Filipino American Womyn Emcees: Gingee

As products of the post-1965 immigration boom, many second-generation Filipino Americans adopted the hip-hop culture.  Writer of one of the most extensively written books on hip-hop's history, Jeff Chang believes the hip-hop generation sprouted at the end of the civil rights era. And it has stayed afloat by maintaining a solidified foundation of multiracial and polycultural youth.  

Having gone though numerous socioencomic swings and spatial changes of the inner cities, the growth of the hip-hop generation lied concurrent with the rise and fall of the U.S. post-industrial economy and the decay of the country’s line separating the middle class from the poor (cited from a Victor Viesca article, 2012).  While hip-hop soared as a movement and culture as conditions of the inner cities worsened, its sounds migrated into the ears of suburbia.  Belonging to one of the most statistically successful ethnic groups in the U.S., second-generation Filipino American youth embraced hip-hop and rap music as a counterculture that represented their own marginalization.

Filipino American women have only recently started to become more renowned in hip-hop. In the DJ scene, DJ SoSuperSam tours with Donald Glover when she's not rocking solo sets at venues. And in emceeing/ rapping, there are quite a few rising stars like Gingee and Hopie Spitshard, and staple veterans like Rocky Rivera, that are making a name for themselves in a big way.

I recently got to chat with Gingee in Los Angeles a week ago. In our conversation, I asked her questions about ethnicity and gender, and how it affects her as an artist. But I feel that the following two questions/ answers sums up her experiences thus far:

What have been some positive and negative experiences as a Filipino American woman emcee?

Gingee: Positive. I guess the response from people is great. People are like “oh wow you killed it, like you’re so awesome!” They give you a lot of encouragement, which is awesome. People like what you are doing. It’s just been a lot of fun being involved in the LA scene, building a name for myself, networking with people, playing in different shows. It’s been an adventure like one thing leads to other. It’s so fun to me, you know, and like I still have more to go in developing as an artist. I have this whole plan of how I am going to be even doper and I am just going to blow everyone out of the water!

Negative. It’s still tough out there for female to be taken seriously ‘cause it is a male dominated scene. I always have to prove myself. People never expect it. In general, a negative with being underground is you’re not getting paid for shows, or not being promoted right. And there’s hardly anyone at shows, but I don’t care. I will rock it for any crowd. I really been focusing a lot more on DJing for the last few months. But I really want to get back to my like writing and emceeing because I feel like that’s a skill that I have that I can bust it out. I can write a rap whenever, but I been trying to be really dope as a producer so I that I can have really awesome tracks. And then I will write on top of that. But it’s a symbolic processes. It works together. Yeah, it’s crazy ‘cause I’m trying to figure it out. I did all my own recording and stuff, so now you get more attention. I want my tracks to sound better, like produce better. Then you have the problems like I need a better mic and now a better studio, and now I need to learn like how people really do it. And then it becomes this whole other processes of trying to figure stuff out, which might stop you from putting stuff out and creating. I want to find this good balance and be able to put stuff out, but do it right.

If you have to give any advice to up-and-coming Filipino emcees, what would it be?

Gingee: Don't be afraid to just do it. Just be different and unique. Don’t feel like you have to be like other Filipino emcees. Don't feel like you need to fit it to any kind of stereotype of what you think an emcee should talk about. You can talk about real shit. I feel like you just need to step up as artist. Be really good at our craft. Take people compliments and stuff. Our community is very supportive but at the same time you always have to be very self- critical. I am very self-critical. I am always saying I have to be better and better. I am not satisfied with just this level. I have to take it to the next level and that what we need to do to be taken seriously as artist. We have to be just as good as black people and white people. We have to come into our own Filipinos. We have to come up with out own styles. Be weird and different.

You can stream her eponymous album here. Check it out. It's pretty fresh!

Asians in Combat Sports

We all know how Asian men are represented in mainstream American media. However, there is one area of American culture where Asian’s seem to be excepted for their talent more than anything else. That area is in combat sports such as Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts. Some of the most well know names in both sports are Asian men. In Boxing the most popular person in the sport is a Filipino by the name of Manny Pacquiao. The champion of the 155 pound division is a young half Korean and half Black guy by the name of Benson Henderson.

Both of these men are very proud of their Asian heritage. Manny is not only a Boxer but also a politician in his home country. Benson’s number one influence in his life was his Korean mother. I’ve notice that in both sports their race is never truly brought up. It might be mentioned but it is never used as a positive or a negative. This doesn’t only extend to them though. Currently in the UFC there are fighters like Kim Dong-Hyun, Jung “Korean Zombie” Chan-Sung, and fighters like Yushin Okami. Like all other fighters their ethnicity is never brought up. What makes the athletes in these sports different than say basketball and how they treat their Asian-stars?

My belief is that because combat sports are about the individual you can’t really say anything negative to the men that make it to the level they are at. What matters is what happens during the fight. The stereotypes can’t be applied to them. Yes, they are martial artist but they none of them are the type of martial artist that the mainstream media portrays in any medium. There is something raw about these men. As a fan of both sports that is one thing I love about combat sports itself. It isn’t about skin color (even though boxing was once like that). It is about being the best. Maybe one day this attitude will extend to other areas of American media and sports but as of right now I feel this is a good place to start. Since combat sports is about the talent and ability not the color of ones skin. Especially with Fighters that are extremely talented like the “Korean Zombie” and Ben “Smooth” Henderson.

