A Cross-Border Anthem That Redefines Asian Rap
Hip-hop has always been about storytelling, resilience, and taking up space. ASIAN STATE OF MIND does all of that while serving as a rallying cry for Asian hip-hop.
Five artists, five countries, one message—this is more than just a genre; it’s a movement.
Led by Awich, the track brings together Jay Park, KR$NA, MaSiWei, and VannDa, each dropping bars that reflect their cultural pride, artistic legacy, and unwavering ambition.
What makes this track stand out isn’t just its global lineup, but how seamlessly each artist weaves their own language, style, and history into one unified statement.
And if there was ever a co-sign that meant something in hip-hop, it’s this:
“先生 was that Wu-Tang / Love they showed for Asia we give it back like a boomerang.”
The Wu-Tang Clan reference is more than just a name-drop. It acknowledges hip-hop’s longstanding respect for Asian culture while flipping the script—this time, it’s Asia sending love back to the scene.
This is far more than just a collaboration. It’s a message to the world: Asian rap is here, and it’s not waiting for permission.
Lyrics Breakdown: The Bars That Hit Hardest
Awich: Setting the Tone with Precision and Power
Awich doesn’t just open the song—she establishes its entire mood. From the jump, she makes it clear that she’s not here for industry gimmicks:
“This ain’t no moment for Kodak / I’m not a model, I am the blueprint.”
She’s not just rapping about success—she’s embodying it. Coming from Okinawa, a region often overlooked in hip-hop, she doesn’t wait for recognition—she takes it.
Her reference to Mr. Miyagi taps into a blend of warrior spirit and wisdom, reinforcing her role as a pioneer for Japanese rap.
The Wu-Tang Clan shoutout adds another layer, paying tribute to a group that built their own dynasty while bridging cultures.
She echoes that same ethos, carving out space not just for herself but for the next wave of Asian hip-hop.
Her flow is measured but dangerous, shifting seamlessly between English and Japanese. And when she closes with:
“Peace to Jay for paving the way / KR$NA’s pen is changing the game / MaSiWei is taking it higher / VannDa’s legacy never fades.”
It’s more than just a roll call—or simply just bigging up her collaborators; she’s acknowledging a shift happening in real time. This isn’t a moment—it’s a movement.
Jay Park: A Veteran Who Knows His Worth
Jay Park has nothing to prove, and he raps like it. His verse is seasoned with flexes, but they’re the kind that come from years of knowing exactly who you are:
“내 성공에 대해 듣는 것도 지겹겠지” (“You must be tired of hearing about my success”)
He knows his impact in Korea, Japan, and beyond is undeniable, but his success hasn’t made him complacent. His line:
“They hit me up but then get no reply.”
Is more than just flex—it’s a reminder that not everyone deserves access.
His bilingual wordplay moves smoothly, proving that Asian rap isn’t just competing globally, but setting the standard.
KR$NA: The Sharpest Lyricist in the Room
KR$NA’s verse might be the most technically impressive, flipping between Hindi and English with surgical precision.
But what makes it hit hardest isn’t just the flow—it’s the defiance.
“Comin’ through the top, बोल अब ‘तू है कौन?’” (“Coming through the top, now say ‘Who are you?’”)
It’s the kind of line that doesn’t need explanation. He’s already answered the question through his work.
The way he weaves multiple languages into a single verse shows just how much Indian hip-hop has evolved—and how effortlessly it stands alongside its global counterparts.
And for those still doubting? His bars about Popeye with a K and Louboutin vs Louis Vuitton show that his references aren’t just random flexes—they’re calculated, detailed, and packed with double meanings.
MaSiWei: China’s Heavyweight with an Unshakable Presence
MaSiWei moves differently—his confidence is a slow burn, delivered with the precision of someone who knows they’ve already won.
His lines aren’t just about his own success; they’re about putting Chinese hip-hop on the map:
“Chinese rap 版图我来连接” (“I’m connecting the map of Chinese rap”)
He isn’t asking for a seat at the table—he’s building his own empire. There’s no rush in his flow, no need to prove himself.
