Hit producer CHOPS works with the best established & aspiring Asian American & International music artists.
HOW TO HELP before even contributing! Tell your friends & followers via this link: http://chopsmusic.com/support/
Growing up Asian American, it was hard to relate with pop culture - I watched The Simpsons and Spongebob to see yellow faces. Years ago, me & 2 friends broke barriers as the Mountain Brothers, the first Asian American rappers signed to a major. We had some adventures, including an industry-type suggesting we wear karate outfits and hit gongs, and an exec at our label saying he "didn't know what to do with a white rap group."
People respected that we were proud of our heritage, but didn't use it as a crutch, or a gimmick. Most importantly, the music was jammin, and people who knew hip-hop, dug it. We put out 2 critically acclaimed albums and got network video play.
I now produce music for some of rap's biggest & best including The Lonely Island & Nicki Minaj "The Creep" (78+ million views!), Bun B & Lil Wayne "Damn I'm Cold", and Young Jeezy "National Anthem". One of Kanye West's first rap appearances was my Virtuosity album, alongside Talib Kweli and Raekwon from Wu-Tang Clan.
About 3 years back, I noticed amazing Asian American artists making waves, and rekindled an old dream: a project with ALL strong Asian talent! Artists today who go through many of the things my group did, overcoming the same obstacles, same struggles, pushing forward, and going beyond.
Strength In NUMBERS!
This is my chance, OUR chance, to make a statement together... with undeniably talented artists who stand for great music.
I spent 2 YEARS making music with over 30 of the best Asian American rappers and singers, with special guests from Japan and Korea. MBs even reunited for a new song & video with our friend, award-winning pioneer APA filmmaker Chris Chan Lee!
THE LINEUP:
Here's more names than you can fit in your homie's Honda Civic: Ann One (LA), Baiyu (NYC), Bambu (LA), Catzie of Yellow Rage (PHL), Connie Lim (LA), Decipher (PHL), DJ Bonics (PHL/PGH), DJ Neil Armstrong (NYC), DJ Roli Rho (NYC), Dumbfoundead (LA), El Gambina (NJ), Erika David (Bay Area), Hopie (SF), Hoya (NYC), J-Key (NYC), Joanlee (LBC), Kiwi (LA), Lil Crazed (MN), Matt Cab (Tokyo), Mic Barz (ATL), Mountain Brothers (PHL), Nikko Dator (LV), Paul Kim (LA), Prometheus Brown (SEA), Rekstizzy (NYC), Rocky Rivera (SF), Ruby Ibarra (Bay Area), Tasha aka Yoonmirae (Korea), Thai (PDX), Tiger JK (Korea), Timothy Flu (ATL), Verbal of M-Flo / Teriyaki Boyz (Tokyo), and Yellow Boyz (ATL)
Great people contributed much love and hard work!!! This is the most difficult project I've taken on, and the most worthwhile. I hope you find it worth backing!
PLEASE UNDERSTAND: THIS PROJECT NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT TO HAPPEN!
If we DON'T reach goal, backers are not charged, no cool shirts etc. get made, and NO money gets received at all. Zip. Zilch. Nada. If we surpass, we'll make it more fun with remixes, video beatmaking demonstrations, more music vids etc.!
Where does the money go?
Recouping basic travel & equipment costs, plus daily cost of working, creating, tweaking, refining. New expenses include sequencing, mastering, item manufacture & fulfillment, video production, and promotion. Covering costs would be nice but Strength In NUMBERS is more about spiritual gain.
To really explore Strength In NUMBERS see below, we'll have news and updates for the rest of the campaign!
See & Hear EVERY ARTIST!!!
(clicking thru to YouTube lets you skip around to each, on computer):
Check out some of the awesome influential folks who support!!!
NEW MUSIC VIDEO! Paul Kim and Dumbfoundead aka PARKER, "No Turning Back" directed by JL Jupiter and Timothy Tau!
NEW ONE! Another of my favorite songs from the project "Top Down" - Mic Barz and Timothy Flu
Lots more videos are planned, some are even in the works now. Whether they get finished, and this project turns into a real movement, with cultural impact, with significance, depends on YOU!!!!
HEAR ALL THE MUSIC RIGHT NOW!
These are clean versions, tagged with website mentions at the end of each song. Backers at $10 and up will receive non-tagged Clean, Dirty, and Instrumental versions, plus bonus material including an unreleased song of mine that got played on Grey's Anatomy last week. UPDATE: Peril and Styles from Mountain Brothers said it's cool to give everybody our first album Self Vol. 1 too!
Strength In NUMBERS on BuzzFeed!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/asian-american-musicians-you-need-to-get-behind-right-now
Hat and shirt mockups:
For anybody interested in multiples of these items, for gifts! There's no option for it in the reward section itself. But let's add it here, and at a discount!
Anybody with a reward level that includes a poster, add as many more posters as you like by adding $10 each to your pledge. Same shipping address.
Anybody with a reward level that includes a hat, add as many more hats as you like by adding $15 each to your pledge. Same shipping address.
Anybody with a reward level that includes a shirt, add as many more shirts as you like (different sizes are ok) by adding $20 each to your pledge. Same shipping address.
