Shin-B – Putting a Spin on Hip Hop

Andrea Kim, a.ka. Shin-B, may look like an average Korean-American at first glance, but a take a closer look, and you will see that she is beyond average. Extraordinary is a better word to define who she is.

Andrea Kim, a.ka. Shin-B, may look like an average Korean-American at first glance, but a take a closer look, and you will see that she is beyond average. Extraordinary is a better word to define who she is.

Shin-B, an emcee from the Los Angeles area, has been emceeing for nearly 10 years, and has performed in Northern and Southern California, Texas, New York, Chicago, and even Korea. Not only is she an emcee, but she also labels herself a choreographer, songwriter, and bilingual lyricist. She has performed at many events and festivals and even won first place at New York and Los Angeles’ Kollaboration. She has performed alongside The Beat Junkies, Immortal Technique, and has been the opening act for Rage Against the Machine. Shin-B has also been part of MBC Music Camp Radio Korea and the Asian Hip Hop Summit and has also recorded and worked with some eminent individuals in the hip hop industry, including Large Professor & Alchemist. Most importantly, she has always given back to the community and spreads her love of hip hop to others by teaching hip hop dance and rhyming classes in Koreatown and her church. Despite her busy schedule, she can now be found teaching workshops on hip hop at UCLA.

Shin-B is unlike any other females emcee, with a vocal and musical sound so unique and fresh. She puts a spin on innovation and fusion and is the embodiment of the next generation of female emcees, and emcees in general. Shin-B gives music goers a taste of her blend of East meets West, a dynamic concoction of what old school, new school, and fusion music is like.

ASIANCE: What made you want to become an emcee?

Shin-B: Ever since I was young, I wanted to be an entertainer. I grew up as a tomboy so I engaged in a lot of boyish activities like basketball, collecting baseball cards, etc. It was in 5th grade when I discovered radio and I absolutely fell in love with hip hop music. I would learn all the popular rap songs and recite them to friends. I was always trying to mimic the greats. It wasn’t until late high school when I finally began writing my own lyrics and got very serious about it. With the category_idance of a well-known event organizer, Kublai, I was able to perform heavily around the Los Angeles area. The thrill of being on stage, the satisfaction you get when you’re appreciated by a random concert goer, the impact you have with words, the never ending feeling of wanting to surround yourself with music day in and day out, the life-changing moments that occur at an exact time in your life is what made me want to be an MC.

ASIANCE: How long have you been an emcee? What has the journey been like from the beginning until now?

Shin-B: I’ve been an MC for about 9-10 years now. Time certainly flies by. I promise you, I’m not that old! The journey has been a very rough road with plenty of speed bumps, twists, and turns. It’s still a rough journey but I now have a new perspective. It’s always been a challenge to try to earn the respect and credibility from the naysayers. I’m an Asian female soloist MC. Dang, that’s like four separate obstacles in one. I had to go through a lot of shady politics, in order to get noticed in this game. As you all may know, the industry is filled with two-faced snakes. You can’t trust anyone. You can’t depend on anyone, but yourself. If you’re hungry and you want it that bad, you have to make the effort to get noticed. Don’t wait for someone to plug in your name at an industry mixer. I’m a relatively shy and conservative person, but shyness will get you nowhere. I’ve learned to come out of my shell. You have to put your ego aside and become that annoying promoter. You have to stay persistent and determined. You may face a billion rejections and a hundred closed doors, but eventually your time will come. Now of course this applies only if you’ve got solid material. It used to kill me when I’d get rejected, but in hindsight, I’m now grateful and thankful. It’s made me a stronger person and it’s built a heck of a character. Michael Jordan and Colonel Sanders faced a billion rejections before they finally succeeded. You have to stay patient and positive. Everything happens for a reason. Everything happens at a certain and precise time. So, keep working hard and keep truckin’.

ASIANCE: So, let’s talk about your album, “Outside the Box.” Since you started working on the album, how has it progressed and grown as an album? Do you feel satisfied with the near end results of what your album will be like? Will it be released soon? What can listeners expect to hear from the album?

Shin-B: The album has been an extremely long process. It was initially supposed to come out two years ago, but it’s constantly been pushed back. It’s been my decision to do so. In the past, I would release albums that weren’t of quality material. I just released these albums for the sake of being relevant. However, what’s the point in being relevant if your material is low grade. It’s only going to damage your reputation and turn off your audience. I don’t believe in rushing projects anymore. I want to make sure everything is genuine and perfect. The album is something entirely different. It incorporates a lot of different music genres into one. I’m trying to create a sound of my own. I don’t want to get lost in the crowd. I want that longevity. I want to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. This is why I’ve titled it, “Outside The Box.” I’m not 100% satisfied yet, but it’s getting there. It will definitely be released soon though. All I ask is for your patience. It’s an album for folks who just love boom bap hip hop to those who generally hate hip hop. It’s an album for all. It’s an album your mama, as well as, yourself would enjoy.

ASIANCE: As a female emcee do you feel like you have to work a lot harder, in terms of proving that you’re just as good as the next emcee and getting your name out there, than male emcees?

Shin-B: Definitely: more sleepless nights. Female MC’s are a rare breed. You are rarely taken seriously. You’re seen more of as a commodity or something “exotic.” Or shall I say, erotic too? It’s funny the reactions you get when you’re introduced to random strangers as a female MC. You have to make sure your music is on point. You have to make sure you bring it. You don’t want to get compared to other female MC’s, but rather to other male MC’s. That should be your objective. You have to make sure you have the creds and a substantial resume to back you up. No one is going to give you the time of day if you haven’t paid your dues.