The way he delivers his lines shows that he knows he’s already a legend, and the world is just catching up.
VannDa: The Heart and Soul of the Track
VannDa’s verse lands on point. His lines aren’t about flexing wealth or dominance—they’re about fighting for identity.
“I de-colonize.”
That line alone carries centuries of weight, especially coming from a Cambodian rapper.
He’s not just here to represent Khmer culture—he’s here to rewrite its place in hip-hop history.
The repetition of “I do it for Khmer” drives the point home. He’s not rapping for trends—he’s rapping for his people, for a legacy that goes beyond the charts.
Production: A Beat That Bridges Cultures
Diego Ave’s production keeps everything cohesive but dynamic. The 808s hit deep, the percussion slaps, and there are subtle nods to traditional Asian sounds woven throughout.
The beat is a perfect balance of modern rap aesthetics and regional influences, making the track as global as the artists themselves.
It’s not just about making a banger—it’s about making something that feels like a shift in the industry.
Final Thoughts: The East Is Here, and It’s Loud
There’s no hesitance in ASIAN STATE OF MIND. It doesn’t waste time trying to justify its existence.
Each artist brings something unique—Awich’s sharp delivery, Jay Park’s effortless cool, KR$NA’s flawless pen game, MaSiWei’s calculated presence, and VannDa’s raw emotional depth.
Together, they don’t just prove that Asian hip-hop belongs in the conversation—they make it clear that the conversation is already happening, with or without permission.
The era of waiting for co-signs and validation is over. This track is a warning shot to anyone still underestimating Asian rap—and it won’t be the last.
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Awich, Jay Park (박재범), KR$NA, 马思唯 (MaSiWei) & VannDa ASIAN STATE OF MIND Lyrics
Intro: KUNKO
ウヤファーフジぬウムいいちまでぃん互に
肝ぬ糸繋ぢ浮世渡ら
(D-d-diego)
Verse 1: Awich
Yeah
Who do you know? Come from the bottom, a mother, a widow, a diligent soldier
Who do you know? Put on for Okinawa and Japan on my shoulder (Yeah)
This ain’t no moment for kodak
I’m not a model, I am the blueprint
Mr. Miyagi’s daughter, get out my way or hit you with that two-piece
Ha, Guapanese’s the new slang
先生 was that Wu-tang
Love they showed for Asia we give it back like a boomerang
Peace to Jay for paving the way
KR$NA pen is changing the game
Masiwei is taking it higher
VannDa’s legacy never fades
Ay 亜細亜、希望、背負う name
Ay, pain も全部 YEN に change
Ay, got thе yin and yang and zen and
Bringing the balance bеtter than dollars
Keys to peace the world’s forgotten
Chorus
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for? (Uh)
What you do it for?
(What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for?
What you do it for? Yuh
一、二、三、四、go
Verse 2: Jay Park
They know why I do
Everything I do is for my people
Do you recall? Never default
Wavy like seafood
Okinawa power, that’s why I’ve never met my equal
I kept real in Korea and real in Japan
My name hold weight, they say I’m the man
Your cousin and auntie they prolly my fan
Entrepreneurial movements the plan
Look, 내 성공에 대해 듣는 것도 지겹겠지
Yeah, married to the games, that’s fosho
No 소개팅
진정성 authenticity
It’s some you can’t buy no matter how much pride
That’s no lie that’s why they can’t fuck with me
Compared to me, y’all rappers かわいい
Every song is hot as Hawaii
Every stunt that’s when death I defy
They hit me up but then get no reply
Get no reply, I’m ghost, ghost
Host the most
Give ‘em a hit then they turn to a fein
When I hit the scene you hearin’ the sceam (Hush, scream)
Wooh
Chorus
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for? (Uh)
What you do it for?
(What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for?
What you do it for? Yuh
一、二、三、四、go
Verse 3: KR$NA
Dollar sign
पूछो इनसे “आया कौन?” (आया कौन?)
जब time मेरा आया तो पलट पाया काया कौन?
