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HIPHOP CHINA MASIA ONE FEATURE
HIPHOP CHINA MASIA ONE INTERVIEW
http://hiphop.cn/interviews/14383/
Hiphop China reached out and did an interview on me! Thanks y’all! For those that can’t read Chinese, the unedited English translation is below.
Here is some Chinese Hiphop I’m feeling!
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HH.CN: For those who don’t know, tell us who you are and where you’re from?
I am an artist by the name of Masia One. I was born in Singapore and discovered Hiphop when I was 8 by finding a bootleg Public Enemy tape in a market place. All my cousins were listening to Taiwanese pop Music and I was bumping “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” LOL. I moved to Vancouver and dabbled in Bgirling (Breakdancing) and Graffiti. I received a scholarship to attend University of Toronto where I took architecture, and began emceeing and hitting open mic nights around the city.
In 2003 I started an independent label named The M1 Group (now The MERDEKA Group) and released my debut album Mississauga. After releasing a stream of music videos, I was the first female to be nominated for a Much Music (like MTV for Canada) Video Award in the category of Rap. I ran a program called The M1 Academy (together with my partner Jesse of www.thecyberkrib.com) for 4 years that brought together people in the hiphop community in Toronto and stateside. Finally after years of promoting and performing, I have recently released my sophomore album PULAU.
HH.CN: How did you get started in the rap game? Was there a certain artist or song that made you wanna be a MC?
I never even knew hiphop existed until finding that Public Enemy tape when I was 8. Once I moved to Canada, Hiphop was a lot more accessible and I discovered graf artists like Lee, Skeme and Lady Pink and breakers like Asia One…and the Rocksteady Crew. Growing up I was very influenced by groups like The Digable Planets, Bahamadia, Fugees (Lauryn Hill), Big L, Busta Rhymes…I could go on.
In university my roommate had an All Female Showcase and one of his acts cancelled. I wanted to prove to myself I wasn’t too shy and wanted to do it just 1 time. From my first show, I got a Much Music commercial and everything progressed from there.
HH.CN: Its tough enough just to be a rapper these days, not to mention a female rapper, and on top of all that an Asian female rapper. Talk about how you’ve overcome all the stereotypes to pursue your career. Were there a lot of hardships? What do you think enabled you to emerge from the masses: skill, commitment, wit, endurance, something else?
I think as an artist these days, male or female, learning that will make you independent is key. Understanding contracts, being innovative in your self marketing, learning the technology that is out there to help out the hustle…these are all things that we can learn at a faster rate then the major labels.
When i first began, I faced a lot of sexism and racism. My video Split Second Time, which makes fun of Asian Stereotypes in the N. American media, received a LOT of airplay and chat rooms dedicated to hating me sprung up with things like “She’s trying to be like Missy Elliot by being all Asian” and “Asian B*tch that some record company put on to pretend she knows about hiphop, she would make a better car model”. In the end, for every negative things said, I would receive emails like one sent by a Vietnamese girl that lives in a rural area of Canada letting me know that she’s the only Asia girl in her highschool, gets picked on everyday, and never realized someone that looks like her was allowed to be on TV doing what I was doing. That to me is much more valuable.
I think having a Chinese – Singaporean mother has given me a VERY thick skin to deal with haters, and with practice, experience and willingness to learn my skills continue to improve. A positive attitude is always key. Thanks Mom & Pop.
HH.CN: The Asian Canadian community is pretty big, does everyone get along or is there strife? Canada is a melting pot of cultures, how does it all work out and what do you do to cope?
I grew up around an Asian gang culture in Vancouver, and to tell you truth everyone was pretty proud of their identity and supportive. I think a funny thing happens when Asians hate on other Asian people based on what degree of “Asian” they are! LOL. Terms like Banana (white on the inside, yellow on the outside) are very common in N. American Asian society – Even when I was criticized for my video Split Second Time, more of the disapproval came from Asian males. In the end humans are pretty messed up, and we need to regain perspective and understanding. Besides…Obama is president.
HH.CN: What do you think is the biggest problem facing the hip-hop scene today and what needs to be done to fix it?
I won’t say “industry” and “false media” is the only problem facing hiphop today, because there will always be an element of “entertainment”. I disagree with the lack of representation for all the facets that is hiphop, whether pop or underground. I always say, I wish for every Girlicious there would be a Lauryn Hill.
HH.CN: Do you have a hero (or heros)? Who and why?
I love Peter Tosh & Bob Marley. To me they represent 2 divergent ways toward the same goal. I love their music and they way they chose to express themselves.
HH.CN: Do you consider yourself a “conscious” rapper? Would you say your music contains a message, if so what is it?
I’m conscious because I mean what I say and usually express myself from life experience. I would like my music to have the overall message of independence, education and awareness. Like Bob said…One Love.
HH.CN: Usually people who are well travelled have a better understanding of the world, how have your travels affected you as a person? Tell us the best place you’ve been and why.
My travels have opened my eyes up to so much. To be in California one day hanging at Writer’s Block, in an arctic Inuit community teaching in -minus 40, then in Singapore the next eating chicken rice with my Lion City Family keeps the soul alive! I get to see so many colors, hear so many sounds, reason with great people from different cultures, swim in the ocean – I really love my life.
Jamaica and Indonesia are my 2 favorite places on earth. When I was in JA for the first time, I just felt like it was home…I can’t explain it. The way people speak in honesty, the music and the nature – it inspires me. Indonesia has great people, great food and good vibes. In both these places, people I have met are so raw in how they express themselves artistically.
HH.CN: What was the last book you read and what did you gain from it?
4-day work week by Tim Ferris. I learned how to market a product with minimum overhead cost, and through the internet.
HH.CN: Where can we find out more about MasiaOne (including where to hear more of your music) and what can we expect to see in 2009?
I have just released my new album PULAU:
www.itunes.com/masiaone
www.masiaone.com
www.cdbaby.com/masiaone3
I’m leaving to California in 2 weeks to re group and brain storm new projects, then returning back to tour SE Asia and see my family. The Japan release of PULAU will be in late Spring, and I’m hoping this release will expand to the territories of China and SE Asia. In April, I’ll be back in Jamaica recording the live band album before exploring a new market in Europe by the Fall 2009. I have an interest in educating through the arts, and will be taking a lot of teaching gigs in remote areas to expand my knowledge and experience.
Expect a lot of music and hustle. LOL.
