a lot has been said,but easy on the japanese cracks one mans oppinion is just one mans oppinion,you should respect it like he sholud respect yours.let me get straight to the point since i dont have that much freetime.im a japanese american working as a dj in some underground productions and have worked with blacks filipinos as well as whites all accross the west coast,and our diverse cultural backrounds is what makes our product unique,yes hiphop is black culture it was invented in the bronx alongside latino americans.but music is also universal anyone can listen and appreciate it.asian americans are still a minority in this game but people like jin,qbert and nigo are representing more than one element of hiphop.you can do all the studying and research you want but participting in it is a different kind of appreciation.american hiphop is of the highest standard of hiphop but there are different types of standards.every person has the ability to choose what form of music he wants to listen to.beats "seldom" represent a certain culture or race but lyrics usualy do,you can rap about whatever the fuck you want just as long its based on your reality,if a black rapper raps about racicsm in america no foreigner can imitate them ,and for filipinos rappers rapping about their corrupt goverment.get it hiphop is a voice like any other artform.it does show love on everyone,and everyone gives the love back by contributing.i asked a colleage of mine on his take on whites doing hiphop he only answerd"as long as they dont use the word nigger im cool with it"

Good point, but I will admit a lot of Hip Hop in America has lost its Messages. It went from Rapping about life, to parties to political strife. Down south Crunk is what you hear on the airwaves. Ive met a lot of great Asian D Jays and I can name countles Japanese Hip Hop Artist. From Zebra to D Bo to A. I. Which I call the Japanese Lauryn Hill and by far is the most talented asian Hip Hop Artist ive ever heard. I hate to admit it, but a lot of Asian Hip Hop isnt good. It will be underground forever, well statewide. Everyone is trying to find their place in this music and want to incorporate it as its own. But to be honost, everyone will always look toward thwe African American Community for guidance. I just believe in not imitating, but originiating

Lee Quiones, Kraftwerk, Rick Rubin, Roger Linn, SEEN 1, Crazy Legs.... -All non African Americans that played a role in the formation of Hip-Hop as a music and culture. I guess Didn't Know really doesn't. If he's still around, please tell me who Afrika Bambataa sampled heavily from for the Planet Rock single? Where they of African descent? Didn't think so. Let's be honest, Everyone borrows. Grandmaster Flash borowed Chic's, "Good Times" break, Rakim jacked a classic Bollywood record for, "Addictive", Wu-tang borrowed samples from Kung Fu movies etc. Do I need to jump into my time machine and ask that they please stop misapporpriating other genres and cultures? Should I demand the masters back for, "Tried By 12" (E. Flatbush Project) on the grounds that they borrowed from my beloved Japanese culture? Dry your eyes America, hip hop is far from dead, the business has just fell on some rough times. People realized that the same, "this is black music and should stay that way" sentiment is akin to, "this is a white country and should stay that way". The survival of hip hop rests on all of our shoulders (ie. multi-ethnic and multi-national), not just those of the good people in the South Bronx, Sedgwick and Cedar during the late 70's. (this by the way, is a great time to discover new artists and find the hip hop that reflects the golden age -it's out there, just look) Although I commend the notion of giving credit where it's due, the fact remains, that no culture is immune from bad records, bad fashion, misguided thinking, and I find it hard to believe that a Japanese person, like myself really represents the African-Amercian struggle (but not to say that we do not have our own to express), and can speak so definitvely on the subject. Sure, we Japanese have our own culture, but manga porn and koto concerts just don't have the same cachet (j/k no hate mail please). Personally, I learned to get over it, I've lived here my whole life, and have adopted certain traits as a product of my environment unapologetically. I'm not here to emulate anyones culture, the basic idea behind America is that everyone gives and takes a little from everyone. I am a mutant raised on equal parts of udon and burritos, sake and olde english, taiko and 808 drums. I laugh at the notion that we must bow to the African American as the source of all that is cool and righteous. (P.S. that's how you get clowned by the way) I don't remember the African American community as a whole owning the patent on the 3/4 drum pattern, nor do I recall the Sugarhill Gang being all that great musically. Choose your heroes wisely. Biggups to Karmacy, Far East Movement, Crown City Rockers, Arata, ISP, The Beat Junkies, and other Asian artists pushing this thing forward. It's not a question of them and us, it's a matter of bringing people closer together

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.

two words: blue scholars.that's some fucking asian-american hip hop for ya.

yea, funny

In response to ecto who stated that the philippines have no official concept of enthic groups.... what about muslim mindanao and agta groups, the moro and negrito groups are marginalized by society at large and have definate complaints...

Thats a another subject

The Light, do you even know what a negrito is, its not your standard pinoy, its an ethnic group that has little interaction with tagalog culture (except for their land getting stolen), they even eat yams instead of rice, they are small (hence the pygmy name), and have very dark skin and kinky hair. Indonesia and Australia have the aborignes and papuan islanders, the philippines have negritos. The eurpeans never referred to the dominant malay culture on the philippine island as negrito or black, it was only reserved to the aborigine highlanders.

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"

Dude, that was really uncalled for. I see you relly took offense to the comment about Fillipinos being great Entertainers, why?

