BOHAN PHOENIX

Bohan Phoenix was born in Hubei, China and moved to Massachusetts in ’03 at the young age of 11. He learned the English language through consuming rap music in his adolescent years. He cites Tupac Shakur and Eminem as long time influences and is an avid listener of Erykah Badu. Bohan would later move to NYC to attend New York University and also moving to Brooklyn while a student at NYU. 

Since high school, the Chinese American rapper was already interested in making music. During his move to New York, he began to find life long friendships and collaborations with fellow NYU students and New Yorkers; ultimately forming an indie collective known as LoveLoveNYC. Among the collective is an indie producer and multitalented artist by the name of Jachary, tattoo artist and fellow rapper – M4, film student(s) from NYU Tisch, and others who have all consistently contributed to Bohan’s success. With the help of these trusted individuals, he has been able to garner attention from publications such as Hypebeast, Complex Magazine’s Pigeons and Planes, Vibe, Highsnobiety, The Fader, etc. 

Bohan is on a mission to present his concept of cultural duality, a recurring message in his music. Most recently, he released an EP entitled Overseas, consisting of smooth transitions between English and Chinese lyrics that discuss this reconciliation of American and Chinese identities. 

Though he has struggled with these dual identities, he has also learned to embrace them by deeming this duality a blessing. We see this most prominently in his Jala EP, (“jia la” is Chinese for “add spice”). The Jala video, which was released by 88 Rising through The FADER, drew considerable attention for the rapper and since then, he has been deemed, “the future of multicultural hip hop” by Magnetic Magazine. 

Sources:

Shinfuku, Kristi. “Interview: Bohan Phoenix Is the Future of Multicultural Rap At A Time When We Need It Most.” Magnetic Magazine, 6 Feb. 2017, www.magneticmag.com/2017/02/interview-bohan-phoenix-is-the-future-of-hip-hop/.

“Bohan Phoenix – OVERSEAS 海外 (Official Interactive Video).” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Mar. 2018, youtu.be/YTUmEFdutTY.