Im Offended Again!!! Dont Know Why but Dammit! Im Offended!!

Courtesy Rich Chigga / Sikh

In February, a 16-year-onetime Indonesian kid named Brian Imanuel released a music video called "Dat $tick." Peradventure you've seen it. Imanuel'southward dressed like dad, wearing a pink polo and a Reebok fanny pack, while rapping over a minimal, typical, drill-style beat. The video went viral, accruing around 2 million views on YouTube, and Imanuel went on to sign to CXSHXNLY, an Asian-focused music collective that likewise reps Korean American rapper Dumbfoundead and Korean viral sensation Keith Ape. In July, a media platform affiliated with CXSHXNLY, 88rising, released a video in which American rappers including 21 Savage and Ghostface Killah reacted, largely positively, to "Dat $tick." "It's different," Ghostface Killah said. "It own't the same shit yous seen, everybody all tryna get blinged out. He'southward just him."

I found out near Imanuel when a close friend of mine shared "Dat $tick" with me over Facebook, but his net presence goes all the manner back to 2012, when he started out on Twitter at just 12 years erstwhile. Imanuel was homeschooled, and used the platform to tell jokes. A photoshopped motion-picture show of himself wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the N-word while standing next to President Obama made the rounds. In 2013 he began posting on Vine, and listening to hip-hop via American friends he'd made online. Shortly afterward, Imanuel began posting videos on YouTube. The earliest and strangest on his channel is chosen "Suicide Hotline," a dark curt flick in which he plays a hubby wanting to commit suicide. The rest are awkwardly hilarious parodies of facets of American pop culture: there's a popular 31-second tutorial on how to microwave breadstuff. In it, Imanuel stares into the camera for besides long. Information technology'due south funny.

It wasn't until 2015 that Imanuel began releasing satirical music on YouTube under the name Rich Chigga, starting with "Living the Dream," and so following up with "Dat $tick" seven months later. And every bit Rich Chigga, he'southward received equally much criticism as praise. People on Twitter and around the internet have called him out for his racially insensitive name, and his employ of the N-word. Others accused him of cultural appropriation.

When I spoke to Imanuel over Skype in July, I asked if he's regretted some of the decisions he's been called out for. It was 11 p.m. in Jakarta, and he was over at the house of a friend, who appeared in the "Dat $tick" video. ("The fat one!" the friend said.) Imanuel told me he does regret choosing the proper name Rich Chigga. If he had the chance to redo "Dat $tick," he'd leave the Due north-word in, he said, but he won't utilise information technology in the future because he's "not trying to offend anyone."

Imanuel is at present role of a small group of hyper-visible Asian creators, just doesn't want his race to be a significant gene in the estimation of his art. Below is our conversation almost his involvement in American one-act, his strategy for making a satirical rap song pop, and what he wants to do in the future. Plus a new song, "Who That Be," which debuted Tuesday.

How did you develop your sense of humor?

I but actually liked American one-act. Considering Indonesian comedy like, the TV shows we have hither are fucking ridiculous. Information technology's literally a stage with a bunch of these comedians and there's a big audience and they would make a pun and they would laugh. When I found out about American civilization and American humour, I was similar, "Oh shit, this was so fucking skilful." That'southward what really made me want to start. It's only so clever. [My comedy] is super satirical. Indonesian people don't get satire, that'southward the affair. There's no thought in our humor. Every fourth dimension I would post shit on Instagram, like I posted this picture of me wearing pink mascara and people are like, "Brian what are yous doing? Are y'all gay?" Shit similar that.

You lot've called your artist name "corny" and said you regret picking information technology. Why haven't you inverse it?

[The name] merely started from me making my starting time song. I was talking to my friend about it back then like, "Damn. What should I proper noun it?" And my friend was like, "Let's option the most controversial shit ever." I didn't really know what I was doing and I definitely did non know people were gonna pop off like this. Now I'one thousand kind of stuck with this. I might modify it in the future, I don't know. I hope I tin exercise it. Simply as for now, I'1000 definitely not going to permit it be the only thing that defines me. It actually kinda motivates me to do meliorate and so when people mind to my music they're like, "Oh shit, this is actually slap-up." I'k not going to make my music based effectually this ignorant ass proper name.

What would y'all change it to?

I don't know, something that doesn't accept to do with race. Something that'southward like, tricky. Like Kanye West. Or Kodak Blackness. [Laughs.]

You lot were criticized for using the Northward-word in "Dat $tick," and then said you're just going to terminate using information technology. What was your thinking behind that determination?

It was honestly a pretty difficult decision, when I really put the N-word in my song. I was like, "Should I fucking do this?" Information technology's a large matter and a lot of people would probably get offended by this. But and so, when I started building up the courage to practice it, I was like: Fuck it. Allow's fucking get hard or go home. And I wanted to do it in every fucking song and shit. Merely and then I feel similar later on the song was released, having that statement with that vocal, I feel similar that'due south enough. I just don't really want to offend more than people and I don't want to have to explain myself every time, I guess.

What'due south your belief, and so, on usage of the N-word?

