The Pioneering Asian American Rapper Who Broke Barriers ft. MC Jin and Jaeki Cho

MC Jin on Hip-Hop, Identity, and Belonging

MC Jin sits down with Jaeki Cho in New York to look back on breaking into hip-hop as a Chinese American rapper—and on how a career that once seemed like his own became meaningful to a wider community.

Finding His Way Into Rap

Jin recalls growing up in Miami, with his world mostly limited to school, home, and his family’s restaurant. People sometimes asked why he was “trying to be Black,” while his father joked, “Did we bring the wrong kid home?”

His love of rap began after he saw battles in the movie Breakin’. His first real battle caught him off guard: a guy chased him around a cafeteria, insulting him with “go back to making fried rice.” Jin admits he had no comeback at first. But after a few sessions, he was outperforming the other students—an early hint of the freestyler who would soon appear on 106 & Park.

Breaking Through

Jin’s televised winning streak made him known as “that Chinese kid who raps” and led to a deal with the Rough Riders. He remembers going from a fan in the crowd wearing a fake Rough Riders chain to wearing the real thing himself—a moment that still gives him chills.

He says he didn’t fully grasp the significance at the time, but now recognizes that seeing him succeed helped young Asian Americans imagine a place for themselves in hip-hop.

Identity and Hip-Hop’s Roots

The conversation also explores identity, belonging, and cultural appropriation. Jin says the label encouraged him to be himself, and he never felt like an impostor because he knew how much work he had put in.

His first single, “Learn Chinese,” opened with “Yes, I am Chinese”—a declaration of pride that he considers even more important than the song itself. He also stresses that hip-hop has global reach, but must be understood through its roots in Black and Latino communities and its ideals of unity and opportunity.

“Our Journey”

Jin’s biggest reflection is that what he once saw as just his personal journey was really “our journey.” The interview closes on a playful note as he and Cho describe “Asian plus American” as “crazy flavors” with plenty of spices.

Personalities: MC Jin and Jaeki Cho