Steve Aoki Talks About Asian Representation
Representation matters and the new music video for Steve Aoki’s highly acclaimed single with Korean boy band sensation, BTS, shows just that.
“Waste It on Me” was the number one song in the world on Apple Music, and it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 89. BTS continuously breaks records and barriers for the Asian community. It is not about western validation. It is more about western appreciation.
Today, Steve Aoki and BTS dropped a three-minute long video for “Waste It on Me.” The video featured all American Asians including Ken Jeong, Jamie Chung who is currently on Fox’s The Gifted, Ross Butler from 13 Reasons Why, Devon Aoki and Ben Baller. The video also included cameos from Leonardo Nam, Vincent Rodriguez, and Jimmy Yang from Crazy Rich Asians, Jessica Lu, Jared Eng, and Tiffany Ma.
On Instagram Steve went further to explain the importance of Asian representation in the music industry. Steve explained that when he and BTS achieved that number one on Apple Music he realized that it isn’t just about him and BTS. The producer expressed that he looked at the bigger picture.
“It’s bigger than music and we hope to show other Asians they are also a part of the global commercial musical landscape. I feel so deeply about the Asian footprint in music culture that I wanted the music video to have an entirely Asian cast and director.”
It is important that people are able to see people who look like them in the entertainment business. We hope there is more Asian representation not only in the music industry but across all scopes of the entertainment industry. The argument that not enough people will see movies that have people of color as the lead has been proven not to be factual because Crazy Rich Asians broke records this year.
