Can Bohan Phoenix Scale the "Great Wall of America"?

Welcome to Golden Dragon, a newsletter by Eric Diep about Asians in hip-hop and my takes on trending topics in AAPI pop culture. Golden Dragon is a rotation of interviews, reviews, news, critical perspectives, and random blogs about music I recommend.

• Bohan Phoenix’s “Great Wall of America” is an all-English song that has me unpacking its meaning. I share a bit of our history and get into its importance.

• Diep Cuts featuring JENNIE, Jackson Wang, LISA, and Awich.

• Send It: The Fun With Dumb podcast ends … for good?

Bohan Phoenix and I have known each other for a while. 

I first interviewed him for Bandcamp in 2017 during his “lovelove” era. Since then, I’ve kept up with his career, listening to the new albums he’s dropped and watching his first appearance on The Rap of China. In text messages, he checks in and tells me what he’s working on. Although our paths crossed in NYC, Bohan has grown his fanbase in China, living in Chengdu and making his name known in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

In January, he messaged me Happy New Year and told me he was back in NY. He then sent me a track titled “Great Wall of America.” My first reaction to the track was it reminded me of Eminem’s “White America,” a spiritual successor of Em’s song that went against two conservative vice-presidential wives (Tipper Gore and Lynne Cheney) who were hypocritical leaders attempting to censor rap. Bohan once told me Eminem was his source for loving hip-hop and learning English so I was excited at the thought of “Great Wall of America” being an homage to Em’s first song off The Eminem Show.

After I texted him my thoughts, he told me the “Great Wall of America” concept was formulated a year ago, not knowing what the climate would be like in 2025 after President Donald Trump signed multiple orders restricting immigration and terminating DEI programs once he returned to office. In the past, Bohan has used his platform to criticize China’s hip-hop ban, educate Asian artists participating in hip-hop culture, and address anti-Asian hate crimes. I’ve seen his evolution from his “oriental trap” days to incorporating more serious messages in his music. I’d call him a conscious rapper who is moving away from making mindless bangers and putting effort into penning lyrics that stand for something.

Produced by W. Y. Huang, “Great Wall of America,” released independently on Feb. 24, is Bohan’s answer to the uncomfortable feeling of having to explain to strangers where you’re really from. I’ve experienced this a handful of times when people ask me this question, replying either originally from Oregon or lived in New York for 10 years. When I have to explain my origin story of where my family came from, it feels like I have to prove my Americanness. “Tell me where you REALLY from?” is a type of xenophobic question that hits me the wrong way all the time. I don’t want to overexplain my parents’ journey to America from Vietnam and Cambodia. The question sparks my frustration of not feeling wanted, especially in predominantly white spaces where I’m the only Asian person and I can’t authentically be myself.

Bohan attacks the aggressive beat with this in mind. “Five generations couldn’t pass the Great Wall of America,” he raps on the chorus, indicating he’s had multiple generations who have made it to America. He follows that with his only option for American validation, “What does it take to get over the Great Wall of America? / Pretty white bitch you my only hope come here let me marry ya.”

Bohan talks about acceptance in many of his tracks. He has a harder hill to climb trying to be accepted in China as a legitimate Chinese rapper who can speak fluently and in North America as an Asian American rapper in hip-hop who has MC Jin as the standard-bearer. Previous songs like “Two Commas (American Dream)” and “Make You Proud” are Bohan looking within, telling his story to Asian kids who face similar challenges in pursuing music. Kicking off the first verse of “Great Wall of America,” Bohan gets right to the point: “Dear America / See I just want to be accepted as a son of ya / But lately I don’t feel the love that you promised us / Do my slanted eyes and yellow skin embarrass ya?”

Then he goes as far as saying he’ll vote for Trump if that means being accepted as an American. His anger can be heard through his words, stocking up on weapons for war times. He’s so committed to Trump’s version of an ideal American that he’ll fight immigrants on American soil, representing his country and defending what’s his. But it is all for nothing, as Bohan thinks he’s still viewed as a “chink,” even after traveling all around the world and returning “home.”

