Asian Super Heroes Spotlight: MC Jin
Godfather of the Asian Rap Game.
[This is an entry in the Asian Super Heroes Series where @TheNoodleShop spotlights under appreciated culture changers, artists and influencers from our collective history.]
While EMINEM was riding the Epik High off the Marshall Mathers LP in 2001 around Detroit city, a young Jin lived in a parallel universe 1,300 miles further south in Miami, Florida. Comparing arguably one of the GOAT’s of his generation, an icon to millions of people, and a pioneer of modern rap to some broke battle rapper doesn’t really seem fair. But then again, EMINEM grew to be much more than just a broke battle rapper.
Slow rewind to the early 90’s, a different time for Asian immigrants in America, especially in a city dominated by Latino culture in Miami, Florida. Jin, known first as Nitro, was introduced to hip hop and battle rap during middle school, eventually being the first Asian rapper to be on the infamous 106 & Park. Hip-Hop was a different vibe back then, the main stream charted stars ranging from prime Marshall Mathers with an up and coming 50 Cent, but also featured those smooth R&B sounds featuring saggy jeans and Air Force One’s. But if you…
