Pacific Music Group is positioning Family Style Records as a landmark moment for Asian representation in hip-hop, with MC Jin's quote about "everyone coming together for a meal" framing this as inclusive community-building. The label emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration and opportunity for underrepresented voices from Asia and the diaspora.
This launch conveniently coincides with the 25th anniversary of Jin's BET Freestyle Friday dominance—a shrewd PR move to reassert his legacy right as AAPI Heritage Month kicks into high gear. Sources note PMG has been aggressively signing talent since fall 2025, and bringing in a 13-year-old on a 360 deal raises questions about whether emerging artists fully understand what they're signing away.
MC Jin won seven consecutive rap battles on BET's "Freestyle Friday" in 2002, earning Hall of Fame placement. He subsequently signed with Ruff Ryders Entertainment as the first Asian-American solo rapper on a major U.S. label, releasing debut album "The Rest Is History" in 2004 (peaked No. 54 Billboard 200). PMG was co-founded in 2025 by Ne-Yo, MC Jin, Sonu Nigam, and Jonathan Serbin.
Twenty-five years after proving Asian rappers could dominate American hip-hop, MC Jin is making a power play to shape who comes next—but when your label's first signing is a 13-year-old, you better be ready for the scrutiny that follows.
Pacific Music Group has officially launched Family Style Records, a new Hip-Hop imprint under its Hong Kong-headquartered umbrella—and it's being led by none other than MC Jin himself. The imprint debuted alongside Jin's latest single "Humble Flex," timed perfectly to drop during AAPI Heritage Month. Because of course it was. The label's founding roster reads like a calculated cross-section of Asian talent from across the globe: Jin anchors the operation, joined by Korean sibling duo Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda (dropping their collaborative single "Dress2Kill" in early June), 13-year-old Indonesian rapper Nada Askana who signed a 360 deal with PMG, and Brooklyn-bred Chinese-American wordsmith Khantrast for exclusive Asia management. On paper? A diverse roster built to capture multiple markets. In practice? Only time tells whether these artists are getting a real platform or just being added to someone else's portfolio. "The idea of everyone coming together for a meal really captures the spirit of what Hip-Hop means to me," Jin said, serving up that trademark quotable with the tagline: "Family Style. Everybody eats!" Jonathan Serbin, who previously served as Co-President of Warner Music Asia and co-founded PMG alongside Ne-Yo, Sonu Nigam, and Jin in 2025, doubled down on the vision. "MC Jin and PMG share a vision about Hip-Hop's rise in Asia, and Jin's own involvement has been a big part of that. With Asian style and culture already influencing global Hip-Hop trends, this market is set to become a global force within this decade." Here's where things get interesting from a drama standpoint: Jin—born Jin Au-Yeung—first blazed onto the national scene back in 2002 when he won seven consecutive rap battles on BET's "Freestyle Friday," earning enshrinement in the show's Hall of Fame. He later became the first Asian-American solo rapper signed to a major U.S. label when he joined Ruff Ryders Entertainment, dropping his debut album "The Rest Is History" in 2004 (peaked at No. 54 on Billboard 200). Now approaching the 25th anniversary of that BET breakthrough, Jin is framing this moment as full-circle redemption—and opportunity. Goldbuuda, who counts Jin among his formative influences, gave a quote that's equal parts genuine admiration and industry flattery: "MC Jin was my high school hero—the one who put early Asian pride in our hearts by winning BET Freestyle Friday 7 times in a row. I watched every single one. That energy raised me. Now, two decades later, we're on the same label… like two different multiverses merging into one. This is our new era." Meanwhile, Nada has built an impressive social following—450,000 on Instagram and 600,000 on TikTok—through covers of global acts including XG, Eminem, BTS, and Blackpink. Khantrast brings bilingual English-Mandarin lyricism and anime-inspired freestyles to the table, plus a drill single called "Landed in Brooklyn." Whether this roster represents the future of Asian hip-hop or just another label's talent acquisition strategy remains to be seen—but PMG is clearly playing the long game with creative hubs across Japan, China, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia.
