I made this forum specifically to make the point that despite being the world's definitive melting pot, there is still a lot of racial bias and stereotyping even in something as universal and relevant to all people as the music industry. It happens to white, black, and hispanic recording artists almost religiously by media, fans and critics alike irregardless of their style, success or talent. Yet we have not one major mainstream Asian artist, of any ethnicity from that continent to speak of, that has made distinction and acceptance into the American lexicon...

I suppose one could argue that Amerie (half Korean),Ne-Yo, Kelis (both half-Chinese), Chad Hugo (The Philippino half of The Neptunes), Nicki Minaj (whose apprently half-Indian; go figure) and Karen O from 'The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' are indicative of strides being made towards that notion, but I can honestly say myself as a non-Asian minority that really doesn't account for a truly Asian ambassador on the music front, not to discriminate or downplay their success in anyway!(IOW it needs to be someone of Japanese,Chinese,Korean,Indian,etc. who will be accepted by the mainstream even when they perform and record in their native tongue or where they were born). I guess you could say M.I.A but given her inconsistent chart presence in songs or album sales, I'd say she's more of a post-underground anomaly than a mainstream maverick (not to say I don't admire her defiance in classifying herself and her work as "Other" and sporting it quite well)...