Portrait of an Artist

photography: Stephen Gleadow

I’m not the only one who seems to be affected by the words and wisdom of Jason Chu. Its not a secret that his New York swagger rubs off on anyone who crosses his path. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Chu emerges as a writer who isn’t afraid to yield lyrics that challenge interrelated systems of repression.

I’d spent some time just sitting back, listening to him deconstruct theories of race surrounding Americans and Asian-Americans in particular and the reality of co-existing as a rapper, amid a society that, given its past, would never drift into being post-racial. He goes by two names, Jason Chu.

And with a story that leaves us with the first installment, he represents onlyone-third of the hip-hop group Model Minority.

We caught up with Jason, who took time out to spend time with us here in Beijing.

TaschimaAllen: Ok, first things first, what’s your favorite dish in Beijing? And why is that the best thing in this city to eat?

JasonChu: My Favorite dish is rou chao bing ( 肉炒饼 ). It’s cheap ( only 5 RMB for a heaping plate) and it’s filling.

TaschimaAllen: Who were some of the artists that you listened to growing up as a kid in New York?

JasonChu: I got into hip-hop through the underground scene around the late 90s – artists like Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, Atmosphere, the Def Jux/Rhymesayers crew.

TaschimaAllen: What is the overall aim that you hope to achieve along your journey as an influential American and a person with a growing following?

JasonChu: I’m a big believer that art without meaning is a sad thing – in my music and public role, I want to share a message of positivity, empowerment of the disenfranchised, and hope amidst brokenness. I hope that what I do gives a voice to people whose voices have been silenced.

TaschimaAllen: Some of your greatest influences in life have been who? And why have they made such an impact on you?

JasonChu: I’m thankful to several mentors – pastors, professors, and friends – who have spoken into my life. They listened to me first, and that helped me feel affirmed and welcomed; and then they offered encouragement or correction, and that guided me forward to where I am now.

TaschimaAllen: What was the catalyst for getting into hip hop? Tell us about what precipitated that decision.

photography: Stephen Gleadow

JasonChu: My friends and I often talk about how hip-hop offers a lot to young Asian-Americans, especially men, who feel neglected or ignored by society… it’s a way to learn how to be cool, how to speak up for yourself, to make yourself heard. And I just liked the way it sounded, the way rappers could take words and use them as instruments, or convey powerful messages in unique and memorable ways.

TaschimaAllen: How long have you been writing, lyrically and/or professionally?

JasonChu: I’ve been writing rap music for about 12 years, and blogging/writing articles since around 2004.

TaschimaAllen: You send a heavy message to the people through the Model Citizen, Model Minority Report. Tell us about the events that precipitated your decision to make this cut?

JasonChu: Model Minority (my rap crew) is all about affirming and empowering young Asian-Americans of all sorts to view their lifestyle and culture in a positive and self-aware light.

TaschimaAllen: Do you think that there’s any literature out there that adequately reflects the information that is packed into your lyrics.

JasonChu: There is, but often it’s camouflaged, hidden away in impenetrable academic journals or scholarly pieces. Part of my mission is to take high-level ideas that are being discussed in high-level circles and share them broadly, show people how they impact everyday life.

TaschimaAllen: Why do you think that the message that your lyrics emote isn’t properly disseminated across the United States in literature or print media?

JasonChu: It’s not economically advantageous for most companies to do anything but reinforce stereotypes and pander to mainstream views of gender, race, class, etc. Also, anytime you shake up the system or try to re-form people’s perceptions, you’re fighting an uphill battle.

TaschimaAllen: Your audience, for now, seems to be based primarily in the United States. As much as we know about the U.S being a nation of change and triumph, how do you believe we can bring the message behind your music into classrooms across the United States and neighborhoods that are predominated with children who bear Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese, or Korean ancestry.

JasonChu: Most of what we do involves reaching out within our own community – Chinese-American and, more broadly, Asian-American communities – to show them the possibilities that exist for people who look like us, or come from our background. People are much more likely to listen to a voice that comes from a place that they feel represents them.

TaschimaAllen: Quick story: I remember being in Tokyo with a few DJ’s who were Japanese and when the subject of the hip hop artist Jin came up, everyone talked about how much they wanted to be him. [I remember being so surprised because I knew what the politics were between China and Japan.] They touched on a reality that their forefathers would never have mentioned publicly which was exactly that seeing Jin and buying his music gave them all hope as musicians, writers, aspiring rappers, certified sound Dj’s in Tokyo, albeit who were still dealing with a slowly diminishing political landscape in Japan, that simply wasn’t ready to admit that they had birthed this new generation. What exactly does this phenomenon represent?

JasonChu: Nowadays, the world is interconnected – especially technologically and culturally sophisticated nations like Japan, Korea, America, the UK, etc. So success orprominence in one country, especially those nations where media is created and disseminated globally, can spread quickly.

photography: Stephen Gleadow

Another way to look at it is: the more popular you are, the more of an opportunity you have to act as an inspiration, role model, or powerful voice in many lives.

TaschimaAllen: As far as being an artist is concerned, what are some obstacles you’ve had to overcome in recent years?

JasonChu: Definitely being in Beijing was difficult – the scene in Beijing is cool, but for what I’m trying to build, there were very few resources. Additionally, I’ve had to strike a balance between growing technically – learning to record better, mix, master, choose beats well, etc. – and nurturing my vision and understanding of what messages I want to be putting out for my listeners.

TaschimaAllen:Given the kind of influence you have in the city and abroad, how would you describe Beijing?

JasonChu: To the outsider, Beijing is a study in contradictions - frustrating, exciting, confusing. It's also filled with potential, possibilities that probably couldn't exist outside the roar of confusion.

TaschimaAllen: What are some obstacles that you still face today, whether socially or politically?

JasonChu: If I were trying to reach into a broad market, being Asian-American would hold me back; fortunately, I have a lot of love for the Asian-American community, and so I’m cool with just reaching into an ethnic-specific community and really appreciate the love and support that I find there.

TaschimaAllen: What type of change are we still lacking-as thinkers, artists, Americans, world citizens and leaders of a new school of thought.

JasonChu: I am convinced that the most difficult thing in the world is to find someone who is willing to stand up for a cause that does not personally affect them. Whether you’re talking about privileged White Americans supporting the civil rights movement, or straight people speaking out against gay-bashing, or the wealthy 1% empathizing with the struggle of the lower classes, these voices are incredibly rare; but that also makes them more powerful when we do hear them. I think a major breakthrough could happen in our society – in our world – when people begin to advocate for causes that would impact our communities in a positive way, not merely further their personal/individual interests.

TaschimaAllen: If you could choose a mentor in music, from the past until now, who would it be and why?

JasonChu: I really need a business manager… I feel like my message, my voice is growing and being developed at a good rate, but my business and financial sense is horrible! If there was someone out there who could show me how to make the right connections, I’d love that…. Someone like Carl Choi, who manages Jin, Van Ness Wu, Jaeson Ma – he got Far East Movement started out in the industry. Yeah, Carl, get at me, man.

TaschimaAllen: Who are some of the people you’d like to work with in the future as producers or artists you’d like to collaborate with?

JasonChu: My Model Minority family David & Andrew… other than that, man, whoever is down with our movement and style.

TaschimaAllen: What’s the best thing about New York that Beijing just doesn’t have?

JasonChu: Bathrooms that don’t smell like death.

For more information, please visithttp://www.grandmasterchu.com