Daily Archives: March 10, 2011

Space Cake by Al Rocco

Space Cake by Al Rocco

Rapper Al Rocco (aka Karma) released his single “Space Cake”. The track takes on whack rappers as he grinds to the top. The international Asian rapper began his adventure in the underground hip hop community in 2003. With his unique flow and lyrical delivery, he expresses his concerns, experiences and confessions of his personal mind and emotions. Moreover to use his talents to help and motivate others in all areas in life when music is available to them. Rocco’s style has been reviewed by others as, Tupac “influenced”. (Referencing his “Breathe” Demo.) Some also reviewed his music as unique and different from other artists commercially.

Al was born in Hong Kong and was raised internationally: in places such as; London, Cambridge, Shanghai, Taiwan, New York and now currently settled in Los Angeles. With this worldly culture to his advantage, he enjoys meeting all personalized people from limitless cultural backgrounds. With this in mind, he spreads the word about his craft as a hip hop artist as he meets new people around the globe and with the help of his close friends, the movement is spreading fast to a wider audience. He’s got some accolades in Asia already:

-#1 Rank on Myspace, Hong Kong Charts in Hip Hop (2006-2008)
-Performed to an audience over 2500 people: Club Hot, TST Hong Kong (2006-2007)
-Performed live on Hong Kong national tv – All Stars (Charity for AIDS). (2007)
-Recorded and mixed over 400 tracks, not including work done for other artists. (2003 – Present)
-Featured 2 tracks on Activision’s game: True Crime Hong Kong (2010 – 2011)

Now he’s bringing his music to the US. He just releases his LA Confidential EP 2011

You can download it FREE and includes the Space Cake track.

Space Cake by Al Rocco

Lyrics to Space Cake by Al Rocco

uh let me give it to you real quick
from the roots to the booth i lay it real sick
picking out competition with a tooth pick
fighting fellaz twice the size of me ruthless
move bitch while i do it from the am
to the pm/ baby god damn
never seen a fly asian from the motherland
you could the enemy i could be the friend
i kinda understand my way of life
blazing on the kush while im busting on the mic
busting on her tithes and im busting on her right
she want it in the morning and that was kinda tight
im kinda like the yellow duck outcasted
never had a daddy but im not the only bastard
never was in school but never was a fool
and believed i could do anything with my mind set to it

now that im here ima b on a mission
shut ya bitchings positive lifitings
life’s business of an honest living
but it is not about the money its about the feelings
about the miracles im feeling spiritual
its kinda piffiful nobody takes advantage
and i be coming through the 852
when i do i b taking over like a savage
delivering package after package
two stepping while i get it cracking like te acid
fasten passing on the kush g passion
time will tell and now tell me who’s laughing
im on the grind climbing to the top now
a king without a queen im feeling top crown
haters hate now who saying that im hot now
cursing down the blvd with the top down
the skies no limit far beyond space
far beyond the feeling when im on space cakes
the skies no limit far beyond space
far beyond the feeling when im on space cakes

Adultolescence trailer

Adultolescence trailer

Filmmaker Vicky Shen has just completed her first, narrative feature film called “Adultolescence,” which is also co-directed with Zoe Bui (“Three Seasons,” Triple Award Winner at Sundance Film Festival). This dramedy explores culturally-specific ideas, but delves into more satisfying, universal themes of family disconnection and alienation. It presents the psychological landscape of a first generation Asian American family (first generation Asian American children with immigrant parents), adding elements of selective memory, voyeurism, escapism, and magical realism, all as ingredients that constantly alter the character of a perceived legacy by the youngest daughter, Lea May.

The story begins when Lea returns home after a major career disappointment. She is catapulted back into her real but tainted memories of growing up under the scrutiny of her immigrant mother’s watchful eye (like a Tiger Mom) that turns into a silencing but damaging disownment. As she films her present-day family and learns what it means to become an artist, Lea must confront the variations of truth that has led her to her own stagnancy and blame. By turns, she realizes there is no escape, fantasy or otherwise, from the unconditional and almost insufferable love she shares with her mother.

