Preaching to the Choir

     Comedian Ronny Chieng performed on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and shared his views on the many different ways Asians can fix this country.

     Watch Chieng as he depicts Asians as racial mediators to president of the united states. Comment your opinions.

Hollywood’s Diversity Dilemma

            John Cho has been cast as Spike Spiegel in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the acclaimed anime “Cowboy Bepop,” Netflix announced.

            The announcement of Cho, who is Korean-American, shows progress of proper representation in Hollywood. For a town that prides themselves on their liberal morals, whitewashing remains a controversy to this day. From Scarlett Johansson as the Japanese protagonist in “Ghost in the Shell,” Justin Chatwin playing Goku in “Dragonball: Evolution” and Mike Myers playing a guru in “The Love Guru” just to name few.

            Controversies of white actors playing ethnic roles has caused people to take action into their own hands. In 2016, the social media campaign #StarringJohnCho showed what major films would look like if they cast Asian and Asian-American actors like Cho in lead roles instead.

            “Cowboy Bepop” has been described as one of the most appealing anime to western audiences. Its popularity in America is greater than in its home country of Japan, where it suffered low ratings. Netflix faces pressure from dedicated fans, especially after their recent flops of other popular anime adaptations. A release date for the Netflix series has yet to be announced.

"Searching"

 

     The 2018 film "Searching" broke new ground as the first mainstream Hollywood thriller headlined by an Asian-American actor.

 

      John Cho shines as David Kim, a father desperate to find his missing teenage daughter. The premise feels like a movie I've seen a thousand times, but "Searching" is a refreshing take on modern thrillers. The lead easily could of been a white actor and the story would play out the same.

 

     This movie helps push the movement of Asian-Americans gaining normal roles instead of roles that play off of stereotypes. Only Matthew McConaughey can play a beach bum, only Asians and Jews can play nerds. Who decided this was the way of the world?

 

     Director Aneesh Chaganty innovated the medium by setting the entire film on computer screens and smartphones. He even used his own iPhone, which became the main camera.

 

     "Searching" is a movie with Asian actors, writers and director. It goes to show that the key to progress is within our own hands. For the people, by the people.

      Did you enjoy the film? What are your thoughts on the rise of Asians in mainstream media?
      Comment below

Higher Brothers

 

 

 



     The Higher Brothers are a Chinese hip-hop group from Chengdu consisting of members MaSiWei, DZknow, Psy.P, and Melo.

 

     They are in a record label, 88rising. The group is known for their songs in Mandarin and Sichuanese that celebrate Chinese culture such as "Made in China," "Black Cab" and "WeChat."

 

     The band is also notable as a high-profile Chinese rap group that has managed to avoid Chinese government censorship while still appealing to Western audiences. Another notable feature of the group is their use of the internet to appeal to multiple audiences.

 

     Watch Higher Brothers talk life in Chengdu and hit the streets for a live performance of "Gong Xi Fa Cai".

 

 



Niki

     Check out yet another prominent artist to emerge out of the label 88rising.

     Nicole Zefanya, better known as Niki, gained popularity on YouTube by posting covers and original songs. Niki capitalized on this fame by independently releasing the songs "Polaroid Boy" and "Anaheim."

     Niki joined the label 88rising due to the success from her independent singles.

     Her music has been influenced by the music she listened to while growing up in Jakarta, Indonesia. Niki's mother mainly played 90's R&B such as Destiny's Child and Aaliyah.

     In 2018, Niki released her debut EP "Zephyr."

     Will 2019 be the breakout year for Niki?

Racism in Anime

     Before the month is over, I thought we take a moment to honor Black History Month.

     The following video explains how even though anime entertains and inspires all walks of life, its hard to ignore how they depict black people. Listen closely to Yedoye Travis as he takes us through the history of racism in anime. Support and subscribe to Get In The Robot.



Kris Wu

     Kris Wu is one of the largest stars in China, yet nonexistent in American pop culture.

