Mc Jin: Your Wedding Singer?

Jin Au-Yeung, known professionally as MC Jin, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and comedian of Chinese descent. He is the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label in the United States. MC Jin's career has had its fair share of highs and lows, with a meteoric rise to fame followed by a sudden fall and a subsequent move to Hong Kong, where he found success and a new lease of life. In 2012, he returned to the United States, and in 2024, he released his first studio album since his comeback. MC Jin's versatility and resilience in the entertainment industry have garnered him a dedicated fan base, and it is no surprise that his talents would be in demand for special occasions such as weddings.

MC Jin's career in the US

Jin Au-Yeung, known professionally as MC Jin, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and comedian. He is the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label in the United States.

Born in Miami, Florida, in 1982, to Hong Kong immigrants of Hakka descent, Jin grew up in the Miami area, where his parents owned a Chinese restaurant. After graduating from North Miami Beach Senior High School in 2000, Jin decided to forgo college and begin his rap career, moving to Queens, New York City, with his parents in 2001.

In New York, Jin participated in many rap battles with his peers. His big break came in 2002 when the BET program 106 & Park invited local rappers to compete in a segment known as Freestyle Friday. Jin won seven battles in a row, enabling him to be inducted into the Freestyle Friday Hall of Fame. That same night, he announced that he had signed a deal with the Ruff Ryders label. His first single under Ruff Ryders was titled "Learn Chinese," featuring Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean.

In October 2004, Jin released his debut album, The Rest Is History, which reached number 54 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The two singles, "Learn Chinese" and "Senorita," were not major mainstream successes, and the album only sold 19,000 units in its first week. Despite this, Jin's music video for "Learn Chinese" was the first video ever to be played on MTV Chi.

In 2005, Jin amicably parted ways with Ruff Ryders and began independently producing music. He released his second album, The Emcee's Properganda, with the independent label CraftyPlugz/Draft Records. In 2006, Jin released two albums: 100 Grand Jin and his third LP, I Promise.

In 2008, Jin relocated to Hong Kong to promote his first all-Cantonese language album, ABC, which debuted at #1 and achieved gold status in Hong Kong. He scored television and film roles, endorsement deals, and awards during his time in Hong Kong. In 2011, he collaborated with fellow Asian rappers Dumbfoundead and Traphik on a joke song called "Charlie Sheen."

In 2012, Jin announced that he was moving back to the United States to raise his son with his wife in New York. He released his English album, "Crazy Love Ridiculous Faith," for free download in August 2012. In late 2013, Jin collaborated with the independent label The Great Company, releasing the EP "Hypocrite" in December 2013, and his first album under the label, XIV:LIX, in October 2014.

MC Jin's success in Hong Kong

In 2008, Universal Music Hong Kong flew Jin out to promote the re-release of his Cantonese album, ABC. The album debuted at #1 and achieved gold status in Hong Kong. Jin became a prominent figure in the region, frequently starring in commercials and making TV appearances. He was also deemed an important part of recent Asian hip-hop trends.

During his time in Hong Kong, Jin appeared in films such as Gallants and Bruce Lee, My Brother. He also scored television and film roles, endorsement deals, and awards. His engagement in 2010 made the front-page entertainment news, and he was even referred to as the "Justin Bieber of Hong Kong".

Jin's success in Hong Kong also marked a turning point in his personal life. It was in Hong Kong that he was baptised and began a relationship with Jesus, which he says changed his life. He also started a family, and the birth of his son, Chance, in 2012, led to his decision to move back to the US to raise him with his wife in New York.

MC Jin's return to the US

MC Jin, born Jin Au-Yeung, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and comedian of Chinese descent. He is known for being the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label in the United States. After experiencing a meteoric rise to fame, MC Jin's career took a turn when his first studio album, "The Rest is History," underperformed in the US. This setback led him to leave the label in 2006 and eventually move to Hong Kong, where he found renewed success and was hailed as "the changing face of Cantopop."

However, in 2012, Jin announced his decision to return to the United States, marking a new chapter in his life and career. Here is a detailed account of MC Jin's return to the US:

A Fresh Start:

Jin's return to the US in 2012 was motivated by his desire to raise his son, Chance, with his wife in New York. This decision signaled a shift in priorities for Jin, as he now placed family above his career pursuits.

A New Perspective:

During his time in Hong Kong, Jin experienced a spiritual transformation. He was baptized and developed a strong relationship with Jesus, which he credits for changing his life. This newfound devotion to his faith influenced his approach to his career, as he sought to stay authentic to his voice and come to terms with his relationship with the Asian-American community.