Adultolescence trailer

More about Adultolescence from filmmaker Vicky Shen:

I would like to tell you why I feel so strongly about finding an audience for this film, especially within the female and Asian American community. “Adultolescence’” is a passion project but is also a film that embodies timely and provocative issues that should continuously be brought to surface. Although the issues of cultural conflict between immigrants and their American-born children have been played by films, “Adultolescence’” takes a look at the raw, emotional impact and inner-conflict Asian-American women face when they find themselves breaking stereotypes and going against the grain, not just in the home but in society. Asian American women have to come to terms with their multiple identities and define feminist issues from multiple dimensions. By incorporating race, class, and cultural issues along with gender concerns, a transcendent feminist consciousness that goes beyond these boundaries may develop.

It is perhaps surprising that Asian American and Pacific Islander women between the ages of 15-24 have the highest suicide rate of women in any race or ethnic group in that age group. Perhaps this is most surprising because of the stereotype of the model minority status that is placed on this group. However, because of serious global issues or even in light of what their immigrant parents had to overcome, many Asian-American teens and young adults, who may also be comfortably upper middle-class, most likely feel that the depression they feel is not important; and they do not have the right to seek help. Without their family to turn to because of the stigma of mental health issues, young Asian American women may also find it hard to find peer education and support, incapable of finding people who can relate to their specific cultural history and multiple identities. While depression is highly treatable, the pressures Asian American women sometimes feel complicate their ability to get help and only 27 percent seek help and/or treatment. The impact of ethnic minority women’s sociocultural context on help-seeking behavior is a subject that deserves attention.

I believe “Adultolescence” aptly and emotionally will resonate with this demographic and also open the Asian American community toward thinking about depression differently and identifying the symptoms. Although the therapy scenes I had filmed originally are now cut from the film to make the film work cohesively, I plan to include them in the educational DVD as featurette, incorporating a discussion with an Asian American Studies professor who has made the issues of depression among Asian American women her primary life’s work.

One way that “Adultolescence” deals with the angst of Asian American women with immigrant parents is that it shows both sides of the cultural conflict. I think this film could possibly act as a mirror into the soul, if not a glimpse into the future, for young Asian American women as if they have the perspective of being 10-20 years older. They are given a more objective perspective about the plight of their parental figures; and through this understanding, may alleviate some of the pressure they put on themselves. The last scene between mother and daughter explains to the youth the socio-political culture of immigrant parents, that they may simply be doing the best they can. Both children and parents’ perspectives collide, yet both are justified in their world views.

“Adultolescence” also creates a cinematic forum for discussion, in terms of the options for education, prevention and treatment within the community, addressing the causes behind the high number of suicides. Asian Americans often feel boxed in, as if they must live up to high standards and succeed in all areas, and the quality of life factor is not as emphasized as in American society. In some traditional cultures, females are supposed to succeed in all areas, job, education, and act as a family role model, playing nurturing roles and putting others before themselves. The pressure of this resonates heavily on the main character in “Adultolescence,” when the father asks what Lea does to help her family, and we see a breakdown, literally and metaphorically, of a family dynamic that depends on certain social constructs. The pressure of putting personal dreams on hold is not a new idea for Asian-Americans, especially the dilemma of knowing their parents sacrificed their livelihood to secure their children’s future, how do first-generation Americans reconcile fulfilling parental expectations and going after their own dreams? “Adultolescence” seeks to push the boundaries of this paradigm to the toll it takes on both parties, and to educate both sides through a personal story. Lea in “Adultolescence” plays out conquering her fears of pursuing artistic endeavors in the territorial world of surfing. Through filming her family, a camera lens voyeuristically and awkwardly seeks the truth for Lea, often revealing the self-consciousness Asian Americans feel when they seek an identity outside of the norm.

In summary, I would also like to offer a discussion after this film to incite dialogue about depression, the inability for young Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to discern just how seriously depression is or even and how to identify it and seek help, which is rarely linked to cultural conflict. On a personal note, I was shocked to learn about the alarmingly high statistics. For many upward-bound Asians, with the opportunities given by their education to experience such depths of depression, indicates that happiness is not dependent on financial security and economics. Being an involved member of the Asian-American community and in artistic and academic circles, I wonder if I didn’t know how widespread this problem is, perhaps the new generation of Asian-American women is unaware as well. Those who experience depression would feel less alone in this struggle if we could openly communicate this issue through as many venues as possible.

Mental Health and the Asian American community

Mental Health and the Asian American community

Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic communities in the United States. While APAs tend to be healthier than whites and other ethnic groups, research suggests that APAs face many barriers when seeking mental health services in their communities, including stigma, lack of access to care, language challenges and lack of culturally and linguistically responsive providers. Cultural beliefs and values play an important role in how Asian Americans experience their mental health issues. The cultural adherence to avoidance of shame and stigma also remains a powerful influence on how APAs deal with mental illness—many individuals and families remain in denial or silence about their situation.

