Got Rice
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THE song of the AZN generation. Even a decade later, it’s still pretty stupid. And awesome. And racist. |
Nearly a decade ago, an unknown rapper released a song that defined the azn generation. Set over Tupac’s Changes, which is set over the Way It Is, this mysterious rapper installed a sense of pride into all Asians; regardless of their national origins, how much money they had, or their SAT scores. We now know that the man behind Got Rice is Jonny Angel. You know, the guy who drew those shitty pictures that were plastered on every single girls xanga and asian avenue page.
Yeah, that guy. He actually seems like a decent guy and according to wikipedia:
The writer of the song originated from Richardson/Garland, Texas, based close to Dallas. Since the song, he has changed his beliefs after turning Christian. He actually regrets many of the racist remarks although made in a jokingly manner.
What a vag. If I had made a song that inspired Azns to hate white people and have it blasted from the speakers of thousands of Honda Civics I’d be talking about it all day long… I mean, I once made a website that got like 35 visitors a day back in 1999 and I still won’t shut up about it.
At any rate, for the 10 year anniversary of Got Rice, I thought I’d do something that hopefully nobody has done before… or if someone has do it WAY better. I’m going to analyze the lyrics of Got Rice and try to reveal the true meaning behind the song.
First off, it’s interesting that the song used was Tupac’s Changes. I know, I know, Changes rips off of another song, but I am pretty sure that Jonny wasn’t aware of that. A lot of the elements in this song also make references and borrows from African American pop culture. Even the artist name “Azn Pride” is an allusion to the Black Pride movements of the 60s and 70s. I guess my point is that Jonny tips his hat to black people and that Asian people face a similar struggle against the white devil, and now is the time for Azns everywhere to rise up.
It’s the AZN Nigga fuck the rest
Dallas to New York Jigga we’re the best
Notice how the words “AZN” and “Nigga” are right next to one another. By using a different spelling for Asian, Asian Americans attempt to take away power from the Anglo spelling. Also, the word “nigga” is not used in reference to African Americans here, but rather just people in general. Jonny attempts to shout “Hail all, people of Asian decent are superior to you.” There’s also another incorporation of African American culture with the use of the word “jigga”, made popular by rapper Jay Z who needed a word so he could sell more records to white kids in the suburbs.
New York is used because… well, it’s New York. Jonny is from Dallas, so that’s why that is there. From Dallas to New York, Asians are pretty much the shit. Sorry Californians, you all just pretty much blow. Or at least that’s what I’m reading.
Vietnam to Japan to Mongolia
Philippines to Taiwan to Cambodia
Korea Ah Ah
Home town China who you got Huh
Jonny is Vietnamese, so naturally he’d list Vietnam first. I find it interesting that he follows Korea with “ah ah” and calls China “hometown.” The later is most likely because China is seen as the center of East Asian culture and Korea “ah ah” because he couldn’t think of any other countries in Asia that he could use in his rap.
You got shit Nigga feel the Size
It’s the AZN better recognize
Once again the word “nigga” is used. I am really confused about why Jonny would say “feel the size,” considering the fact that there’s a stereotype out there that Asian men have small penises. Maybe he’s trying to take power away from that stereotype. Following that up, AZN is once again used followed by the urban slang “recognize.” Used in this instance, “recognize” means to give due respect.
Got rice bitch, got rice
Got food, got soup, got spice
Got brainz like us, got skillz like us
Got carz, got clothz, got girlz like us
Here’s the infamous hook followed by a little bit of showboating. You can read all about the story behind the phrase “Got Rice?” at wikipedia, so I won’t even bother. Jonny asks the listener whether or not they have certain things that Asians are well known for, implying that people of other ethnicities lack them. I mean we have stuff like wonton soup, egg drop soup, and people love our spices. Asian Americans have done very well in academic settings, thus setting up the line “Got brainz like us, got skills like us?”