So if you don’t have the passion and patience for it, then quit while you’re ahead. I advise you to run and never look back. Make sure you surround yourself in a crew, as well, preferably a crew with already established male counterparts. This will give you that support you need. It will make you a better MC because you’ll learn from them and take away knowledge and skill. You also have to train yourself to be strong internally. Real talk. Expect to get laughed at and ridiculed. Expect the nasty comments. Expect the hate. You have to learn to adjust. Instead, take the negative and turn it into fuel. This fuel helps create a better and more mindful artist. It makes you want to practice more, write more, and perform more… everything… MORE.

ASIANCE: How do you keep positive when times are tough for you?

Shin-B: I surround myself with positive people and engage in positive activities. My best friend is brutally honest. Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed and depressed, she straightens me out. She gives me solid advice and helps reorganize my “plan.” I also make sure I spend time with my family. Nobody knows you as well as your own mother. It’s amazing what love and a few laughs can do for the soul. Although I like to work 24/7, sometimes you just have to take a step back and enjoy life. Go out with good-natured friends. Go watch a comedy. Go eat some delicious food. Man, I’m a sucker for sushi. I also read articles on success.

The more you train yourself to be positive, the more you will be positive. No one has it easy. Life is designed that way. If everything happened delightfully well, life would be pretty bland and we’d all be boring characters. You have to really understand the concept that everything happens for a reason and everything is timed. I also like setting some alone time to meditate and reflect. During this time, I have talks with God and I ask Him for direction and category_idance. Sometimes, I don’t get my answers immediately… but eventually it comes. Usually, it’s pretty random. It’ll be like that sudden light bulb and you’ll think, “Ah, so that’s why such and such happened.”

ASIANCE: I heard you had a bad experience when you were on tour in Korea in 2006. Has that completely discouraged you from signing to a Korean record label?

Shin-B: It was a bad experience because I was such a weak person to begin with. I let everything get to me and I did things that weren’t right for me. And though it was a really bad point in my life, today, I’m thankful for it because I’ve come out with a completely new plan and perspective on everything life has to offer. It hasn’t completely discouraged me, but it’s made me more aware. I wouldn’t mind signing if the terms were fitting for my goal and me. It has to be on my terms now. I will no longer be a slave or a puppet. I will no longer have no opinion. I will no longer be forced to be someone I’m clearly not. In the end, you have to do you and just YOU. Do not let someone else take control of the wheel. You’re the driver.

ASIANCE: I’ve read that you taught Christian hip-hop rhyming at your church and hip-hop dance classes in Koreatown. Do you still do that in your spare time? How was or is it to work with those kids and teens? When you see them, do you see a little bit of younger self in them?

Shin-B: Unfortunately, I’m not able to do that now because of my schedule. It was a great experience though and I extracted a lot from it. I wished I had something like that for me when I was growing up. It gives these kids an opportunity to do so much. It’s no wonder kids are growing up so talented these days! They’re already training at an early age! I enjoyed working with them. The kids were much more excited to learn.

However, the teens were a bit of on the shy side. It reminds me of me when I was their age. Even though the world is constantly changing with technology and trends, people will always be people. We all go through that awkward adolescent period where we’re unsure of who we are and what we’ll do. I just hope these kids and teens stick to their dreams and follow it to the fullest. I would love to see more female MC’s and breakers come up. I just hope I did enough to inspire them.

ASIANCE: A lot of people view hip-hop as negative, especially these days, but hip-hop can be positive. How has hip-hop been a positive influence in your life? How is hip-hop something beyond just a music or art form?

Shin-B: If you listen to underground or conscious hip hop, there’s a lot that can be drawn. A good song with a message inspires me. It’s allowed me to stick to a dream. It’s allowed me to stay strong and build my character. It’s allowed me to grow into the person I am today. Without music, I’m not sure I would’ve turned out the way I am. It gives me a purpose in life. It’s such an incredible feeling knowing you’ve discovered what your purpose is. It’s incredible to have meaning in everything you do. It’s allowed me to channel my thoughts and emotions to share with the world. I used to be really shy and never wanted to share personal stories of mine through lyrics, but now I love it. I love letting the audience know that I’m vulnerable. I love letting them in on my personal struggles and conquests in life. It’s a way of reaching out. It’s great when you’re in a world that’s primarily independent. We all live busy lives and sometimes I feel like we’re all alone on this planet. But, with certain inspirational songs, you know that you’re not alone and that someone out there is going through exactly what you’re doing through. It gives you a sense of importance and normalcy. Hip hop is a culture. It’s your surrounding. It’s music. It’s the way you view life. It’s a hobby. It’s an activity. It’s a sense of community. It brings people together as one, in unison. It’s your swag. It’s your style. It’s purpose. It’s the answer to a question.

ASIANCE: Besides the soon release of your album, what other projects are you working on? Are you touring anywhere, or having regular performances at particular places?

Shin-B: I’m currently working on a mixtape album produced entirely by KRS One’s former DJ and Supernatural’s current DJ, Silent John. It will also feature collaborations with Dumbfoundead from the Epik High Map The Soul tour, Lyricks, Surrilla, and more. I’m also featuring in another album produced by Scorpioflo from New Mexico. Aside from that, I’m also teaching workshops on Hip Hop for UCLA. Recently, I conducted one that also featured the famous actor, George Takei.

ASIANCE: Looking back on your own experience, what advice would you give to those who are pursuing the same career pathway as you?

Shin-B: Listen to your instinct. Stay persistent. Stay determined. Have a clear-cut plan and objective. Build that resume. Pay your dues. Surround yourself with experienced folks. Remain humble. And, never lose sight of who you are. Do you and just YOU. Listeners are savvy like that. They can spot a fraud a mile away. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. It will ruin your music and question your talent.

For more information on Shin-B, visit her at www.myspace.com/shinb.

For booking, please contact: shinbmc@gmail.com.