A Second Chance:

Back in the US, Jin was determined to write a new chapter in his musical journey. He released "XIV:LIX," his first studio album since returning, in October 2014. The album's title is a play on the concept of "15 minutes of fame," reflecting on his own experiences with the highs and lows of the music industry. Jin approached this album with more clarity and a commitment to staying true to himself and his artistic voice.

Balancing Family and Career:

With a new perspective on life, Jin put his family first while still pursuing his passion for music. He continued to perform and create, all while raising his son and supporting his wife. This balance between family and career became a central theme in his life.

A Matured Artist:

Having experienced the highs and lows of the music industry, Jin returned to the US as a more mature and reflective artist. He embraced a more authentic and thoughtful approach to his craft, prioritizing meaningful expression over commercial success. This evolution in his artistry was evident in his post-return albums, such as "Crazy Love Ridiculous Faith" and "Brand New Me."

A Reconnection:

Returning to the US also meant reconnecting with the Asian-American community, which held a complex relationship with Jin. While he had initially distanced himself from being a spokesperson for the community, his return brought him closer to his roots and presented opportunities to engage with his cultural identity in a new light.

In summary, MC Jin's return to the US was marked by a renewed sense of purpose, both personally and professionally. He embraced a more authentic artistic voice, prioritized his family, and continued to navigate his relationship with the Asian-American community. His return marked a new beginning, allowing him to leave the past behind and shape a more fulfilling future.

MC Jin's personal life

Jin Au-Yeung, known professionally as MC Jin, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and comedian of Chinese descent. He was born in Miami, Florida, on June 4, 1982, to Hong Kong immigrants of Hakka descent. Jin attended John F. Kennedy Middle School and North Miami Beach Senior High School, graduating in 2000. After graduating, Jin decided to forgo college and begin his rap career.

In 2001, Jin and his family moved to Queens, New York City, where he participated in many rap battles with his peers. Jin's big break came in 2002 when he appeared on the BET program 106 & Park, competing in a segment called Freestyle Friday. After winning seven battles in a row, he was inducted into the Freestyle Friday Hall of Fame. That same night, he announced that he had signed a deal with the Ruff Ryders Entertainment label.

In 2004, Jin released his debut album, The Rest Is History, which reached number 54 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. In 2005, Jin revealed that he would be putting his rap career on hold to explore other options, recording a song titled "I Quit" to make this clear. However, he later re-emerged under the alias "The Emcee" and released his second album, The Emcee's Properganda, in 2005.

In 2006, Jin released two albums: 100 Grand Jin and his third LP, I Promise. He also mentioned working on another English album, "Birthdays, Funerals, and Things in Between." During this time, Jin also made appearances in video games and films, including the PlayStation 2/Xbox game NBA Ballers: Phenom and the movie Bruce Lee, My Brother.

In 2008, Jin's focus shifted to Hong Kong, where he promoted the re-release of his Cantonese album ABC, which debuted at #1 and achieved gold status. He became an important part of Asian hip-hop trends and was deemed "the changing face of Cantopop." During this time, he also became a born-again Christian, releasing several gospel-themed projects expressing his faith.

In 2012, Jin returned to the United States to raise his son with his wife, Carol, in New York. He released several English and Cantonese albums during this period, including "Crazy Love Ridiculous Faith" and "回香靖" (Homecoming). Jin also began performing stand-up comedy in New York City in 2015.

In 2017, Jin found success in mainland China, competing in the rap competition show The Rap of China under the alias "HipHopMan." He has since released several songs in Mandarin and continued to build his fanbase in China.

MC Jin is a private person who keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. He and his wife, Carol Au-Yeung, met at a concert where he was performing and have two sons: Chance, born in 2012, and Justus, born in 2019.

MC Jin's faith

MC Jin, born Jin Au-Yeung, is a rapper, songwriter, actor, and comedian of Chinese descent. He is known for being the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label in the United States.

In 2008, Jin experienced a turning point in his life when he moved to Hong Kong and was baptised, becoming a born-again Christian. He has credited his time in Hong Kong with changing his heart and helping him realise that he was not entitled to the opportunities that came his way. He embraced a newfound devotion to faith and released an album that he wished the world had heard 13 years prior.

Jin's journey in Hong Kong came to an end in 2012 when he moved back to the United States to raise his son with his wife in New York. He has since approached his career with more clarity and a determination to stay authentic to his voice, which has included coming to terms with his relationship with the Asian-American community.

In an interview, Jin reflected on his Christian faith, saying: "You're constantly on the journey... it's a continuous thing." He also acknowledged that his struggles and setbacks may have saved his life, preventing him from experiencing the pitfalls of fame and success.

Today, Jin puts faith and family before rap and fame. He has released several gospel-themed projects expressing his devotion and continues to write new chapters in his story.

Frequently asked questions