Though Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month just wrapped, EnVi is celebrating our favorite AAPI artists all year round! This playlist spotlights some of the most iconic AAPI musical pioneers of the 2000s and early 2010s. From lovestruck acoustic jams to classic party anthems, these artists shaped the playlists of our youth. Put on your fitted caps and gel down that unapologetic side-bang because EnVi is about to take you down memory lane!
FAR EAST MOVEMENT
Starting off the list strong are the AAPI hip-hop pioneers (or should we say rocketeers), Far East Movement. This collective consists of members Kev Nish, Prohgress, and DJ Virman. Far East Movement’s first emergence into the mainstream was their involvement in the soundtrack for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006. This accomplishment was a turning point in their career, and they soared with their second album, Animal, which featured artists like Wiz Khalifa and Bruno Mars. Far East Movement would have their most monumental year yet following the release of Animal.
We can’t discuss Far East Movement without mentioning their 2010 smash anthem, “Like A G6,” featuring The Cataracs and DEV. The track earned double Platinum status mere months after its release, and made Far East Movement the first AAPI group to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. “Like A G6” remains a club staple to this very day, forever making us “put our hands up” when that “808 bump!”
Later into their career, Far East Movement used their platform to uplift the AAPI community through various ventures. They founded the Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation, a non-profit that “elevates Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in music with mentorship, opportunities, and empowerment.” The team also established the entertainment media company, Transparent Arts, which “bridges east and west by cultural relevance, localized marketing, distribution and through dynamic creative collaboration.” Far East Movement’s bond is over two decades strong but their legacy is one that will last for lifetimes.
Kina Grannis
Kina Grannis’s angelic vocals have graced our computer monitors, televisions, and the big screen over the past decade. Grannis’s first musical project, an EP titled Sincerely, Me, was released in 2006 during her time at the University of Southern California. The following year, she published her first YouTube video for her original song, “Message From Your Heart.” This song would catapult her into a streak of success as she won the “Doritos Crash the Super Bowl” contest. Her win not only landed her an appearance during the Super Bowl XLII commercial break, but also mainstream fame and a contract with Interscope Records. In the following years, she released the much-loved songs, “Valentine” and “In Your Arms.” Both music videos currently sit at over 15 million views.
Though many may recognize her from her appearances with AAPI YouTubers like Wong Fu Productions and Ryan Higa, Grannis also made a cameo in the box-office sensation Crazy Rich Asians. Grannis sings an emotional rendition of Elvis Presley’s classic, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” during the tear-jerking wedding scene. As for recent pursuits, Grannis served as the grand marshal of the 2023 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Parade to raise awareness for her mother’s myelofibrosis and encourage AAPI stem cell donors. That same year, Grannis debuted in the musical quartet, people i like, with her husband, Imaginary Future, alongside friends Mree and Henri Bardot. People i like dropped a self-titled album just this February, leaving listeners anticipating what is next for Grannis’s long-running career.
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Jeff Bernat
Is it really an early 2010s romance playlist without Jeff Bernat’s discography? Love song aficionado, Jeff Bernat, is a Filipino-American singer and songwriter. Born in Subic, Philippines and raised in Reno, Nevada; Bernat’s music transcends regions and languages. Bernat is best known for his first album, The Gentleman Approach, released in 2011. “Call You Mine (feat. Geologic of the Blue Scholars)” became a standout song from the album. The track grew to become a beloved AAPI love song, with fond lyrics like “(Can I) call you my everything, call you my baby? / You’re the only one who runs my world.”
“Call You Mine” also opened up an exciting new chapter for Bernat in South Korea. The song’s positive reception led him to Korea-focused collaborations like “Angel 2 Me” with McKay and “What 2 Do” with DEAN and Crush. Bernat is still continuing his musical pursuit with his latest EP, Love, Jeffrey — a project focused on his rediscovery of romance after heartbreak. Bernat celebrated a huge accomplishment this year, as he earned his well-deserved first Grammy as a songwriter for Gospel artist, Doe Jones.
AJ Rafael
The icon behind some of our favorite acoustic songs, AJ Rafael has us revisiting his timeless tunes this AAPI month! Rafael’s online music journey dates back to 2003 on Myspace where he gained attention for his vocal covers. He later pivoted to YouTube during the site’s early days, becoming one of the first content creator musicians to reach viral status. Rafael uploaded a variety of musical content, from collaborations like his cover of “Mistletoe” with Tori Kelly, to music videos for his original songs like “When We Say.” One of Rafael’s most popular tracks, “We Could Happen,” is full of wholesome nostalgia. “We Could Happen” was featured on his successful debut album, Red Roses, which landed the then twenty-two-year-old on the iTunes US pop album and Billboard’s Heatseekers charts.
