Okay, I’m probably the only person in the world with access to the internet who doesn’t know about Awkwafina.
No, that’s not a typo.
I’m not talking about the beverage.
The hilarious college pal from rom-com blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians, real name Nora Lum, is not just a comedienne like I initially thought.
She’s actually a rapper. And she’s got mad skills on the mic.
I’ll be honest. I wasn’t expecting much because, like this group of reddit users, I am generally disappointed at the state of rap music these days.
But, far be it from me to knock anybody’s hustle. I thoroughly enjoyed Lum’s comical yet endearing performance as Peik Lin Goh. Plus I had seen her in a commercial with rapper 2 Chainz.
So I figured, what the heck, I’ll take a chance.
Let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
Her sound is vibrant and refreshing. She manages to tackle current social issues like stereotypes, racism, and dating woes while maintaining an upbeat, fun, and funky delivery.
Not only that, but she rides the groovy, quirky beats like a veteran. This should come as no surprise since she’s been penning lyrics since the age of 13.
While much of her earlier music would fall into the spoof category (a la The Lonely Mountain and Lil Dicky), her sophomore effort definitively shows her progress as an entrepreneur and a musician.
You can check out her 2nd album, In Fina We Trust, on Youtube.
It’s also available for purchase on Amazon.
Lum played Constance, the outspoken pickpocketing street hustler, in Ocean’s 8. The multi-talented femme fatale will also star in a self-titled 10-episode sitcom on Comedy Central alongside BD Wong and Lori Tan Chinn, though the air date has yet to be announced.
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