Category Archives: Worst Ever

Worst Ever: Clapz Shizzayne Steals Lyrics from AM Kidd

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[Update 3/29] It seems as if both parties have discussed the matter. Credit has been given where credit is due. Check the end of the post for AM Kidd’s tweets regarding the matter

Take a listen to the following song/MV by UK artist, Clapz Shizzayne. Go ahead, watch the clip, listen to the lyrics. It seems like your average, independent R&B Hip-Hop song, right?

Well, if you’re an AM Kidd fan, you may find yourself doing a double take since the lyrics should seem vaguely familiar. That’s because they were lifted word for word from AM’s 2009 song, “I Can Be”. Everything was taken from AM without so much a credit, shoutout, or mention. Clapz took the lyrics, recited them over another beat, and called it a day. Below is AM’s original version.

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Worst Ever: Jenny Hyun’s Anger (in the form of Racist Tweets)

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[UPDATE 2/20] An interesting update was posted to Jenny Hyun’s blog regarding her mental health. Take from it what you will, but it may add a little context to this bizarre story.

I first heard of Jenny Hyun years ago, back when she won a little competition on MTV called Wannabe, where singers vied to be like their idol of the time. Jenny competed on the show based on Christina Aguilera, who back then, was still a newly established, young Pop star. Jenny actually won the competition, giving her a little momentum into her own career. She soon rebranded herself as Jaley before eventually changing her stage name back to Jenny Hyun years later, and now I understand that she’s a song writer for the K-Pop industry. Check out the clip of her winning the show, below.

So why is she being written about in our ‘Worst Ever‘ feature? Through the usage of social media, it has become apparent that she’s a very vocal individual. She frequently tweets and blogs and shares about various topics including politics, social class, and yes, race. Now, people often say things out of frustration. We get that. But the following tweets that were made by her are inexcusable – regardless of intention or actual disposition. AsianJunkie was able to collect the following:

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Worst Ever: SNL Korea & Blackface

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These are the type of things that make me cringe and hang my head in disappointment. SNL has recently decided to start up their long running live sketch comedy show in South Korea, which can be a potentially good thing. But the writers for the new international branch, in their infinite wisdom, made a very serious faux paus by running a bit incorporating the infamous practice of blackface. Yea…, they used make up to paint up their faces and bodies to portray themselves as African-Americans in a parody of Dreamgirls. Not… cool. I know it’s a different culture, with different standards of humor – but in the end it’s still a disrespectful and ignorant thing to do. Sadly, they aren’t the only ones to pull these type of shenanigans.

Worst. Ever.

Source: 8asians

Worst Ever: Forever 21 Plagiarizes David Choi’s Lyrics

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You’ll have to grant us a late pass for this one, but we still found it worth sharing. Audrey Mag broke the news that Forever 21 had printed lyrics from David Choi‘s song, “That Girl“, onto some of their apparel without authorization or even credit. Choi had the following comment for AM:

“I’m disappointed that Forever 21 [because I felt] like they didn’t have to ask permission to use my lyrics in their commercial product, but I’m also flattered at the same time”

I can certainly understand his mixed reaction but in the end I still view this as a huge gaffe on Forever 21′s behalf – and deem it a shame that David was both disrespected and short-changed by the company. That’s not to say this is the first time this type of situation has happened to the Youtube star, as he’s found his music being used without proper licensing in several TV programs that aired in South Korea.

Now, let me go ahead and say I have no idea if the situation has been rectified or whether or not the merchandise is still for available for sale – but at the end of the day someone at the clothing chain dropped the ball, regardless of intention. Not only were they profiting of his work, but they didn’t even give him the credit he deserves as the author of those words. The use of his work is kind of a back-handed compliment; recognition without proper compensation.

Worst Ever is an editorial feature highlighting some of the more ludicrous and cringe worthy moments in Asian-American music. The views and comments made by the author do not necessarily reflect those of a-Tunes.net as a whole.