एक ही झलक में फरक दिखे, I’m on
लगूं fireborn, roll deep like Leviathan
What you do it for? उड़ाता धुएं को
Comin’ through the top, बोल अब “तू है कौन?”
रास्ते पे चलके करे तलवे लाल, अब तलवे लाल जब ये जूतेLouboutin
Shimmy shimmy yay, shimmy ya
I don’t know you, you ain’t familiar
मैं सुरूर में हमेशा ना Reshammiya
अपने देश को भी विदेश में पेश करने गया
तेरे जैसे देखे मैने बहुत आए गए
जब मौत आए only time बहुत high गए (Anh-ha)
पूछो तो इकलौता है ये, man keep big arms जैसे Popeye K (Anh-ha)
दिल्ली का लौंडा करे Japan में chill
Arigato, करता हूं आराम से kill
Been runnin’ the game, तो मुझे मैदान में मिल
चीन, Korea, Cambodia में पहचानते skill (Woo)
जब ये थे ten में तो mic पे था then
कभी ना रोक पाए है भाई का ये pen
Dollar sign reppin’ the tricolour for my brothers
Tell ’em I love ’em back in my motherland
Chorus
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for? (Uh)
What you do it for?
(What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for?
What you do it for? Yuh
一、二、三、四、go
Verse 4: 马思唯
Uh, 来撒 老子架势冲老子架势弄 黑马, 一、二、三、四、go
Chinese rap 版图我来连接 不同货币颜色的钱洗手
Racks on racks, 像在修万里长城乐透人生的故事演起走
Represent 成都早就是个人物他们喊我 G. O. A. T, goat
I did it, I did it again, 这些 haters 看到我名字都恼火得很
以父之名他 kissing my ring 我挂满了奖牌有好几百斤
My bad lil shorty, 裙子包裹的紧
Now she in the kitchen cooking, 喊我来品
Higher Brothers, 我们高度在大气层
建立新的王朝老子是发起人
Hop in, 诺亚方舟老子来掌舵 团结全球华人听我的讲座
脚踩着神州我沐浴在黄河 我生活是港片我活的太港火
这里卧虎藏龙你们可以去问李安
拳头一致对外不让敌人闯我地盘
Shorty understand I got humble swag, 是遗传
I put my city on the map, 这是成都集团
Chorus
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (What you do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for? (Uh)
What you do it for?
(What you do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for? (Do it for?)
What you do it for?
What you do it for?
What you do it for? Yuh
一、二、三、四、go
Verse 5: VannDa
Yeah, I do it for Khmer
(Yeah, I do it for Khmer)
ចង់និយាយភាសាខ្មែរ (ចង់និយាយភាសាខ្មែរ)
ខ្ញុំមានញើសឈាមជាខ្មែរ
ហើយខ្ញុំកើតលើដីខ្មែរ
ខ្ញុំអត់ចូលចិត្ដតាប៉ែ
Yeah, I do it for Khmer
(Yeah, I do it for Khmer)
មិនច្រើនក៏មិនតិចដែរ (មិនច្រើនក៏មិនតិចដែរ)
Yeah I’m taking what’s mine
I told you it’s time, I de-colonize (De-colonize)
ដើរចេញមក represent ដូចជាព្យុះ Hurricane
ខ្ញុំចាប់ដកអុកសុីសែន ពួកអាណាគេចង់បះបោរ
I’m now and I’m next
I did it with less
I got pain in my chest ខ្ញុំញើសចេញដូចសំបោរ
ប្រយ័ត្នខ្ញុំមែនទែន I’d do it again
I’ll take my revenge ចាក់អ្នកជាប់ Lock ដូចសោរ
I’m using my name, I’m changing the game
The rules ain’t the same, you bow down
Outro: VannDa & Awich, Awich
I got what I need
But I want some more
For my people
That’s who I do this for
I got what I need
But I want some more
For the people
That’s who we do this for
We coming deep (We coming deep)
From the east (From the east)
We coming deep (We coming deep)
From the east (From the east)
We coming deep (We coming deep)
From the east (From the east)
We coming deep (We coming deep)
From the east (From the east)
We coming deep
