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

Supporting members

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: 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: They released their first full-length album Heavy Ghetto in May 2011 Track List: Heavy Ghetto was also released in 12" Vinyl on November 25, 2011.

Singles

Music videos

Schoolhousin' videos

A web series on lessons from the Chinatown hood, as told by the Notorious MSG. All videos can be viewed on the band's YouTube channel.