Only in hip hop is the emergence of a non-black artist considered a phenomenon. Rap and race are so interminably and inextricably intertwined in our cultural psyche that any sign of change is treated with a mix of awe and uncertain Jin, the amazing Chinese rapper, BET freestyle battle champion, and rising media star. Yes, Jin is Chinese. Though I don't remember anyone mentioning whether he was a mainlander, coastal, or islander. Hunan, Mandarin, Catonese... none of this matters if you are the first prominent ASIAN rapper. After the hype around Jin settles down... the media will discover the first Korean emcee, and then Japanese, etc. Journalists have so little imagination, and readers have such low expectations, that any artistic merits beyond "Boy's got skills!" (a la Eminem) are strictly Jin's price of admission to celebrity status. Boy's got skills... but what amazes people is the thing he has no control over... his racial status. Jin is quick to point out that he wants to be known as "Jin" and not "that Chinese rapper". But if I were Jin, I would take a few cues from Necro, Eminem, Cage... and tell those journalists to fuck off. If the only way Jin can get a break is to play up his being Asian, then of course... he doesn't deserve the fame. And if he can make it on skills alone... then his being Asian is moot. Either way, playing up Jin's race is simply an affirmation of how racism still pervades the upper echelons of the media. The foundation of racism is the belief that race exists. There is no such thing as race... only ethnicity. @ Sample Heading 1 This is where you tell your story or provide information to your visitors. Be sure to include changes or new information in a timely fashion. By keeping your Web site up to date, visitors will have a reason to return often. You may add text or HTML code to this field and make it as complex as you want. Or, you may erase the content of this field causing it to be hidden when people visit your site. Sample Heading 2 This is where you tell your story or provide information to your visitors. Be sure to include changes or new information in a timely fashion. By keeping your Web site up to date, visitors will have a reason to return often. You may add text or HTML code to this field and make it as complex as you want. Or, you may erase the content of this field causing it to be hidden when people visit your site. Sample Heading 3 This is where you tell your story or provide information to your visitors. Be sure to include changes or new information in a timely fashion. By keeping your Web site up to date, visitors will have a reason to return often. You may add text or HTML code to this field and make it as complex as you want. Or, you may erase the content of this field causing it to be hidden when people visit your site. Sample Heading 4