313. Jason Chu on performing, AAPI history and spoken word

Chinese American rapper jason chu has been traveling across the USA spreading positivity and awareness for the AAPI community.  He is known for his high-energy live performances that blend introspective lyricism with crowd-moving passion. On a mission to “speak hope and healing in a broken world”, his songs and videos tell stories of youth, family, and history. I am thrilled to have Jason back on the show to discuss his creative process and the impetus behind the historical posts on social media I’ve been enjoying so much.  Jason schools me on the foundation of spoken word and how he uses it to share his message. We discuss movement and dance and the highs and lows of performing on stage.  He was also kind enough to rap a verse of one of his songs not yet released live on air!  Please check out his work on http://jasonchumusic.com If you enjoyed this conversation, my favor as usual is to please continue to share this podcast with others. It would mean so much if you also rate it and leave me feedback. If you would like to help keep this podcast going and support the work I do, visit my website or Patreon.com/sifumimichan to become a patron of the show. For comments or suggestions reach out on social media @sifumimichan Discussed in this episode: Japanese American National Museum The Last Poets Kintsugi [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7chR23hRQ8[/embedyt] BIO Jason’s music has been heard on Warrior (HBO/Cinemax), Tetris Beat (Apple Arcade), Wu-Assassins (Netflix), and Snowpiercer (TNT). He’s performed at the White House and on the National Mall in Washington DC, and been selected by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs for curation in the 2021 virtual exhibition Reimagine Public Art: House and Home. jason tours extensively, with hundreds of shows across the US and worldwide. He is a 2022 Artists at Work Fellow at the Japanese American National Museum. Links Website: http://jasonchumusic.com Instagram: instagram.com/jasonchumusic Facebook: http://facebook.com/jasonchumusic Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.