Let's Take A Break from Suppression and Let's Talk About Progression

(2012 US National Taekwondo Poomsae Team in Columbia) 

We always talk about how Asian Americans are being mistreated, under appreciated, and less powerful than the other races. But how about their progression and success? This past week, the US National Taekwondo Poomsae Team represented our country at the 7th World Championships which were held in Tunja, Columbia.

Okay, so where am I going with this? Well, the US National is composed of 25 athletes as well as 8 coaching staff and personal. What's surprising is that 20 out of 25 of the elite athletes and half of the coaching staff as well as the head coach are all Asian Americans.

This team has also made history for the US by placing 3rd in the world for the most medals at this year's championship as well as breaking records in majority of the divisions they competed in. Jason Hwang and Claire Young-A Kim also made history by getting the first gold medal in the Pairs 2 division.

(Jason Hwang and Claire Young-A Kim winning first place) 

They are both talented and successful Asian Americans in the sport.

All of these athletes have proved that the US and Asian American's have gone a long way in the sport ever since the team first started 7 years ago. It was hard for Asian American athletes to get far in this sport since the first thing to think about when you hear a team for the United States by any foreigner would be comprised of White Americans.

However this success can be traced to their stereotype.
Being good at martial arts.
The model minority working hard.

All of these factors can be true, but this is a sport. If you want to get big then you have to work harder than anyone else. All of these athletes have practiced long hours, word exceptionally hard, and came at the top by being number 1 in the nation as well as breaking records at the world stage. I mean, Noreen Thackery, who is considered to be a White American didn't win the first ever gold medal for the US at the World Championships by just being the superior race. The judges do not score individuals based off their race or gender, but by their skill and abilities to perform the most perfect techniques.

(Noreen Thackery, in the gold uniform) 

This just goes to show, that they can be successful.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=482850251765534&set=vb.100001216907414&type=2&theater

(here's a link to a video of some of their performances to have a better idea of their skills.)

(Photo credits to: Muhammad Chisti)

Stereotypes is a Dating Killer for Asian Men

            When it comes to dating, Asian males always have a hard time. I believe that I can treat women how they wanted to be treated. Also, I am descent looking and I can be romantic like taking girls on a long walks on a beach. I can provide what women are looking for but I still get rejected. getting turned down is part of dating but one of the most disturbing rejections that I got was during my my freshman year in Cal State Northridge. This woman told me that she cannot date me because I am Asian!  What is wrong of being Asian?

          

            One of the reasons maybe Asians does not get a lot of success in dating is because the stereotypes that society . Media is one of the sources that create the false point of view of the popular culture toward males of Asian descent.

The video talks about how media desexualize Asian men. According to Yul Kwon, he grew up believing that he can only be nerdy or martial art specialist because that what media was showing him how Asians should be. Also, Aasif Mandvi pointed out that most Asian characters in TV shows, like “Heroes”, does not know how to speak English.

Not all Asian males are nerdy, know kung fu, or cannot speak English. I don’t know any Kung Fu and I know how to speak English.  Yul Kwon’s achievement of winning “Survivor” shows that Asian men are capable of doing things more of what society expected.

 Media's view of  Asian men through TV shows creates the idea that all of us are nerdy, Kung Fu masters who do not speak English. This message transfers to the minds of popular culture. In results, it affects woman's views towards males of Asian descent as potential partners.

The media's effect in society is so strong that ,according to Robnett, Belinda, and Cynthia Feliciano’s (2011) research about preference of internet daters, the most excluded individuals were black women, Asian men, Middle Eastern, and Asian Indians when it comes to dating.

The Stereotypes greatly affect Asian males that they are one of the least wanted partners in society. This restricts Asians from dating who ever we wanted.

  

Fortunately, there are women in our society who over looks the stereotypes. They are open minded enough to know that Asian men are not what society thinks about them. These women view Asian men as real men that has to potential to be their partners in their lives .

Self-Objectification or Self-Denfense?

http://nataliemeansnice.tumblr.com/post/34252219466/love-your-body-week-2012-at-the-university-of

Have you ever heard about this quote "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"?
Now. It is the time to talk about the most sensitive subject among everyone, especially women, the beauty.

There are so many devotes in the society within the concept of the beauty.
In my opinion, the exposure in the media about the beauty determines the concept and the grading-chart for beauty.

In America, studies have shown that girls prefer white dolls over any other 'colored' dolls. Despite to this idea, In Asian, girls prefer Asian dolls (or toys that the girls can physically assimilate with)

Why do guys want hottest girl to be the girlfriends? Or even, to choose as a fantasy in their minds?
Some people argue that it is in the genes; however, the concept of the beauty is changes throughout the time periods. Best example can be shown in arts. The portrayals of women who were considered Venuses at that time might not be seen as same in this time period.
However, the idea of having a glamorous body is universal. Glamorous body represents the maternity that is directly linked with people's unconscious mind.

Struggle to claim the beauty in the society differs within the racial community that one belongs to. From the reading of "a Letter to My Sister", is one of the many descriptions of how people strive to claim the beauty, but often times fail. An Asian woman who went through various plastic surgery procedures to assimilate to the society that she thought she belonged to. "Our inclusion into the American process turned out to be our worst form of oppression."

It is the 'love your body' week. And the previous picture in this blog post has the image of the over-weight girl with the sign that says "F*ck Fascist Beauty Standards". "Fat is NOT a Bad Work".
Love your body week is about promoting good self-esteem, good self-worth, good self-image and body possibility.
However, the action that she is doing in this picture gives me the sad smile, just like the women who do the plastic surgery to 'self-objectify' in the society, this girl is doing her 'self-defense' from the shield of love your body week's theme.