Los Angeles, CA

Jay Park joined HipHopDX’s Editor-In-Chief Trent Clark at Comfort LA in downtown Los Angeles for the latest episode of Soulful Sundays.

The Roc Nation artist shared some fun anecdotes, such as his memorable first meeting with Beyoncé. But much of the conversation covered the challenges Park faces in the music industry, particularly as an Asian American in Hip Hop.

View this post on Instagram

I dont really let fame or charts or views dictate who I am or I how I move or how I treat ppl. Went from being a bboy dancing on card boards to being in one of the biggest Boy bands in Korea to working at a used tired shop (that photo is the tire shop i used to work at) to coming back and starting two successful ass labels and being the first Asian person to be signed to Rocnation all the while being a good human being and always putting on and trying to elevate and progress and always giving back to my ppls and to the culture. I put my whole life into this and i think its safe to say nobodies done what I’ve done the way Ive done it. My legacy already set in stone and Ive paved my own way and Im happy that others are using the blueprint. Just talking my sh*t trying to motivate myself and others ? Realized I need to start playing the game more and that Im too mutha f*ckin chill lol ?? #aomg #h1ghrmusic #rocnation #artofmovement #Seattle2Seoul #talkyoshityoungasianman

A post shared by Jay Park / 박재범 ($hway bum) (@jparkitrighthere) on

Park touched on one point of frustration: being deemed “too Korean” in America (and vice versa). He also spoke on the tremendous pressure of representing multiple communities and creating a lane as opposed to following a clear career path.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

“I do not take it for granted, but it is a lot of pressure because it’s kind of like being the first of your kind,” he said. “There’s nobody you can look to for a real blueprint. So, it’s like every mistake you make, it’s gonna be that much bigger.

“I’m basically writing the blueprint as I go along. And also, I’m representing for a lot of different people — people from Seattle, Asian Americans, Koreans — and so I need to make sure I move right. That’s what I’ve been thinking about a lot these days.”

Watch the entire episode of Soulful Sundays above.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

[apple_news_ad type=”any”]