Although Asian Americans are by no means prominent in mainstream music, a few Asian Americans have made it to Hip Hop, Pop, and Rock radio.
While the artist I list as well as the playlist I made is incomplete, be thankful William Hung and Tila “Tequila” Nguyen didn’t make the cut.
Jin
Much love goes to Jin for being the first Asian-American solo rapper signed to a major record label. After dominating BET’s Freestyle Friday rap battles for 7-weeks, the Chinese-New Yorker signed with the Ruff Ryders in 2002 and released his first single Learn Chinese. Although Jin’s mainstream rap career faltered, Jin has since rebounded and signed with Universal Hong Kong and re-specialized with Chinese rap.
One Vo1ce
The all-Filipina group from Vallejo, California didn’t quite make it mainstream. But between 1997-2000, One Vo1ce was all over the radio in the SF Bay Area.
Chad Hugo (NERD)
The Filipino Producer/Musician is best known for this work with Pharrell Williams as part of the Neptunes and NERD. Although Chad shares the workload with Pharrell, Chad rarely speaks in interviews, shows, or award shows, and come to think of it, I’ve never heard the producer’s voice.
Amerie
Born in Fitchburg, Massachusettes, the half African-American half Korean R&B star spent her childhood in Korea and spoke Korean as her first language. Amerie’s album Touch which includes the single “1 Thing” with Jay-Z was nominated for two Grammys in 2005.
Sean Paul
At the height of his music career between 2002-2004, I remember hearing him in the booth on a Bay Area Hip Hop station. Sean Paul showed up high as shit and the show host made a little jab suggesting so. Sean Paul jokingly responded “Well I got a little Chinese in me man.” I originally thought he was plain poking fun at the always fresh stereotype. But Sean Paul is in fact 1/4 Chinese. His mother’s Afro-Carribean and Chinese. Who knew?
Mike Shinoda (Fort Minor/Linkin Park)
Guitarist and Vocalist for both Linkin Park and Fort Minor, Mike Shinoda was born in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area. Shinoda’s father is Japanese and mother is Caucasian. Although Chester Bennington does most of the vocals – or just screaming – for Linkin Park, Mike takes care of the majority of technical aspects for creating all of the bands albums.
Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical)
The Irish/Native American/Chinese/Filipina/Spanish mixed pop star is a member of the quadrupal-platnum Disney group, High School Musical. Though Hudgens probably made even bigger news in 2007 when suggestive and nude pictures of the Hudgens flooded the internet - apart from the band and scandal, Hudgens has released two solo albums, V and Identified.
