Take It or Leave It?: Rich Brian

The artist formerly known as Rich Chigga recently dropped his first full-length project, titled Amen. After achieving and transcending meme status to become a legitimate hip-hop presence, we have to ask: should we take him, or leave him?

image via DJBooth.net

The GOOD:

• Asian hip hop artists are few and far between in western pop culture, and to have someone like Brian in the market whose main selling point is more than just "diversity hire" is invaluable

• "Dat $tick" was a god damn banger and you know it

• He's solidifying Indonesian food as a viable successor to Chinese food for the title of "best Asian cuisine mishandled by white people"

• He's still young enough for racist detractors to make sweatshop jokes at him and have it land with some level of credibility

• Doesn't do Kung Fu (or rather, is not expected to)

• Taught himself English and western culture through the internet

• Is fully prepared to be the sole representative of an entire continent in a single artistic medium

• Has received advice from Jeremy Lin about being the only example of success in his chosen field

The BAD:

• Still uses a hard R in "Rich"

• Reactions to "Dat $tick" did not include enough unsolicited straight white male perspectives 

• Early rise to fame prevents him from ever being upset that he's too young to rent a car

• Lack of martial arts knowledge leaves him vulnerable to sneak attacks

• "Chigga?" Seriously? Come on man.

• Knowledge of western meme culture only consists of outdated 'top text-bottom text' style of memetry

• Has yet to reach level of ubiquitous fame where white people say their Asian friend resembles him

• Will probably be played by some white motherfucker in his biopic

FINAL GRADE: Is definitely famous, but has come with some growing pains. 

B+.

-NB

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