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=When the apollo theatre notices you, you have arrieved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=When the apollo theatre notices you, you have arrieved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfd7lfOYEjI&mode=related&search=when the apollo notices you, you have arrived

For an Asian guy to win at the Apollo says a lot about his talent. MOMO, get an interview

This event was monumental in many ways! Fact... Filipinos have been synonymous with Hip Hop culture just as Puerto Ricans in N.Y. and Mexicans in L.A. Filipinos have had a strong place in Hip Hop history with their contributions in graffiti like DREAM ONE, and in DJing like most members of The BEATJUNKIES and The Invisible Skratch Piklz! It is completely ignorant to accuse Filipinos of trying to be "Black", when their European Colonizers labeled them "Pigmy Nigritos" wich indicated that before years of colonial oppression by Europeans and neighboring Asian Countries, these people native to The PHILIPINES were indeed "Black"! Fact... Filipinos suffer the same conditions all people of color in America have suffered for years by European colonial oppression, wich has been the most underlining commonality inner city youth have shared through Hip Hop before this new era of subburbian Hip Hop kids, who only know MTV and have no idea what the essence of struggle and the ghetto is! So, for anyone who has the audacity to accuse Filipinos of adopting "Black" culture would only come from someone lacking true knowledge of Hip Hop and has no sense of the struggle people of color have had to struggle for years in America!-One-

Like I said you know nothing. The father of Hip Hop was Kool Herc, He brought the break beats from Jamaica to Neww York in the 60S. In the African American Community the blacks played this game called "The Dozens". You would rhyme, but at the same time jokingly talk about each other. To most Hip Hop, well old. James Brown is probably biggest influence to hip hop. He primarily has a lot to do with its early involvement. Along with the funk bands of that period. So Kool Herc known as the founder of Hip Hop started all this. Wu tang clan was like 30 years later, but no one does that anymore. I think once Hip Hop becomes to commercial the blacks will abandon it like they did Jazz, Rock N Roll, The Blues and pretty much all the popular music they invented and come up with something new. They cant stands to be like other people and have other people emulate them. They keep re-inventing themselves. Why cant Asian do that. Invent a culture of Music and have everyone emulate us. Only th filipinos think they contributed something to Hip Hop. I like the CRUNK MUSIC anyway. Hip Hop is so Yester Year. If Hip Hop can bring people together then cool, but when you think of hip Hop. You do not think Asian. We are like the step kids in America when it comes to pop culture. Rick Rubin was just a music producer that took a risk on these black kids and got rich. To you Hip Hop started 40 years ago, to them hundreds of years ago thats the difference.

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

i guess you learn something new everydayhttp://www.eurasiannation.com/articlespol2002-11hiphop.htm

I have never seen an Asian hip hop/rap artist wear Grillz . Correct me if I'm wrong?

Ive seen it

The Light stop trying to bridge blacks and filipinos together it will never happen. Your using that lame excuse so you can try to act black. Cut this bs out now. Whenever filipinos try to do hiphop they over do it and try to act black and wear generic sterotypical hip hop clothing. Bling, baggy pants, durag. All for what its the artist that matters. They seriously should stop doing hip hop.

I don't think black people innovate things and everyone just copys. Different races contribute to different styles. For example skateboarding is white now blacks are copying. This Bape phenom the asians. I am black as well and we don't make everything.

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.

Who do you think innivate nico the guy that invented bape? Fillipinos and blacks have a lot in common, a lot. ive been to the PI. I heard regine Vasquez sing. Im black and im saying this

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.

Much love to all filipino rappers...Proud to be PinoyHipHop Is Alive

Thats a heavy statement

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

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

Maybe asians in hip hop are just asians with an 'african american culture' fetish.

blacks act like bakla

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.

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.

Maybe William Hung should give hip-hop a try. I'm sure he'd fit right in and sound terrific.

***I'm over posting. Really, I would like to debate you, whoever you are, in the (editorial space and interest permiting)print version of Hyphen. There are two issues left this year, so if the editors are interested I am so game to do so, (HYPHEN, you have my email and I will be in contact soon.)"Yes, I can articulately and accurately describe both a 100% Asia-born music style enjoyed worldwide and it's growing popularity, with it's verified, independent origins from hip-hop.I can also argue that Asians do indeed have a place in hip-hop.If you're up to the task, I most certainly am. I really don't need you to be involved, I am most interested in doing so regardless. In the interest of presenting both opinions, I extend my challenge to you. I will make my point, and answer your question -I would just like for you to go on record with your opinions on hip-hop, simple as that***I had a really long post prepared, but this is all I really need to leave here:I'm going to call out the continuous references to, "the blacks" and, "they can't stand to be like other people and have other people emulate them", as part of a general theme in your posts.Who gave you the green light to represent an entire group of people as a whole, that resides on multiple continents? Do you have audited statisics, certified by a third-party that clearly indicate this?And, just to let you know, the fact that you refer to a group of people by their pigmentation level, indicates, at least to myself and some people (as in, not all) that read your diatribe, that you view and label people by their "color" (no accusation, just observation).It's such a, "those people", or a "my(insert ethnicity here)friend" statement.

Rock N Roll was invented by blacks, So was Jazz and Gospel are any of these art forms black today?

what was the name of those pinoy Hip Hop dudes on BET, MTV AND VH1. Im flipping there wasnt any. He Ha Ho. Maybe one day, not.

Who will win the battle between Kanye West and 50 cent? Kanye West album is really good.

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

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???