It started in the Bronx.

A Jamaican born Disc Jockey by the name of Clive Cambell, aka Kool Herc, plant the seeds that would become a worldwide phenomenon.

1520 Sedgwick Avenue, where Kool Herc started spinning records would later become to be known as “The Birthplace of Hip Hop” and artists like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and Sugarhill Gang would take the fresh new art form and help bring it to national prominence.

Fans of Hip Hop know this story. Now, a new story has started to take root.

Just like the black, white and Latin communities before it the Asian communities is starting to come into prominence in the Hip Hop world, albeit slowly.

In every facet of Hip Hop , from the music to the clothing, ‘the Asian community is staking it’s claim and carving out their own place in Hip Hop history.

If you want to look at where the Asian community has had the greatest impact on music you need look no further than on the production side.

One half of possibly this generation’s most popular production teams is of Filipino decent.

Chad Hugo makes up one half of the hugely successful duo the Neptune’s, and although Pharrell Williams plays more as the face for the duo Chad is every bit of instrumental as Skateboard P…literally.

Chad plays most of the instruments for the drumbeats and melodies that Pharrell comes up with.

Another prolific producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in Hip Hop is DJ Baby Yu.

Known throughout the industry as “The Remix Kid” Yu has worked with the likes of Kanye West, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes and Fabulous. Yu, has been working for 10 years now.

He is known for his work on the mix tap and club scene, He performs all over the word for sold out crowds.

Dj Honda is by far one of the most loved and respected Djs, no matter the ethnicity. Honda started out in Tokyo where he would become one of the most revered and respected Djs rising sun, working with artists like Mos Def, Fat Joe, The Beatnuts, Redman, and Gangstarr.

Producing the music isn’t where it stops. Asian MCs are gaining some traction as well. The most successful thus far is Jin. Jin is the first Asian American rapper to be signed to a major record company. Jin got his start battling in his hometown of Miami.

He also made a name for himself on BET’s “106 and Park”. He’s signed to the Ruff Ryder label and release his first album “The Rest Is History”.

Jin would ultimately leave the Ruff Ryder label; he remained on good terms with the label.

He has since released four albums and is working on his sixth, album entitled “Birthday, Funerals, and Everything in Between.” Jin is currently on tour and continues to dominate on the battle scene.

Other artists such as LS, Shogunna, Rook, Giant Panda, Chan, Young Mac, the Teriyaki Boyz, the Far East Movement and Roy Kim all have broken through to gain, albeit minimal, exposure on the music scene.

Chalk it up to record companies not knowing how to market Asian MCs, or maybe the supposed lack of interest in Asian MCs has led to the stifling of many talented artists.

Even Jin, who is considered one of the best MCs working today, only sold about two hundred thousand copies of his first album.

Clothing companies, on the other hand, have shown major growth. A Bathing Ape (or BAPE) is a Japanese clothing company founded by Tomoaoki “Nigo” Nagao in 1993.

According to Nigo, the name “A Bathing Ape” is short for a Japanese saying “bathing in lukewarm water.”

Japanese people typically have long daily baths. Bathing in luke warm water is to over indulge. This is, ironically, a reference to the laziness of the younger generation of Japanese, the brands own customers.

In January 2005, Pharrell Williams helped Nigo launch the first “Bathing Ape” store in New York. Artists such as Lil Wayne, Jin, Kanye West, Jermain Dupri, N.E.R.D, The Beastie Boys, and even actor/comedian Robin Williams rocks BAPE.

Hip Hop, started as an elite club for black youth to voicing their concerns, joys and sorrows. has now become the world’s voice. Words like “b-boy,” “flowing”, and “breakdancing” have become part of the universal language that connects all black, white, latino and Asian.