Asian American teenage girls have the highest rate of depressive symptoms of any racial, ethnic or gender group according to a report released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The report is based on a “listening session” with mental health experts from different Asian American communities held in Los Angeles in November 2010. Key issues in the report include barriers to mental health services and negative perceptions of mental health problems particular to APA communities. The report highlights statistics from the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) and National Asian Women’s Health Organization (NAWHO) posing concern.

* Asian American girls have the highest rates of depressive symptoms of any racial/ethnic or gender group;
* Young Asian American women ages 15 to 24 die from suicide at a higher rate than other racial/ethnic groups;
* Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among Asian Americans overall, compared to the ninth leading cause of death for white Americans;
* Older Asian American women have the highest suicide rate of all women over 65; and
* Among Southeast Asians, 71 percent meet criteria for major affective disorders such as depression—with 81 percent among Cambodians and 85 percent among Hmong

You can see the full report here.

Mental Health and the Asian American community

nami_aapi_520x288.mov

Help fund Random Ninjas album

Help fun Random Ninjas album

Back in 2009, Random Ninjas released our 5-song EP on a small budget just to see what they could do. Since then, they’ve toured, rocked festivals, played a bunch of battle of the bands, wrote new songs, and met many new friends who connected with their music. And now, they’re finally ready to record some new music, but they need your help!

Random Ninjas is going ALL OUT in recording this album!!! So they basically need funding to cover everything that goes with recording a full length album. (Recording studio, engineers, pressing, etc..) Learn more about how you can support Random Ninjas here. Apparently, lots of bundles of randomness and cakes as perks for supporting them.

Let Soozanna, Agent Katchu, Full Metal Ninja, The Yusuke, and Caliginous Ninja of Random Ninjas tell you why you should support them.

Listen to their track “Tomorrow”

The Places We Should Have Gone by Wong Fu Productions

The Places We Should Have Gone by Wong Fu Productions

We’re seeing more individual projects from the members of Wong Fu Productions. This time it’s Phil Wang. He released a Chinese language short film that he shot while on vacation in Taiwan. Here’s the director’s statement from Phil about the short:

The feeling of regret or wishing for another chance is common when a couple separates. Whoever is at fault usually searches for sympathy as they have realized in hindsight their mistakes. In “Places” Becky has returned from a 6 month internship and runs into her ex-boyfriend. Based on the flashbacks we see that prior to her leaving, she made many efforts to keep him close, but he was not so receptive for whatever reason. While his rejection of her ideas to take trips may not have directly been the reason for their breakup, it’s enough to show his attitude toward the relationship and how much he had come to value it and her. Fast forward to her return from the job, we can see that she is not totally over it. And to her surprise, the ex-boyfriend has come to realize how he mistreated her. Whether or not she gives him another chance is left open, but the ending line is what I wanted to emphasize… When people break up, they usually handle it in one of two ways. They either push themselves to forget about it and move on, or they wallow in depression, holding on. In my opinion, I don’t think it’s good to do either. Trying to forget means getting rid of all the experiences and lessons. Dwelling means not accepting and growing from the same experiences/lessons. When Becky says “I will do neither”, she’s saying, I can move on, while still remembering why.

Read more about how Phil put the piece together on the fly while on vacation and the challenges he faced doing it here. Amazing how he can do it so quick with no real actors and having some translate his script as well. No crew or budget, just running around the city with a couple friends.

Also see this short by Wesley Chan while he was on vacation called “These Four Walls“.

The Places We Should Have Gone by Wong Fu Productions

Walking On Thin Ice by Tila Tequila

Walking On Thin Ice by Tila Tequila

Tila Tequila release her music video for her song “Walking On Thin Ice” off her “Welcome to the Darkside” album. It’s her first music video off the album and just debuted on MTV. The domestic violence themed video is aimed at getting people out of abusive relationships before it gets worse. She wants to promote change in violent relationships. The song was created after her own experience with NFL star Shawne Merriman. You can get the song on Walking on Thin Ice - Welcome To The Darkside or amazon.

See more videos on stopping domestic violence including Someday, CPAF PSA, Beautiful, and Speak Out Against Violence

Walking On Thin Ice by Tila Tequila