Bohan raps like he has nothing to lose. During the second verse, he switches up the flow and lets the beat drop, almost to give these words more breathing room. He’s schooling us on Chinese immigrants laying tracks of the transcontinental railroad from centuries ago, using the historical context as fuel to get more off his chest. His voice cracks, reiterating Asian American representation issues and demanding to make room for him at the table. He takes it further with a direct shot at discrimination, rapping, “We Americans but / Perpetual foreigners is how you want treat us / Telling me go back to my country / We been here longer than you honky.”

While the song is on DSPs in North America, he shares with me that he’s had trouble with DSPs in China uploading “Great Wall of America,” citing their concerns were the “imagery of ‘Great Wall of America’ is inaccurate and potentially offensive and the song itself could stir up racial hate.” 

“Great Wall of America” is not like “NY2SH” or “Overseas.” It’s an introspective song you sit with and wonder when it’ll get better for Asian Americans. I prefer Bohan using his voice to speak his mind than play it safe for more streams. This is what hip-hop is about. Bohan is just doing it on his terms.

Stream it here.

Follow Family Style on Spotify!

One of my former editors and a subscriber to Golden Dragon asked about a Diep Cuts playlist. I haven’t been doing a good job refreshing Family Style, so I am here to announce that it is updated. I’ll probably throw in some older songs featured from last year when I have more time. You can follow here.

JENNIE, Doechii - “ExtraL”

“Do my ladies run this?” BLACKPINK’s JENNIE is preparing to release her solo album Ruby out March 7. For her latest single, she grabs hip-hop’s it-girl Doechii for a bossing up anthem—big moves, only extra large.

Jackson Wang - “High Alone”

When I interviewed Jackson Wang during the rollout of his first Magic Man in 2022, he told me about how the album was him breaking through his negative moments. I like Wang cause his music videos for his songs are different regions in his universe. “High Alone” is off Magic Man II, an album structured in four distinct chapters, each exploring a different stage of grief. After going through an emotional rough patch, Magic Man II represents “being true to myself, listening to my heart and accepting all the good and the bad.”

“High Alone” sounds something off The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow. Playlist them together.

LISA - “FUTW”

LISA’s Alter Ego introduces Roxi, Sunni, Kiki, Speedi, and Vixi. On her website, she describes Vixi as “the one they love to call the ‘Villain.’” Over production by ATL Jacob, FNZ, and Hendrix Smoke, Vixi comes alive in “Fuxk Up The World.” Future has a version too, but I’m into this Vixi solo version. People are gonna learn that LISA got bars.

Awich - “Asian State of Mind” f/ Masiwei, Kr$na, Jay Park, and Vannda

When Awich was promoting this song on her Instagram, I was excited that she included India and Cambodia in her international posse cut “Asian State of Mind.” It speaks to how far hip-hop has come to have scenes in different continents with their stars that American rap fans are familiar with. This song is like the global “Welcome to Atlanta (Coast 2 Coast Remix),” and I’m already texting friends about who went the hardest.

Produced by Diego Ave, Awich claims she’s the blueprint now, her sensei was Wu-Tang Clan, and thanks Jay Park for paving the way. From there, each rapper has a verse to state who they do it for: South Korea, China, India, and Cambodia.

I wasn’t familiar with KR$NA so I DM’ed Navjosh, Head of A&R for Mass Appeal South Asia and founder of my favorite rap blog HipHop-N-More, for some answers.

“KR$NA is the ultimate choice to represent India on this Asian collaboration that Awich has put together,” he wrote. “Born Krishna Kaul, the Delhi-based rapper has not shied away from expressing his love for Japanese culture and music in the past. And given his skills on the mic, it only made sense to have him showcase some hard hitting bars on the posse cut."

He’s about to gain new North American fans for sure. He killed this verse. Stream it here.

Fun With Dumb is coming to an end. After seven years, Dumbfoundead’s weekly podcast had its final episode on Feb. 26. I watched a lot of Fun With Dumb episodes because it was a podcast that spoke about the Asian and Asian American experience. I enjoyed his guests and connected with their conversations. This pod has made me laugh on more than one occasion.

In the intro, Dumb kept saying “season finale,” leaving the door open for future reunions. He proposed that if someone is willing to put up $75,000, he would unselfishly use the money to pay his staff and keep the pod going. If anyone reading this does have that kind of money, please consider how important this platform is for our community and hit Dumb up.

Below, here are some of the best moments from himself and his co-hosts Rick Lee and Steffie Baik. You can watch the episode here.