2011 was a banner year in the world of Asian-American music. We saw more releases than ever, more artists achieving more mainstream success, and more fans across more ethnic backgrounds recognizing the great music by our artists. But along with more of the good comes more of the bad – with there also being an influx in mediocre music, an increase in hate and bigotry (check Youtube comments) and even more pressure to try and stand out. That’s why I wanted to look back on the past year and choose what I consider to be my top 10 favorite music videos from 2011. Now this doesn’t mean that these are the MVs with the top production values (although this is often the case), but rather it’s a reflection of what I found to be the most well executed, balanced, and entertaining visuals. On the very last page we also have a list of 10 honorable mentions that I thought deserved to be recognized as well.

So without futher ado let’s jump straight into number 10…

10. IAMMEDIC – “Spaceship” (article)

Electronica-Pop group IAMMEDIC took the concept of their song “Spaceship” to the max by injecting a silly Star Trek inspired motif and alien abduction. The video is fun, looks great, and represents the high energy of the audio perfectly. Deep? Not so much, but fun and well executed? Very much so.

Directors/Cinematographers/ Dan Fisher and Ed Park
Produced by Joe Park and IAMMEDIC
Edited by Steve Arcenio
Visual Effects – Ed Park and Derrick Lee
3D Model by Daniel Harris
“Spaceship” Written and Produced by IAMMEDIC
Mixed by Enik Lin

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With Drake being undoubtedly one of the hottest acts in the business right now, it’s no wonder why his music has been covered and remixed by artists thousands of times over. For this installment of our Showdown series we’ve decided to highlight a few recent remixes of Drake’s song “The Motto” featuring Lil Wayne. This one is a three way battle with On Fire & Rocky in one corner, Hopie repping the fairer sex on her own in another, and a huge mega roster of artists in the last corner – comprised of Lyricks, De, The Yellow Boyz, Excel Cruz, Koreone, Manifest & Smokes. So by all means, go ahead and take a listen to the three renditions and vote for your favorite below!

On Fire Ent x Rocky Sandoval

Hopie Spitshard

Lyricks, Decipher, Al P, JL, Excel Cruz, Koreone, PassDa, Joel, Manifest, Smokes

So who do you think did the track the must justice? The one two punch of On Fire & Rocky? Hopie rocking the mic via webcam? Or the gigantic 10-man lineup from this years’ Asian Hip-Hop Summit tour? Cast your vote now! Why? … Bragging rights? We really don’t have an answer except to say it’s fun!

Rekstizzy has debuted his music video for his song “No Apologies” featuring heavy hitters Decipher & Dumbfoundead. This is more of your classic style of Hip-Hop, no electronica, auto-tune or sung hooks, just three MCs trading verses. Impressively, the song was debuted courtesy of Complex (as we shared that it would). So did it live up to the hype? I’ll let you be the judge but in my opinion the track got stronger as it progressed – and I’ll leave it at that. You can get it as a free single via the Bandcamp widget below.

LYRICS:

DECIPHER:
I was given a gift
could picture the pain of my people, paint it perfect, depict it as if
it was me trying to get at a citizenship, some wouldn’t get on the ship
but I understand them, call you chink, can’t understand it
but you recognize hate in their eyes, but they can’t see yours, your eyes are slanted
our parents were fiending for their share of the green
was it arrogant greed, the American dream, or the care to succeed as America’s cleaners
apparently we the slaves now, picking their cotton and pressing it flat
pick it up promptly, ready in half an hour to an hour, now the question is asked
credit or cash? we probably better at math or so I’ve been told
tried to divide our division in half, in addition to that, they know we got soul
low and behold, we folding their clothes, language barriers bury us
we drive terribly, curious how we got cast in Fast and the Furious
the problem being Bobby Lee is proudly being an Uncle Tomagachi
Hollywood got him good, wouldn’t watch me serving hot tea, work a wok, he the perfect Chinese
role model, eyeglasses made out of Coke bottles
TaeKwanDo spokes model, sister’s an import model
I am not gonna follow.

MANIFEST:
What’s wrong with an Asian rapping? everything.
people rather see me study medicine,
‘stead of picking up a mic, spitting in the booth
try to pick a fight cause you looking similar to Bruce
but I had soul as a lasso, through the backdoor
had to blast off from the plateau
went from sitting in the back row to killing rap shows
leaving assholes baffled, I put us on the map yo
never mind your remarks Imma go hard
till I’m getting more customers than Walmart
and we’re not just doctors, watch us
rock this mic till hiphop just prospers
get rid of the middleman now wit the internet, better give hundred percent
and credit the veterans never contend wit them, listen they telling them “Mani went in”
I’m breaking the trend, maybe I’m born to be different
what an epiphany, gonna make history now
who the ones that did this to me now, throw a diss get a fist to the mouth Imma show yall
please make no noise, I don’t mind if you hate my voice, respect me
and it’s not just music, props to the man overseas who made Old Boy
this the new generation of Asians, killing all the stereotypes having a hell of a time
always thought if you living by the rules and you never making moves, then it’s better to die
the majority will generalize instead of giving recognition solely cause of the shape of our eyes?
sweeter than grapes on a vine, all you suckas need to see greatness, put the hate to the side
let me rise.

DJ cuts by DJ Zo

Produced by Anno Domini

Video by Descendant Films
www.descendantfilms.com

Writer/Director: Erik Lu
Executive Producers: Andy Yoo/ Soonho Choi
Producers: Willa Yeh/ Franklin Shen

With the calendar officially reading October 31st we find ourselves upon the release date for JL‘s latest mixtape project, Destination:Murdertown. There are 10 tracks both old and new on this one featuring a roster of strictly immediate and extended family guest artists courtesy of drops by Lyricks, Mani and De. The tape is available as a free DL via the Bandcamp widget below but feel free to kick in a few bucks if you want to show some financial support.

The Asian HipHop Summit makes a welcome return this fall with a heavily packed, month-long schedule that covers most of the Eastern United States. Participants include the Yellow Boyz, Lyricks, Johnnyphlo, Decipher, Yongie Phresh, and a slew of other artists. You’ll need to check the specific event details for information on which artists will be where and when. Either way, East Coast, prepare yourself for an onslaught of Hip-Hop! It’s been too long.

Look after the break or check out the Facebook page for all the tour information!

The day has finally come for the official release of New Heights‘ new album – Something to Believe In. The Seattle group has dropped a 10 track LP with a fair number of features including Brian Joo on “Nightmare”, Jennifer Chung, Clara C on “Take Me On”, and some raps courtesy of Gowe x Decipher. I’m listening to it as we speak and can already vouch that it’s a pretty dope release thus far. You have some purchasing options, so choose your own adventure below.

Purchase: iTunes, AmazonMP3, Online Store

Tracks:

1. Something to Believe In
2. Nightmare (feat. Brian Joo)
3. Gonna Love You (feat. Jennifer Chung)
4. Take Me On (feat. Clara C)
5. Chasing Down the Sun
6. Someday
7. Closer (feat. Natalie Taylor)
8. Tell Me It’s Real
9. Time
10. My City (feat. Gowe + Decipher)

Rapper Mike B, who recently dropped the MV for the song “Roll Credits“, has gone ahead and released the full mixtape called Better Late Than Never. You get a dozen tracks on here including a few notable features such as Decipher. There are various artists out there vouching for the dude so it may just be worth your time to check this release out. BLTN is available to download gratis via  the bandcamp widget below. You can also peep the single “Light it Up” after the break.