Rafael has been dedicated to philanthropy and championing the community since the start of his career. He created “Music Speaks” in 2009 — a movement and concert series to raise awareness for autism through the power of music. More recently, Rafael curated and produced “Crazy Talented Asians” — a cabaret concert spotlighting AAPI artists and performers. The past couple of years brought forth accomplishments across music and beyond for Rafael! In 2024, he wrapped his “Take Me Back Tour” and released the uplifting single, “Tunnel.” Rafael also celebrated a new season of the “Sweet or Savory” podcast with his co-host and wife, Alyssa Rafael, this month.
Dumbfoundead
Dumbfoundead is not only a rapper, songwriter, writer, and actor — he is also a visionary who brings visibility to the AAPI community. Dumbfoundead found solace in hip-hop during his youth, where he found himself immersed in battle rap culture. His early career took off with his 2011 album debut, DFD, which featured standouts like “Are We There Yet” and “Cool and Calm.” Through rapping, Dumbfoundead found his voice, which in turn, allowed him to become a voice for the AAPI community. Later in 2016, Dumbfoundead released “SAFE” — a commentary on the lack of AAPI representation in Hollywood. In the riveting music video he dubs over hard-hitting lines like, “The other night, I watched the Oscars / And the roster of the only yellow men were all statues.”
Beyond his celebrated rap career, Dumbfoundead also has quite the filmography. In March, it was announced that Dumbfoundead was set to return to our screens in the upcoming crime drama, Nemesis. Dumbfoundead is continually expanding his horizons within the film industry, as he joined the writers’ room for the second season of acclaimed series, BEEF. Most recently, Dumbfoundead attended the Gold House Gold Gala and awarded his day-one collaborator, Anderson .Paak, with the Gold Mogul Award. As a celebrated member of the AAPI community across industries, there is no limit to where Dumbfoundead is headed next!
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Jeremy Passion
Go ahead and tune your ukulele because next up we have Jeremy Passion! The Filipino-American singer-songwriter is known for his slow jams and soulful renditions of popular hits like “Cater 2 U” and “A Thousand Miles.” His 2011 love song, “Lemonade,” remains a classic to this day. At every AAPI karaoke session you will more than likely hear the sweet opening lines: “She’s my sunshine in the rain / She’s my Tylenol when I’m in pain.” The song sits at over 100 million Spotify streams and continues to be covered by artists like grentperez and JAEHYUN. Who knew that a song Passion penned at the age of sixteen would be warming hearts for years to come?
As the singer who shaped the youth of many AAPI community members, Passion’s artistry is shaping a whole new generation. “Family” and “It’s All Good” are Passion’s fresh takes on children’s music. Passion also co-wrote the children’s book Lemonade Lesson, where “10% of every sale will be donated to helping build wells and farms in Turkana, Kenya.” As for new musical endeavors, Passion joined grentperez on his debut album, Backflips at a Restaurant, for the song “Girl at the Station.” Passion also recently collaborated with Filipino R&B idol, Jay R, for the single “Gets Better.” After all these years, one thing is certain — his “passion” for music hasn’t faltered one bit!
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Jason Chen
For every stage of romance, Jason Chen has the song for you! The Taiwanese-American singer introduces his music platform as a “land where music is colorblind and language-blind.” Chen uploaded his first vocal cover onto YouTube in 2007 — only a year after he began singing. Whilst finishing up his last years of undergraduate studies, he uploaded vocal covers on a frequent basis. He worked as an accountant fresh out of university, but with the encouragement of fellow AAPI creatives, he decided to pursue his calling as a singer. The year 2011 was Chen’s breakout with his massive single, “Best Friend,” and first album, Gravity. The adorable music video for “Best Friend” sits at over 35 million views on YouTube, while the song also similarly has over 35 million streams on Spotify. He resumed his streak of adored originals with “Still In Love” and “Unexpectedly.”
Fast forward to 2024, longtime fans and supporters were treated to a new original song by Chen on Valentine’s Day. However, this one came with a sweet surprise! “Luckiest Man In The World” coincided with a proposal to his girlfriend — online personality and actress, Lucia Liu. Now his wife, the two create short-form content together on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Chen released the album, Happily Never After, this month featuring short songs that wittily capture his marriage.
Check out the official playlist below:
Interested in a new generation of AAPI artists? Check out EnVi’s album breakdown of SAILORR’s debut album, FROM FLORIDA’S FINEST, here!
