Jin

Photo by Eugene Oh

MC battle rule number one: speak clearly! If no one can catch what you’re saying, you don’t stand a chance. So why is the new album by one of hip-hop’s fiercest battle MCs almost exclusively in Cantonese? “’Cause that’s Jin.”

On ABC, Jin’s fourth full-length album, there are virtually no traces of the battle skills that resulted in his seven straight wins on BET’s “106th and Park.” He’s not rocking a diamond-encrusted Ruff Ryders medallion on his album cover. There is almost no bragging or trash-talking, and there is only one short verse in the native language of the majority of the hip-hop record buying public. Instead, ABC (American Born Chinese) is an expression of the mixed identities of Jin the hip-hop artist, Jin the Chinese-American, and Jin the independent record label executive.

Jin sees this as a natural move. With his major-label experience three albums behind him, he is free to follow his impulses as an independent artist. But who is this album for? According to Jin, that was a secondary concern. With the initial release being limited to the United States, Jin imagines, “young Chinese-Americans that may understand the language, that are into hip-hop, will be able to relate to it.” He also has faith in the ability of music to reach past the language barrier. “It’s definitely not for somebody that just sees the face value of music...but for the true fan of music that appreciates it at all levels.”

ABC isn’t meant to be a reinvention of Jin’s persona as much as it is a showcase for a different set of skills. When asked about his foundation as a battle MC, he says that he rarely battles anymore. “It’ll only get you so far. I’m probably as hungry as I’ve ever been, but it’s a different kind of hungry.” His goals have changed. No longer on a label, he is the label. Instead of battling on stage, he’s battling in the marketplace. He is taking risks as an independent artist while “always chasing that elusive hit.” For Jin, the battle has just begun.