4life/b...0#comments

              myspace blog:
              blog.myspace.com/index.cfm

              If you're too lazy to do it, then just say no and I'll copy/paste what you've already posted.
            • Unsu...
               

              Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

              Wed, November 14, 2007 - 7:08 PM
              Did anyone mention Beat Junkies? They are also family with Visionaries... Hit em up!

              On some commercial s**t, I heard Apple De from BEP do a whole rap in Tagalog. Didn't understand it, but it was aiiiight!
              • Le
                Le
                offline 56

                Re: Asian-Americans in hip-hop, my documentary idea

                Wed, November 14, 2007 - 7:21 PM
                So far, I've heard Asian language rap in Japanese, Viet, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Funny thing is I'm Chinese and I thought the Mandarin and Cantonese sucked, hahahaaha!!!!! The Jap was tight, and the Viet was dope as shit cuz it was Thai or whatever his name is, from his CD Together We Rize.

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