Don't Listen to Me
Hip-hop can teach us how to start our own movement and what is going on in the ghetto

Isaac_Liu
What do you suggest? You've got a lot of energy. What can you do and what can you offer?

Don't Listen to Me
The Asian version of hip-hop must reinvent itself all of the existing art forms in specifically Asiacentric ways

Isaac_Liu
What have you been doing?

Don't Listen to Me
I've reinvented the written word - I do computer calligraphy in vertical columns over graffiti art from Seoul - the aesthetic of painting and calligraphy is purely Asian all done on graphic design.

Isaac_Liu
How are you marketing this?

Don't Listen to Me
I wrote a "novel" in vertical columns

Isaac_Liu
Do you have a website?

Don't Listen to Me
Not at the present time.

Interview Overview Section Descriptions Listed below is a breakdown of the various sections of this informative 2 ½ hour Internet Chat on people's views of the past, present and future of Asian Pacific American music artists. We hope that this transcript will provide thought-provoking insights of what it takes to achieve our goals. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by clicking HERE PART 1 - Past reviews PART 2 - Hip-hop - Good or bad? PART 3 - "Asiancentric" sound PART 4 - What hip-hop teaches PART 5 - Chicago scene PART 6 - AA filmmakers PART 7 - Artist support PART 8 - A new artist strugges PART 9 - Going "Indie" PART 10 - Achieving success PART 11 - Christian & other music PART 12 - What hip-hop teaches

RootsMusic:
I wish d.j.'s would sample Asian language tracks.

Isaac_Liu
Ever think of rapping?

Don't Listen to Me
I am a rapper and a spoken word artist. I've translated a 13th century Korean folk songs. Isaac_Liu, are you a rapper?

Isaac_Liu
I'm not. I used to be a financial analyst at an I-bank. Presently pursuing a career in strengthening our Asian community by scouting and placing AA hip-hop artists with messages that stick. You've got to place your anger on paper because it is "tight."

Blue Audio:
Are you going to be working independently or forming a corporation or partnership?

Isaac_Liu
LLP at this point. I still lack funding at this stage and still gathering artists. Looking to acquire some type of "brand marketing."

Blue Audio:
Are you looking for "Angel" or "Venture Capital?"

Isaac_Liu
"VC" and "Angel" investors, from my experience, take on too much leadership. I'm basically trying to keep it private until there's a need for venture capital.

Blue Audio:
So your focus will be on local artists - first

Isaac_Liu
Not necessarily local - I'm still trying to convince myself that we have what it takes to be successful. With the Internet, marketing is quite cheap and effective.

Don't Listen to Me
I'm thinking more about cultivating talent than signing it, at this point.

Blue Audio:
Isaac_Liu - that's true, but if you're selling, you usually want to combine online and offline promotion

Isaac_Liu
Agreed

Don't Listen to Me
As we end this chat, I just want to let people know that I'm all about A.P.I.A.N. brotherhood and sisterhood so that it's all one love. Sometimes Asians are so "white" that they can't even see the light, so you have to fire them up to fight for their right to have a voice and choice in a society that never gave us neither.

Blue Audio:
The interaction was very interesting and it was cool to hear different views on things.

RootsMusic:
I just wish other types of music would have been represented, even rock would have been nice or Asian music internationally.

MC
I tried to bring in groups such as Linkin Park, Deftones, String Cheese Incident, Wide Mouth Mason, Slide, Meg Lee Chin, Bond and other group - but to no avail since rap was the prevailing subject.

RootsMusic:
I really don't think that there will be any exciting developments in rap or hip-hop for Asians. I hear a lot more promise in other musical styles, especially with the fans.

MC
There are a lot of other groups and music styles that we haven't explored.

RootsMusic:
Asian music is not cohesive enough to be defined by itself right now. We spent so much time on the chat on what "Asian" should mean in music. I feel if it is just a color, then why talk about the musical differences. For our next Internet chat, maybe we should work on what "Asian" should mean musically would be a good starting point. Not defining, but agreeing to what degree does it influence the music and how? What's special about it? Like Isaac_Liu, I felt that it's not important - just a fact on the bio.

Isaac_Liu
My contact info is isaac@yahoo.com

Blue Audio:
My contact info is info@borderblue.com

MC
Thank you for everybody's participation! Good night!