Whats sup we the shit we kill yall foolz
We got money in the banks from our family jewelz
Can we help it if we rain and corrupt the schoolz
It don’t matta fuck the law shit we break the rules
Here Jonny is so angry that he actually threatens violence. When he uses the phrase “we the shit,” that does not mean that he actually thinks that we are feces, but rather the phrase “the shit” was a popular euphamism meaning “superior” or “of high quality.” The following line is interesting, because Jonny takes notice that many Asians brought wealth with them when they moved to the US, which goes against the traditional stereotype that Asian immigrants are mostly poor. The next two lines I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about because only criminals would want to break the law and corrupt schools.
We jack carz fuck games yo we got the toolz
Hoop it up break it down then we go shoot some pool
Jonny talks once again about criminal endeavors here; stealing cars and fixing sporting events. This is all really surprising, because once again, if you look at his myspace, Jonny seems like the nicest guy alive. An avid sports fan, the following line talks about his love for basketball and pool.
Fuck with me you fuck with all of us don’t think its kool
1 on 1 fuck that it’s 3 on 1, no duels
The Asian community is usually close-knit and an attack against one is an attack against all. Asians are typically smaller in stature than whites and blacks, so an Asian person would be at a physical disadvantage in a fight. Unless you’re Dat Nguyen or somebody that knows martial arts or something. By fighting 3 on 1, this physical disadvantage is negated. Boo yah!
Got rice bitch, got rice
Anything you can show that’s nice
Got cats, got roots, got dogs like us
Fuck no, hell no your white you’ll never be like us
Once again it’s the hook where Jonny talks about how others lack cool things like cats, roots and dogs like us. He specifically targets the “white devil” here, taunting them to the fact that they will never have cats, roots and dogs like us. Or anything that is nice.
Take off your shoes when you enter please
Or crawl around on the floor on with your fucken knees
In many Asian cultures it is considered impolite to wear shoes into another’s home. This isn’t because that people are afraid of getting their houses dirty (even though that’s one of the benefits of not wearing shoes in the house…), but rather it is a sign of disrespect. By wearing shoes into another one’s home, you are implying that their floor is sooo dirty that you have to wear shoes. It kind of makes sense doesn’t it?
Normally at my mother’s place, if you wear shoes indoors, she’ll politely ask you to take them off. However if you don’t take them off at Jonny’s place, you have to crawl on your knees.
Don’t mind that smell you’ll get used to it
Mothballs, Fry squid, and that Buddha shit
An Asian home is filled with smells that many Americans aren’t familiar with. Most of these smells are associated with the foods that Asians enjoy. And for some reason, older Asian women really really like the smell of mothballs. Serious. My mom would use to buy bags of that shit and put them all over the place. Also, Jonny, a devout Catholic, shows his sense of Christian superiority when he refers to incense used in religious practices as “Buddha shit.” Not only is he a racist, but he is intolerant of the religion of others.
Man, the more and more I write, the more Jonny seems to be someone I wouldn’t want to be associated with.
What the hell is that, You think I don’t see
No forks in the house, chopsticks only
Have a taste Don’t be scared to try the lemon tea
You don’t want to thats alright try the fuck home weed
Okay, I think the lyrics I googled aren’t any good because this part of the song is butchered. At any rate, I don’t know of any Asian American home that doesn’t have forks and are chopsticks only, but whatever right?
Got rice bitch, got rice
Got luck anytime you roll the dice
Your luck is bad unless you run and hide
Cause we’re thugs for life baby Asian Pride!
Asian people love gambling. No, serious, we really do. I’ve been to a few casinos that will have signs in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese and hire Asian staff to cater to us.
The last line of the song once again tries to tie in Asian American culture with African American hip hop culture by saying that “we’re thugs for life.” Jonny chooses to end the song with a triumphant “Asian Pride!”, bringing the song full circle.
I know I have lampooned “Got Rice?”, but I won’t deny its impact on Asian American culture. The mid to late 90s were an interesting period for many Asian Americans; when we became azns, when we helped the import scene explode (Fast and Furious), when many of us started making websites with pirated copies of Photoshop, and when we started having internet girlfriends and boyfriends because our parents were too strict and wouldn’t let us go have normal social lives. Got Rice? was a huge part of all of that in that it gave us an anthem that we could rally around.