     Wu is a Chinese-Canadian actor, singer and model. He is a former member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO and its subgroup EXO-M under SM Entertainment.

     As a solo artist and actor, Wu has starred in some of the highest-grossing Chinese films of all time in China. His Hollywood debut was made in "xXx: Return of Xander Cage." Wu has also made appearances at the 2016 and 2017 "NBA Celebrity All-Star Games."

     In 2017 Wu represented China at the Grammys. Later that year Wu released "Deserve" featuring Travis Scott. The single landed number one on the US iTunes chart, Wu being the first Chinese artist to do so.

     Wu is coming out of an impressive 2018. As of 2019, Wu hopes to maintain this energy to break through to the American mainstream.

The Problem With Raj

     In a show centered around geeky friends, the brown guy is the nerd of the group.

     All four of the male main characters exemplify awkward quirks and express a deep passion for comics. But why is Raj the only one so awkward that he isn't able to talk to women. Slowly over the years the show has made progress with this problem, but at an alarmingly slow rate.

     "The Big Bang Theory" has overstayed its welcome on television, and after 12 seasons will come to an end. Over these 12 seasons Raj does develop pass his mutism, learning that intoxication makes him able to talk to women. He would later evolve beyond needing drugs or alcohol to converse with the opposite sex, but then the female main characters became bored and irritated with the character for talking too much.

     Seems no matter how the character is portrayed, Raj is destined to be the butt of the jokes. Him and Howard share this weird bromance. The homosexual undertones of Raj are homophobic for playing on gay stereotypes for jokes. They might as well make the character a gay man and call it a day. This also highlights the issue of having normalized openly gay characters on a major network program.

     The character of Raj does not make the Indian community proud. An Indian man on one of the most popular shows wasted his platform to speak up on social issues. Maybe they should take notes from Kal Penn or Aziz Ansari on how to portray Indians in media.

Lexie Liu

 

 

 

     Chinese singer, rapper and songwriter Lexie Liu is setting a trend for Asian women in hip-hop.

 

     Growing up in Changsha, Hunan Liu learned dance and piano. In 2015, she participated in "K-pop Star 5," a South Korean reality TV competition series, where she came in fourth. Then in 2018 she participated in "The Rap of China" and placed fourth again. Eventually this would lead to Liu signing with American label 88rising. 

 

     V Magazine described her as “the face of a generation of new Chinese artists breaking into the American mainstream with a uniquely, cross-cultural sound."

      After the release of her single "Like A Mercedes", the cyberpunk-inspired music video of the song was Lexie Liu’s first introduction to a global audience, showing off how “her provocative sound is transcending language barriers.”

Joji

     Joji proves that we have no limits.

     Japanese singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer Joji, born George Miller, has shaken up the R&B community. He is the first Asian to have an album reach number one on Billboard's top R&B and hip-hop chart.

     Miller started as a YouTube comedian under the name Filthy Frank. His channel would reach 1 million subscribers. Fellow YouTube stars hail Miller as one of the greatest YouTubers of all time and many cite him as a major influence. In 2017, due to lack of interest and health issues involving seizures, Miller stopped producing content under Filthy Frank. Since then his focus has been producing music as Joji.

     The sound of Joji can be described as lo-fi and trip hop. Basically a blend of electronic, trap, folk and R&B.  He joined the label 88rising in 2017, hopefully his achievements can help expose the label.

     Miller has shown us that we don't have to be a one-trick-pony. Strive for what you want no matter the odds.

Hasan Minhaj

     American comedian, writer, political commentator, actor and television host, Hasan Minhaj is the only brown voice in late-night television.

     When it comes to talk shows, the field is dominated by white men. You have Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, James Corden, Conan O'Brien and the list goes on. Minhaj is a step towards progress with his Netflix original talk show "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj."

     Minhaj began his career with minor acting roles and stand-up comedy before making it big on "The Daily Show" as a senior correspondent in 2014. In 2017 Minhaj's first stand-up special "Homecoming King" premiered on Netflix. This would earn him a Peabody Award in 2018. Also in 2017, Minhaj was the featured speaker at the "White House Correspondents' Dinner."

