Five years ago, things were a lot different because COVID-19 was still raging and causing chaos around the globe. We launched LiFTED at this time with the hopes that people who were stuck in their abodes would want to know about the growing Asian Hip Hop scene from an insider perspective from the streets of Hong Kong, Taipei, Hanoi, Shanghai, Tokyo, and more.

With 61 covers featuring Asian Hip Hop superstars, more than 2,600 articles, and 3,050 Instagram posts, LiFTED celebrates our fifth anniversary elevating Asian Hip Hop this month. We have a great relationship with most Asian Hip Hop artists, and rolled out four annual editions of The LiFTED 50, which ranks Asian Hip Hop MCs all around the region [and the globe]. Here are some of the milestones in LiFTED’s short lifespan:

Launching with Bohan Phoenix

When we came into the game, our first cover was Bohan Phoenix. He was and is the perfect starter for us because he bridges the east and west in a stellar fashion, has an excellent style, and does Hip Hop on his own terms, just like LiFTED aspires to.

Watching VannDa blow up with ‘Time to Rise’

In April of 2021, less than a month after LiFTED launched, we wrote about Cambodian rapper VannDa’s single ‘Time to Rise,’ where he combined street raps with help of Master Kang Noy, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime and known as the Ray Charles of Cambodia. The song seemed big at first, but soon it hit 100 million views and VannDa was the biggest act in the whole country. This led to him being on the cover of LiFTED as well as doing huge shows in Cambodia and even performing at the Closing Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics 2024.

LiFTED goes to Rolling Loud Thailand

After laying the groundwork at Thailand’s Wonderfruit, LiFTED got press passes for Thailand’s version of Rolling Loud. The show was amazing even though the temperatures pushed into the high 40s, and people were passing out before the artists even started. The highlight for LiFTED was interviewing 11 Asian Hip Hop artists and getting to see them in their natural habitat–the big stage. At the time, Lil Uzi Vert was a headliner and we got many of the artists to do his dance for us on our social media.

Awich lands on the top slot on the LiFTED 50 2 years in a row

Japan’s Awich has been one of the most consistent rappers in Asian Hip Hop history. She can flow in English [from living in Atlanta], Japanese and Okinawan, she’s got a deeply tragic back story, and she’s in with the Wu-Tang Clan. She also released the ultimate Asian Hip Hop collab track, ‘Asian State of Mind,’ with heavyweights from all corners of Asia, MaSiWei, VannDa, Jay Park, and KR$NA. With this resume, Awich landed the top slot of the LiFTED 50 in 2024 and 2025. Will she hit the three-peat in 2026? You’ve got to wait until June to find out.

LiFTED Japan launches

We flirted with LiFTED Bahasa a few years back, but it wasn’t until last month that LiFTED officially launched its first spin-off in a local language, LiFTED Japan. While the technical side hasn’t been easy, the potential in LiFTED Japan, with an amazing team heading the brand and Japan’s general ahead-of-the-curve-ness in every way, is unlimited.

Fab 5 Freddy

When Hip Hop was celebrating its 50th anniversary, we scored an interview with one of the original architects of the culture–Fab 5 Freddy. Having traveled to Asia in Shanghai in 2009 and Hong Kong in 2012, Freddy dropped knowledge on Asian Hip Hop like a true OG would.

MC Yan

Representing the 852 in every way possible, MC Yan is an OG in every sense of the word. As a graffiti artist, Yan is universally loved and respected. As a member of Rap Metal group LMF, Yan was a voice of a generation. Yan was even getting his flowers on a Uber Eats commercial at the time of the interview.

DaBoyWay

You can’t talk about Hip Hop OGs without mentioning Thaitanium. DaBoyWay helped Hip Hop become universally loved in Thailand by rocking shows for 26 years, and doing songs with massive international stars like Snoop. He’s even proven that Hip Hop is a business, man, by now having 36 NEVERSAYCUTZ barber shops in The Land of Smiles.

Seedhe Maut

India’s indie Hip Hop crew, Seedhe Maut definitely have the streets on lock. By not giving a f*ck about mainstream success or fitting in, the duo is bending Indian Hip Hop toward them.

Awich

The Queen of Japanese Hip Hop is now a global star. After having a full album produced by RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan and singles with Lupe Fiasco and FERG, Awich sits alone on her throne watching what's happening in the world.

Prabh Deep

DIVINE

DIGI GHETTO

RAMENGVRL

SDVP