Notorious MSG is a performing trio of Asian American rappers founded in 2002 in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. Their songs are parodies of gangster rap mixed with Asian American culture, featuring lyrics about gangster lifestyles and Chinese food and boasting innuendos regarding women. Their group name is a parody of Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G., with "MSG" referring to monosodium glutamate, a sodium additive commonly used in East Asian cuisines.
History
The group says that they all met in the kitchen of the Chinese restaurant in which they worked. It has been suggested that they have more middle-class origins, pointing to evidence which includes a reference to Cornell University in one of their songs.
Group members
Hong Kong Fever: The ringleader; from Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong; worked as a waiter. Down-Lo Mein: (or D-Lo), the "Yellow Gigolo". From Ping-tun, Taiwan; worked as a cook. Futomaki: One of the original members; had to leave the group due to the deportation by the INS in 2003; from Japan; worked as a cook. Funky Buddha: (September 8, 1973 — October 2, 2005). Real name Benson Lam. Replaced Futomaki; from mainland China; worked as a dishwasher; according to the group, Funky Buddha was supposedly killed outside of a restaurant in Chinatown in a drive-by shooting. The Hunan Bomb: The Killing Machine, Replaced Funky Buddha after Funky Buddha's untimely death; from Inchon, South Korea; used to make a living as an underground fighter.
Supporting members
Noodles, drummer. From Hiroshima, Japan. Billy D. Wang, guitarist. From Hollywood, Florida. Mr. Lucky, bass guitarist. Also from Japan. Angus Wong.
In 2006, PRI's The World reported that the trio was in negotiations with Comedy Central to develop a series.
Notorious MSG's website had a few singles for download. Their first cut, "Wok the Party", was received with mediocre fanfare. Shortly thereafter, they released three singles (such as Chinatown Hustler) that showed their potential for splicing rhymes to background beats, and garnered much popularity.
Live performances
In 2003 and 2004 Notorious MSG started to give small, organized concerts, generally to a few hundred people at any given time. One of their earliest performances was given at Rutgers University. Their first West Coast performance, given in February 2005, just outside Los Angeles, was part of a night of Asian-themed stand up comedy.
They performed on August 4 and 5 at the Vans Warped Tour 2007 (Nassau Coliseum and Raceway Park, NJ).
In recent years, the Notorious MSG has also performed in various music venues in New York City, such as Bowery Ballroom, CBGB's (just before it closed), Santos Party House and Brooklyn Bowl.
After concerts they stay around to mingle with the audience, sign autographs and have their pictures taken. The members stay in character during and after the event.
Discography
In the Fall of 2004, Notorious MSG released their first album, Die Hungry. It is approximately 35 minutes, with four interludes and eight songs, of which one is a remix.
Track list: Intro Straight out of Canton Heat it Up Hong Kong Heartbreak (Sketch) Dim Sum Girl Chinese Funk Buddha Time (Sketch) Egg Rollin' Last Meal (Sketch) Streets of Chinatown Yello Fever (feat. Whip Montez) Straight out of Canton (Iron Wok Remix)
Another album, Hard Money, was due to be released in December 2006, but was delayed.
The Lunch Money EP was released in April 2007 under Cordless Recordings.
Track List: Pimp It No Good Muthabitch Chinatown Hustler Warlord Last Showdown Dim Sum Girl
They released their first full-length album Heavy Ghetto in May 2011
Track List: Grandmaster Red Tonight Chinese Jeans Hell Up In Hong Kong Lunch Break Shanghai Superfly Schoolhousin' Lonely G Beef Street This Is Rock N' Roll
Heavy Ghetto was also released in 12" Vinyl on November 25, 2011.