Hong Kong, what up?

I feel like I really need to learn more about my Chinese heritage.  I’ve been taking proactive steps toward that but I still know, comparatively, nothing.  I’ve been planning to take a trip out to Hong Kong one summer, maybe do one of those teach English programs, but thanks to this ever-worsening economy combined with my perpetual poverty, that’s looking more and more difficult every day.  Can the Chinese massive on Tumblr teach me anything?

Things I Know So Far:

• My grandfather was from Hong Kong
• I’m of Hakka descent
• My family name is actually supposed to be Chin (陈), not Chin-Sinn, which is why I sign my name as such
• There are probably almost equal parts of my Chinese family between Jamaica and HK
• There’s also a good portion of us up here in Toronto
• My grandfather faked his own death 9 times or more (ironically, his English name was Sylvester, like the cat)

I know that’s really not a whole lot and it’s even made more obscure by the fact that I’m from the house of Chin, i.e. the most common Chinese surname (and therefore the planet).  Still, I’d like to know more.  Feel free to help out!

Dear Esabel a.k.a. Bitchville,

I think you’re pretty dope.  You’re something of a local celebrity ‘round these here parts.  You post some pretty cool stuff and I love that you have one of the 6 money accents (the other five are: South African, Kiwi, Caymanian [of course], Jamaican and Brazilian).  Now, sure, there are stuff we’d probably butt heads over but I’m willing to look past it if you are.  Plus, I’ve seen your last.fm charts and that’s all I ever need to know about a person.  Apparently, artists we have in common include: Lupe Fiasco, N*E*R*D, The Cool Kids, T.I. and Nas (all artists I tag regularly, btw).  I think we should be friends.

Mull over it a bit.

Love,
Paul

P.S.  Your taste in sneakers is straight divine.  True story.

West Indies = Hip-Hop

Just had a thought while I was in the shower.  So many influential people in hip-hop come from the Caribbean or are of West Indian descent!  It’s actually quite amazing.

• DJ Kool Herc (the father of hip-hop) - Jamaica
• Notorious B.I.G. (a legend with no need for introduction) - Jamaica
• Busta Rhymes (a bridge between the old school and the new school) - Jamaica
• Kardinal Offishall (Canada’s hip-hop ambassador) - Jamaica
• K-Os (Canada’s genre-clash king) - Trinidad & Tobago
• Wyclef Jean (the ambassador of world music) - Haiti
• Calle 13 (Latin America’s hip-hop champions) - Puerto Rico
• Pitbull (Miami’s finest talent waster) - Cuba
• Phife Dawg (backpack rap pioneer) - Trinidad & Tobago
• Pete Rock (legendary DJ) - Jamaica
• Afrika Bambaataa (founder of the Universal Zulu Nation) - Mixed(?)
• DJ Red Alert (pioneer hip-hop manager) - Antigua
• Grandmaster Flash (first hip-hop Rock & Roll Hall of Famer) - Barbados
• KRS-One (hip-hop knowledge kicker) - Jamaica
• Doug E. Fresh (beatbox champ) - Barbados

Bottom line: You don’t want it with us!

Jess just told me she hates Sean Paul…

… and consequently broke my heart.  Sean Paul, commercial as he has become, is EASILY in the top six deejays out of Jamaica!  The list is as follows:

1. Vybz Kartel
2. Damian Marley
3. Sean Paul
4. Elephant Man
5. Bounty Killer
6. Beenie Man

Ugh.  How can anyone hate Sean Paul?