The Great Wall of China, spanning over 21,000 kilometers, was built to keep outsiders from entering. Yet despite its massive scale and centuries of construction, history shows it didn’t always succeed.

In ‘Great Wall of America,’ Bohan Phoenix flips the symbolism, using the wall as a metaphor for the barriers immigrants face in the US today. Over a haunting beat, the Chinese-American MC delivers sharp, introspective verses about identity, acceptance, and the struggle of being seen as American.

“Dear America/See, I just want to be accepted as a son of ya/ But lately, I don’t feel the love that you promised us,” he raps in the opening lines. The frustration runs deep—he even suggests voting for Trump if it would prove his loyalty or picking up a gun in “war times.” Later, he reflects on his ancestors who helped build the country’s infrastructure, only to have their contributions buried in the dust.

With ICE raids ramping up and xenophobia on the rise, ‘Great Wall of America’ arrives at a tense moment in US history. Bohan’s raw delivery makes it clear that he’s not just rapping—he’s pleading to be heard.

Listen to Bohan Phoenix’s ‘Great Wall of America’ below.