Worst Ever: Sno – “Eyes Like a Chinese”

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Sigh. It’s never good when we can post two “Worst Ever” features in one week. But this one definitely takes the cake. SNO, a group affiliated with Three 6 Mafia, has a new joint called “Eyes Like a Chinese”. I mean… really?!

For the unintiated, squinty eyes are a tell-tale sign of someone who’s consumed a fair amount of marijuana. Some refer to it as having “Chinese eyes” or in this case, “Eyes like a Chinese”. Now, perhaps I’m being too uptight but when a table full of people, none of whom appear to be Asian, sit there eating with chopsticks while making various Asiatic references along with numerous appearances of the “slant-eye pose”, it’s hard for me not to feel offended.

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Worst Ever: Dumbest MJ Cover EVER

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Sigh. I have no words. From the off key singing to the divo attitude and repetitive shouting of “ITS NOT MY TRACK!”… along with the s-bomb as the cherry on top… This will go down in history as one of the worst covers of an Michael Jackson track ever. Watch this kid’s attempt at “Black or White”. That my friends, is why this is another addition to our “Worst Ever” feature.

Worst Ever: NYU Freestyle Ettiquette

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The freestyle cypher is a staple of Hip-Hop. It’s so ingrained in the original culture that it’s impossible to try and discredit it’s importance. But that’s not to say it’s always executed correctly. In fact, one would argue that unless the cypher is composed of veterans who can adjust and adapt to the rhythm of it all, then it’s pretty much always awkward. Such is the case in the following clip I came across in the twitter verse. Dumbfoundead recently had a show in NY and a lot of different hip-hop heads came through, including special guest Decipher. Well when it came time for an open mic cypher, too many MC’s got caught up in tryna grab their time to shine without paying attention to who’s in line to spit next. Case in point, watch Decipher get M-C-blocked numerous times. Disrespectful? Arguably, perhaps. Awkward? Completely. The art of it all is knowing when it’s your time to step up, and your time to fall back… something that mainly comes with experience.

Worst Ever: The Slants Denied Trademark to Own Bandname

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Rock band The Slants have just been dealt an unnecessary setback. They’ve been denied the trademark to their own name because the US Patents & Trademark Office thought it was “was disparaging to Asian Americans”. It’s nice that Big Brother and Uncle Sam are looking out for us “yeller fellers” but really? The Slants is too offensive? Keep in mind this is a band active in the Asian American community, comprised of several AA members. Documentation and evidence of the fact was even submitted along with the application but it was still deemed too controversial.

Yes, it’s true. The Slants can be a racial slur but not in this context. If anything it’s a self imposed commentary on the group and it’s members and their identity in society. It’s a talking point, a tool used to start conversation about the band and the stereotypes they are trying to break. But regardless, the folks at the USPTO, in their infinite wisdom want to protect us. Perhaps the Slants should change their name to “The Asians and/or Pacific Islanders” to be safe.

Fine. So be it. But before they take away The Slants from us, someone tell the USPTO that they need to have a little chat with Uncle Kracker too.

You can read more about the topic over at 8Asians.

Worst Ever: Wonder Girls = Hyori? Amazon Thinks We All Look Alike

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Wow. OK. So allow me to preface this post with the disclaimer that I’m a huge fan of AmazonMP3. I purchase most of my digital music through there and since I’m not really plugged into the Apple Universe of products and services, Amazon remains the most viable option for me.

Click to Enlarge

With that said I was browsing the site when I happened to peek at the suggestions they had for me. Lo and behold I see a Hyori’s face and I chuckle, because for one I didn’t expect her to be on AmazonMP3 and two it’s a humorous suggestion to begin with. I click the image and quickly realized this is the page for the Wonder Girls’ album Triology. For those of you not well versed in KPOP culture, those are two very different acts. Hyori is a women in her early 30′s that has made a career out of strategically capitalizing on her sex appeal while the Wonder Girls are a group of teens & young adults who symbolize the epitome of bubble gum pop. I’m a casual fan of both but there really is no mistaking the two.

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