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This is Jin, newest artist of the Ruff Ryders. I was born in Florida, I live in New York… My first album, The Rest Is History, is out, and I’m here in Hong Kong.
How did you get into rap?
I started listening to rap in the 8th or 9th grade, roughly, and that was basically something I discovered on the radio. I was listening to all types of music, you know: Michael Jackson, Chinese music, everything, but I found rap, and it just caught my ears right away. So eventually I started developing more of an interest for it, like going to the record store and asking them, “Yo, what’s the newest stuff out… who’s out.” I started building my collection that way and then the next step was me starting around myself.
Did you have a job?
Cmon, I’m not Ricky Schroder, this is not Silver Spoons (an ‘80s TV show about a rich kid). Of course I had a job. As far back as I can remember, my parents owned Chinese restaurants. The first one, I think, they opened was when I was six. I was there daily… you know, being a part of the whole environment. When I was old enough, probably like nine or ten- maybe even eleven, I was answering phones already, and as I got older and older, it became more. When I started driving, I started making deliveries, and that was my first job, and it was a real, real job. I know a lot of people are like, when you work for your family, its not really a job. You can’t be serious? That’s when its hardest! Let’s say you work at burger king. Your job description is this, this, and this. When you’re working for your family there is no job description. He could say anything from go to the supermarket and buy some lettuce or he could be like go to the bathroom and clean that up, and what are you gonna say? It’s not just your boss, thats your father. I’m could be like “no, im not cleaning the bathroom, I quit!” but then I gotta see him at home. That was my first job, but even after that I got other jobs, like working at the mall and stuff like that.
Who was your inspiration?
The first bit I recall is probably LL Cool J. Naughty by Nature was big… House of Pain even. This was their whole era, the two-year time frame that all these guys were all out. Damn, even Criss Cross was an influence. I was young, and I was watching these kids, and I’m like, “Damn, if they could do it, I could do it,” and they didn’t even write their own rhymes! So, I started writing my own rhymes, and then what started out as a hobby at first turned into something my life revolved around.
Tell us about 106 and Park.
What it is, is they have a freestyle battle every week. It’s still running right now, weekly on the TV channel and there are millions of viewers across the nation. The first time I went to audition for it, they told me, “We can’t have you because you don’t like in New York;” it’s based out of New York. So basically, I got turned away the first time. Later, I moved to New York after September 11th. Then [my manager and I] figured: we live here now so let’s try it again. We went back, and you know, auditioned, and got a callback. And then next thing we know, I’m winning week after week after week. Ultimately, they added me to the hall of fame. That was the catalyst to everything, definitely. Ruff Ryderz heard me right there and they contact BET.
What do u think of other rappers:
Well, you know, my favorites in general: I’m a big fan of B.I.G, Nas, you know- real traditional, nothing too out of the range, but I listen to all a lot of stuff though, as far as who I like listening to. It could be anywhere from Mos Def to a lot of underground rappers. There’s a guy named Preacher who’s pretty ill.
How much race has to do with your success?
There are two answers to that. For me, it has nothing to do with it, because I rhyme just as Jin first and foremost, and then of course, underneath Jin, there are a lot of elements. Jin is a true Hip Hop fan, Jin is a brother, Jin is a son, and Jin is Chinese of course. It’s not my first priority... My whole thing is that I represent myself and everything else that falls into that, which is Chinese too though. Now, as far as to the media and the writers and everybody else outside of me, that seems to be all they care about. I’ll be honest: I haven’t done one interview in the last three years where my race wasn’t brought up –including this one apparently. That’s just the reality of it. I understand why. Number one: they see it as being unique. Like, oh yeah, he’s the first Asian rapper, you know. But my [problem] is when it comes to a point where they question if I’m a gimmick, if I’m authentic. Listen: If it was a gimmick of any sort, and there was no talent involved at all, we wouldn’t be having this interview. You wouldn’t wanna talk to me. You know what I mean? The answer is right in front of their faces. All of these journalists are like, what do you say to those people who question whether you’re authentic or just a gimmick? If I was a gimmick, would you be interviewing me? No.
What about white rappers? What do you think of Eminem?
As far as if he’s a good guy, I don’t know I’ve never met him my whole life, I don’t know him personally. Lyrically, he’s one of the top right now. But you know, as an MC, by nature, you have to have the mentality that you can beat anybody, and I share that same mentality.
What do you think of the ladies here?
Oh, lovely. I wish I had more time, but I mean it’s a really busy schedule. I’m leaving tomorrow. I gotta plan a seven day Hong Kong trip dedicated to just the ladies. When I was kid… I’ve been here before. But I wasn’t looking for ladies when I was a kid, I was looking for toy store, and Hong Kong’s got wild toys, I know that much.
Tell us about your CD.
The Rest Is History: that’s my first CD. It’s out now, and the bottom line is that it’s Hip Hop. You know, of course, there’s a big focus, like you said, on me being the first Asian or whatever. I’ll say it to everyone out there: If you listen to Hip Hop, check out the album. I certainly don’t want them to base it on, “Yo, buy it cause I’m Chinese,” you know what I’m saying? I just want to try and keep Hip Hop alive. As far as the album itself, the more specific details: I got Kanye West on it, I got Styles P., I got Twist on the album, I got this singer named Life, Wyclef [Jean] producing… it’s hot.
What do you think of Hip Hop crossing over with RnB?
I think a big part of Hip Hop is evolution. I don’t think the problem is Hip Hop being influenced by RnB. I think the people that seem to only do that and really abuse that are the problem. But, I mean, I listen to a lot of RnB-influenced Hip Hop anyway.
While we’re talking about genres: what do you think of Rock music?
I like Rock music. I listen to a lot of Punk Rock. I like Sum 41, Greenday… What about Metallica? I listen to Kiss, definitely Kiss… this is way back though, I don’t know how they sound now.
Did the lyrics on the album spawn from freestyle or were they written out?
I sat down and wrote them. It’s very different because when you’re freestyling, there are no guidelines and no boundaries so it’s definitely more flexible. I guess it’s something that I’ve got to develop: to take that freestyle-flexibility and influence it into the songs. I think that would be the next level.
Interview By: Indrayudh Shome |