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Projects this ambitious rarely get off the ground, but together we made the music... and it kicks ass! As a backer you'll get it first! But that's only part of the job.
One challenge is getting physical items manufactured and in your hands. There will be a wait, but it'll be worth it. Everything's on track for holiday time!
The BIG challenge is spreading the word! This is a grassroots project that NEEDS all the word of mouth it can get. Most Reward levels include a way to support and legally share the music - we're counting on you! If you can't support money-wise, please help by SHARING this page with your friends and followers right now using this link: http://chopsmusic.com/support
FAQ
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Good question! First sampler from the project, by my brother DJ Bonics (Wiz Khalifa, Wired 96.5 Philly) can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch…and heard here:
https://soundcloud.com/chopsmusic/dj-bonics-strength-in-numbers
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- First created · 1 backed
- Scott Chops Jung 809 friends
- Website: CHOPSmusic.com
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Pledge $1 or more
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Maybe you just want to show a little support. Or maybe you don't pay for music, but want to avoid a bad fortune in your cookie (I know people...)
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Pledge $10 or more
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Advance digital download of the Strength In NUMBERS album (before the official release date)! 22 songs, plus interludes. Plus I'll make some new remixes of select Strength In NUMBERS songs. Dirty & Clean versions included - CHOPS is for the children!
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Pledge $25 or more
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Help SPREAD THE WORD about Strength In NUMBERS, and save $$! Get 8 stickers (4 each of 4"x4" and cellphone size) with Strength In NUMBERS artwork by Hoya Chung, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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Full color limited 18x24 Strength In NUMBERS poster! Artwork by Hoya Chung includes the names of all the Strength In NUMBERS artists! Includes an advance digital download of Strength In NUMBERS! Free shipping in the US.
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Pledge $35 or more
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Secret Identities! The homies at Secretidentities.org made available 6 copies of THE Asian American superhero comic anthology, signed by Keith Chow, Jerry Ma, Cliff Chiang, Bernard Chang, Larry Hama (GI JOE!), Glenn Urieta and Greg Pak. Includes advance digital download of Strength In NUMBERS! Free shipping in the US!
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Pledge $40 or more
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Official limited Strength In NUMBERS snapback hat! All black, mesh back, with red Strength In NUMBERS logotype on front panel. Plus 8 Strength In NUMBERS stickers, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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Official limited run Strength In NUMBERS t-shirt, black with 4-color artwork by Hoya Chung. Combed ringspun cotton. Fashion fit, preshrunk. Size S to 3XL available, for XXL & up add $3. Plus 8 Strength In NUMBERS stickers, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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HAT & SHIRT Combo: Official Strength In NUMBERS snapback, AND t-shirt (size S to 3XL, for XXL & up add $3). Plus 8 Strength In NUMBERS stickers, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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You selected28 backers
HAT & SHIRT & POSTER Combo: Official Strength In NUMBERS snapback, t-shirt (size S to 3XL, for XXL & up add $3), and 18x24 poster. Plus 8 Strength In NUMBERS stickers, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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Pledge $180 or more
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KITCHEN SINK combo: Hat & Shirt & Poster, (shirt size S to 3XL, for XXL & up add $3) plus personal mp3 shoutout from me to you, over the Strength In NUMBERS instrumental of your choice. Plus 8 Strength In NUMBERS stickers, and advance album downloads for you and 7 friends! Free shipping in the US.
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Pledge $400 or more
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ANIMAL STYLE! Trip to the Philadelphia Zoo for me and you. Has nothing to do with this project really, but I like the zoo. Transportation to and from Philadelphia not included. Plus everything in the KITCHEN SINK combo (free shipping worldwide)!
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Pledge $500 or more
You selected1 backer All gone!
THE SHIRTS OFF OUR BACKS!: 5 shirts in all: Styles Infinite's Vincent Chin shirt, Peril-L's Technics shirt, and my Superman, Art Museum, & How Many Licks shirts (size L, will check the fellas sizes) from the new Mountain Brothers "Keep On" video. All signed. Free shipping in the US.
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Only ONE available at this price!!! Instrumental track for use in a project of yours. I retain my writer's and publishing rights, copyright is yours. Strictly Indie artists only! Digital delivery of the music and related files. This is WAAAYYYYY below my current rate, offer only good while Kickstarter is active. Includes everything in the KITCHEN SINK combo (free shipping worldwide).
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I write and record a custom 8 bar rhyme that includes your name, or the name of a friend (nicknames ok), over a piece of your favorite Strength in NUMBERS instrumental. Plus everything in the KITCHEN SINK combo. Free shipping in the US.
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Pledge $600 or more
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RIDE WITH ME: I'll take you by places in Philly where we shot the new Mountain Brothers"Keep On" video, plus my old residence.... in the big bad Buick from the video.... while we listen to the Strength in NUMBERS album (before the release date if schedule allows)! We'll stop at one of my favorite places to eat (a food truck on 38th, a Chinese take-out-only spot on Lancaster, maybe somewhere else).... Bring a friend! Or bring two friends, it's a large vehicle. Transportation to and from Philly not included. Plus everything in the KITCHEN SINK combo (free shipping worldwide)!
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Funding period
- (45 days)