I'm all nearly context. I wouldn't say information technology around African American people if I don't know them. I would definitely effort to avoid saying information technology at all times, but at the same time information technology'due south similar, this is something Tyler, the Creator also said — he feels like it's just a discussion and if you accept the power out of information technology, it doesn't mean anything. I wasn't certain I was gonna completely change people's minds about the word with that song but, y'all know, I wasn't completely sure if it was going to work out. I just wanted to participate I guess. My plan was like, when people listen to the song peradventure they're gonna exist like, "Oh wait, he said the fucking N-discussion," merely then they're like, "Oh shit, whatever, information technology's a good song." That was my plan. For me, the use of the Northward-word, I personally avoid proverb it. Merely yeah, my intention was not to endeavor to be edgy or like to stand out or whatever. I wasn't trying to offend anyone.

Would you lot take that word out now, if you could?

I experience like I would leave it in. I would only not say it whatever more than in my songs.

What nigh "Dat $tick" practice y'all think is so appealing?

It's just: "Who's this fucking kid?" And then they start listening to it and they're like, "Oh, it'south really like slap-up. It'south actually similar kinda expert." When I was making information technology, I didn't really remember I was appropriating culture. I mean, as for the name, [that criticism] is understandable, I get that. Only in general, as for the music and the videos, I experience like I'm just being myself. I'm kinda new to this and then information technology's also a learning process. I'g withal figuring things out.

Did you get angry tweets?

Definitely. I don't actually respond to them considering I used to exist the kid that got into so many net arguments, back when I was similar 13. Only that shit's super tiring so now I always avoid them. And so if I come across those tweets I just close Twitter for a while. They would say shit like, "Rich Chigga, are you fucking kidding me, what kinda name is that?" But I kinda know what they're maxim. I can't really please everyone.

And so, people you're affiliated with showed your video to a bunch of rappers, and they praised you. Was that validating to see?

Yeah. I was surprised with how welcoming and how positive they were. I love Flatbush Zombies. 21 Cruel looked like he wasn't that into it, but I nevertheless dear him. In the video, in that location are new rappers but there are as well old school, legendary rappers, Cam'ron and Ghostface. I would expect them to be like, "This is what rap has turned into?" Only they're actually super cool about it.

On "Dat $tick" you mention corruption, drug corruption, and customs disenfranchisement. Were you hoping to convey a particular message nigh things happening in Indonesia?

The message that I was trying to get across was basically that a bunch of weird, crazy shit happens in Indonesia too, that people don't really know about. That'due south what I was trying to say: shit happens here likewise. And possibly it's different shit only information technology's a thing that exists. That's definitely not what I'yard trying to do with all of my music, just I think that vocal is expert enough to become my betoken beyond. Cause some crazy shit happens in Indonesia. Like the schools in Indonesia, the high schools, there'southward this thing called Tawuran. It'due south basically all the different schools are rival gangs for some reason. And they'd ride in the street and have a fight with abrupt weapons. Considering we don't take guns here, but they utilize sharp weapons and shit. They kinda do information technology for no reason. Then the kids are following information technology and on the news yous'd see simple kids doing that shit too. It happens in kinda the ghetto parts in Indonesia. But in Jakarta the ghetto area or slum area is one with the big city — you'll see high rise buildings next to a slum.

Are yous trying to promote some activism?

Honestly, I'grand non a big activism or politic guy. I wouldn't say I'g super educated in that stuff, and I feel like I shouldn't speak on things that I don't understand also much. I'm only doing what I can. And it's kinda unsafe to do that hither because you don't know what's gonna happen. The government might fuck with you.

What's your new song "Who That Be" most?

There's a line where I say: I don't smoke weed or take Xans. Which, I don't do drugs. In hop-hop there's the turn-up songs, where people don't really care what the rappers talk almost, they merely care most the beat. I'm yet going to do that sometimes but, you know, in unlike times I'one thousand going to do dissimilar stuff, like maybe something deep.

You've said that you lot avoid talking about your race and that you don't want it affecting your music. Why is that?

I'chiliad actually about seeing people and art for what they are. Like seeing people as humans and seeing art. I really don't think [my race] should matter. Like I don't think it should be a thing that needs to be asked, like, "Oh shit, are you an Asian rapper?" You know, I'm Asian, but this is role of the reason why I regret having Rich Chigga. It's non like I'yard anti-Asian, it's non similar I detest my ain race. People tin can come across it, you lot know? I'm Asian. And so let me do what I want to exercise.

Some Asian American artists, similar Dumbfoundead and Awkwafina, write songs that are rooted in their immigrant feel and their identities as Asian artists. Is that something you'd e'er explore?

I like what Dumbfoundead and Awkwafina are doing, simply I think I'm just trying to do something different. I don't really run into that many Asian people that kinda just do their matter. I feel similar I shouldn't have to do the same thing as them.

Do you lot place as an Asian rapper?

I experience like I'grand representing Asians, in a way. Y'all can't really avoid it. I am an Asian rapper even though I wouldn't place myself in that category. Cause 88rising is literally a platform that's putting a bunch of Asian stuff into like, one place. I'm kinda doing the same thing but I'thou more subtle with it, I guess.

What are you trying to do, so?

Recently, I've been really influenced by Tyler, the Creator. I really like what he'south doing, when he mixes his music and his musical career with comedy. I really would like to do that in the time to come.

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Source: https://www.thefader.com/2016/08/09/rich-chigga-dat-stick-interview-who-that-be

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