{"id":17080,"date":"2022-05-11T01:42:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T01:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicsynclicense.com\/?p=17080"},"modified":"2022-05-11T17:48:05","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T17:48:05","slug":"how-jhene-aiko-yeek-more-rep-their-asian-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jurus.net\/musicsynclicense\/how-jhene-aiko-yeek-more-rep-their-asian-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"How Jhen\u00e9 Aiko, Yeek & More Rep Their Asian\u00a0Heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Representing your culture is one beautiful thing and Jhene Aiko, Yeek and Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast have been able to do so through and through. In honor of <\/span>AAPI Heritage Month<\/span><\/a>, Billboard and Nissan are taking a look at the ways in which some of our favorite AAPI music creators have shed light on their heritage through their art, interviews and more. Whether it be a nod in a music video or a detailed reveal about moments and figures from their childhood, the ways in which these stars have put a spotlight on their culture is specific and personal to each. Take a look below!<\/span><\/p>\n

Jhen\u00e9 Aiko<\/b><\/p>\n

Growing up, Aiko was all too familiar with the ask, “What are you?” Alongside her sister, Mila J, the R&B siren didn’t entirely grasp the understanding behind her mixed background, especially after being badgered so frequently. Their mother is of Spanish, Dominican and Japanese descent, while their father is African-American and Native-American. In a sit-down interview with <\/span>Billboard<\/span><\/a>, the sisters spoke about their culture, where Aiko reflected on her diversified heritage and passing that along to her own daughter, Namiko Love, 13. \u201cI think it\u2019s important for people to share their stories in general and that we should share them in order to learn about each other and not judge,\u201d Aiko said during the chat. \u201cWe love ourselves, we love our family, we love our roots and everything that makes us who we are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Aiko\u2019s mixed heritage has been evident in her music and team-ups with organizations like <\/span>The Asian American Foundation<\/span><\/a>. Most notably, she dropped a separate music video for her 2018 release, \u201cNever Call Me,\u201d where she appears as a Japanese goddess.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just last year, Aiko also paid tribute to her Japanese grandfather amid the surge of hate circulating the AAPI community. \u201cToday, I can’t help but think about him and what he stood for,\u201d she wrote in an Instagram post. \u201cI can’t help but think about the discrimination he faced daily having a black wife and 6 bi racial children (and 20+ mixed race grand and great grandchildren.) Grandpa Teddy fought for his family and his community until his dying day and I owe it to him to continue to fight for justice and equality for my communities as well. It is up to ALL of us to make a change. To choose love over hate. To choose understanding and compassion. Getting to know each others’ stories, we learn we are more alike than different. Not until we understand this will we truly see each other. Not until we truly see each other can we truly stand together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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