Jin and his sick skillz

As a Chinese-American rap artist, Jin acknowledges that he is not only a member of the hip-hop community but also represents Asian America as well. Unlike the Asian rappers before him, Jin embodies the new breed of Asian rappers who take the initiative and “strategically embraces” (as Wang points out) his racial differences. Jin makes his ethnicity visible to his audience—making sure his listeners know that he is not afraid of being different. As Wang points out, rap and hip-hop both have close ties with the black community. Even though this creates many difficulties for Asian American rappers, Jin’s success is proof that there can be a “viable space of acceptance and success” for future Asian American rappers.

In looking at Jin’s single, Learn Chinese as well as the skit that precedes it on his CD, we can focus on the intricacies of Jin’s music, and see how he deals with the issues of race and identity. Starting with the skit, Jin purposely brings to the forefront the racism which he faces on a daily bases. Instead of glossing over such phenomenon, Jin uses the skit, in which an individual brings to Jin some beats and demos, to show the ignorance and assumptions of those around him in the industry. As the skit opens, Jin is heard being very receptive(and possibly optimistic) of potential material—but visitors comments reveal questionable tastes. As the beats start to play the individual states “it’s like my Chinese club joint,” and later exclaims to another sample “It’s Chinese Outkast…Chinese Caroline.” All the while, Jin becomes more dismayed at the samples lack of any quality or style. (And impatience at this individual’s shallow belief that since Jin is Chinese, everything he does must be somehow Chinese as well) These samples are purposely made to sound “Orientalist,” full of discordant plucks of strings and virtually pentatonic scales. Jin is eventually fed up and proclaims “When the fuck does the beat drop?!” Followed soon by “That shit is garbage!” The other individual, in a sincerely exasperated tone (seemingly shocked that Jin, the Chinese rapper, would be so against his samples full of “Asian style”) replies”Pssssh, ain’t you Chinese?”

The track then immediately transitions over to his song Learn Chinese. The first line has Jin, almost replying to where we last left off with the individual, “Yeah I’m Chinese, and what?!” We see through the skit (its overt sarcasm and witty use of the ignorant individual) as well as Jin’s reaction and reply that he is not afraid to address the issue of race. Furthermore, as Wang states, Jin “flip[s] the race card back on his opponents by embracing his racial differences and then using it to ridicule his rivals.” (53) Even though Wang is talking specifically about Jin’s freestyle approach, we can clearly see Jin’s use of his ethnicity in order to make those who are ignorant of the complexities of race (like the individual in Jin’s skit) appear as the real loser. In doing so, Jin forces the audience to recognize his ethnicity and respect him for it.