    Muslims in America have little to no role models. Minhaj is woke and uses his powers for a greater good.

Awkwafina

     American rapper and actress Awkwafina is an inspiration for Asian women in entertainment.

     Born Nora Lum to a Chinese-American father and a Korean mother, she grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, NY.  While in High School she played the trumpet and was trained in classical and jazz music. Eventually creating the name Awkwafina at the age of 16 to serve as an alter-ego to her "quiet or more passive" nature. Awkwafina majored in journalism and women's studies at the State University of New York at Albany. From 2006 to 2008, Lum attended Beijing Language and Culture University in China, where she studied Mandarin.

     Awkwafina gained popularity through her song "My Vag," a response to the song "My Dick." The music video recieved over 3 million views on YouTube, igniting her career.

     In 2018, Awkwafina appeared in the films "Ocean's 8" and "Crazy Rich Asians" launching her to new heights of fame. This would later translate to hosting "Saturday Night Live," a show with little Asian representation. At the age of 30, Awkwafina leads the way for Asian-Americans in Hollywood.

Hikaru Utada

     Whether you know it or not, Hikaru Utada has been the voice that helped raised an entire generation of video game fans.

     The Japanese-American singer-songwriter and producer's most notable work comes from the video game franchise  "Kingdom Hearts." Utada has written and performed four original songs throughout the series, making the artist synonymous with the video game. A "Kingdom Hearts" game is not complete until Utada has a song.

     Utada has found fame outside of "Kingdom Hearts," becoming one of the best-selling artist in Japan for her original work. Unfortunately in America she would only be known for her work on the video game franchise.

     Regardless of how known Utada is beyond video game fans, there is no denying all the feels her music makes us experience.

From "Kingdom Hearts II" 

Song: "Sanctuary"

Jack of all Trades

     The brainchild of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, "Master of None" is a breath of fresh air to the living single in the big city genre.

     A genre made popular by "Sex and the City" has never been used to explore the perspectives of first-generation Americans. Ansari stars as the lead role Dev Shah, a 30-year-old actor who flounders in the dating scene of New York City. 

     "Master of None" doesn't limit itself to stories about dating and working in the city. In the episode "Parents" (season one, episode two) we get an in-depth look at the struggles Shah's parents faced growing up in a third-world country and immigrating to America. All of this is undercut by how spoiled and Americanized their son has become, forgetting his parent's sacrifice.

     Yang and Ansari have created a love letter to anyone who grew up in America with immigrant parents. If you feel out of place as a first-generation American, "Master of None" offers relatable dialogue and themes that will hit home.

Rich Brian

     Indonesian born rapper Brian Imanuel, aka Rich Brain, has been a trailblazer for Asians in modern hip-hop.
     
     Through YouTube videos Imanuel learned English and at the age of 19 is headlining concerts around the globe. Artists such as Ghostface Killah and 21 Savage have collaborated with Imanuel in the past, showing approval and praise for the rapper.
   
     Imanuel began his career under the name Rich Chigga, but concerns of the name being racist forced him to change his stage name to Rich Brain. Despite all controversies concerning the name, Imanuel inspires everyone to chase after their goals. Shout out to his label 88 Rising, who represent mostly Asian musicians.

One of my favorites "History."

Once the Smoke Clears

     On the surface you may fondly remember "Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle" as that one movie where two guys get high and get lost looking for a White Castle.
   
     People that know me may think this film is here purely for being a stoner movie, but it goes further beyond that reason. I remember seeing a poster for this film at the movie theater with my family. Never in our lives have we seen a Hollywood production with two Asian leads. We felt a sense of pride for finally being represented as leads instead of being sidekicks.
   
     Aspects of their characteristics came across as stereotypical, but the humor plays off these stereotypes in a way that's not offensive. In my eyes, it's a movie that portrays Asian-Americans as just a couple of hungry dudes and, for once, not two nerds.