A smiling woman wearing a red Atlanta Hawks shirt and headphones poses energetically behind a DJ booth with a laptop labeled CHIKA TAKAI at a sports arena, with a crowd visible in the background.

DJ Chika Takai brings Japanese hip-hop to the NBA

Last month, she became the first Japanese woman and first DJ of Asian descent selected as the official DJ for the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend

Music

Photo collage featuring five different album/single covers overlayed on top of a vinyl with the words "JoySauce Radio" in the center.

JoySauce Radio: The world’s on fire, so let’s dance!

Some tunes to get our minds off the fact that everything’s awful

Asian twin brothers on either side of an Asian woman with long blonde hair, dressed in black, with a fogged up window in the background.

Chanpan creates a fiery, futuristic sound of liberation

With culture and community at their foundation, the New York-based musical trio is primed for world domination

A closeup of rapper Lyrics Born, in a dark gray hat, white lace top, and patchwork vest, against a white background.

Lyrics Born isn’t retiring, he’s expanding

The Bay Area-based rap luminary weighs in on his tremendously collaborative acoustic album and the evolution of AANHPI representation in entertainment

Japanese rapper AWICH, in a black and yellow jacket, shorts and white sunglasses, stands with gray railings in the background.

AWICH, the ‘Queen of Japanese Hip-Hop’ is redefining the genre

How the rapper is using her crown to encourage and empower other Japanese female artists

It’s Mad Tsai’s world and we’re just living in it

As we anxiously await his upcoming EP, let’s look into this rising popstar’s music journey this far

A close-up of an Asian woman's with a clip in her hair, with a light shining down on her, against a pale background.

Elizabeth Ai’s ‘New Wave’ highlights the cool side of Vietnamese refugees

The documentarian tells a story of big intergenerational healing and bigger hair

Still image taken from SASAMI's "Honeycrash" music video

JoySauce Radio: Celebrate Pride with these LGBTQ+ artists

From indie-pop to punk rock, these artists will help you kick off summer right

Singer Min, with blonde hair, in a large white shirt, sits on a chair in a city crosswalk, holding a bottle and glass of champagne.

Former K-pop idol Min is rejecting South Korea’s ageism

Making her solo debut with EP “Prime Time,” the singer is doing what she wants and being herself

A young Asian woman with long dark hair, in a white tank top, lays on a pink and teal rug, with one arm behind her head and a guitar next to her.

Gen Z Asian Americans are making indie alternative rock cool again

Meet some of the up-and-coming artists incorporating their racial or cultural identities into what’s historically been a very white genre

BTS in multi-colored suits standing in front of black step and repeat red carpet.

Do we really need an Asian Grammys?

The Recording Academy is considering creating an Asian Grammy Awards, sparking debate over representation and the future of K-pop recognition

A closeup portrait of singer Lay Zhang in a black top, against a blue and purple backdrop.

Lay Zhang is both a dreamer and a doer

Writer Cielo Perez talks with the former member of K-pop group EXO about his new English-language album, how his Chinese culture impacts his work, and what he hopes to impart on the next generation of idols

Still taken from the music video for “ooweeooweeoo” by Chanpan

JoySauce Radio: Tracks to wrap up AANHPI Heritage Month

From energetic beats to softer melodies and emotional lyrics, these new releases from AA+PI artists keep the celebration going

Vietnamese American musician Johnny Huynh lays back on a black couch, in a red jacket and black pants.

Johnny Huynh: Aspiring mechanical engineer and voice of a new generation

Writer Daniel Anderson sits down with this budding musical powerhouse

3 members of Big Ocean on stage in front of purple background.

Big Ocean debuts as K-pop’s first hard of hearing idol group

An interview with the trio, who found harmony beyond hearing and are ready to create a more inclusive entertainment scene for all

Peggy Gou performing live in front of red background.

The Billboard ‘Issue’

The music mag’s inaugural AAPI issue is great, but needs one small change

JoySauce Radio: A little something for every mood

We’ve got the soundtrack to your spring adventures

Lionel Richie has a hand placed amicably on Bao Nguyen's shoulder.

‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ is filmed like a heist

Vietnamese American director Bao Nguyen on his latest documentary: a making of the Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie hit song “We Are the World”

A woman is DJing while wearing a focused expression. She is wearing headphones and manipulating discs and knobs in a room illuminated by purple lights.

Hiroko Yamamura brings ’80s Japanese cyberpunk into the DJ scene

The DJ from Chicago tackles the music scene with a unassailable sense of humor and a peerless love of anime

The cover of "Cowboy Carter," with singer Beyoncé, dressed in country western clothing, sits on a white horse while holding an an American flag.

JoySauce reviews ‘Cowboy Carter’

As an Asian American from the South, writer Teresa Tran has big feelings about Beyoncé’s new country album

Dolly Ave Refuses to Be Pigeonholed

This LA-based singer-songwriter won’t let arbitrary labels diminish her undeniable talent

Four smiling people sit huddled together in a hug.

‘Keep being weird’: Emilee Petersmark finds truth in folk rock

The Crane Wives’ co-lead singer on how songwriting is helping her embrace her identity as a queer, Korean-born adoptee