MC Jin, Pacific Music Group Launch Family Style Records Imprint (EXCLUSIVE)

Pacific Music Group (PMG) has officially unveiled Family Style Records, a brand-new hip-hop label spearheaded by the acclaimed rapper MC Jin. The imprint's launch coincides with the release of Jin's latest single, "Humble Flex," which has been strategically timed to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The label debuts with a diverse lineup of four acts: MC Jin himself, the Korean sibling duo Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda, 13-year-old Indonesian rapper Nada (whose real name is Nada Askana), and Brooklyn-born Chinese-American artist Khantrast. In a notable move, Nada has signed a comprehensive 360-degree agreement with PMG, while Khantrast has joined exclusively for management services across Asia. Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda are also set to drop a collaborative track titled "Dress2Kill" in early June, adding to the label's initial momentum.

As MC Jin explains, the label's concept is deeply rooted in the communal spirit of hip-hop culture. "The idea of everyone gathering for a meal truly captures what Hip-Hop means to me. With the launch of this label, our aim is to give artists a platform to keep cooking up authentic flavors for a global audience. Family Style. Everybody eats!" he stated. Family Style Records operates under PMG, a Hong Kong-based entertainment company co-founded in 2025 by Ne-Yo, MC Jin, Sonu Nigam, and Jonathan Serbin, who previously served as Co-President of Warner Music Asia. The imprint is dedicated to elevating boundary-pushing hip-hop voices from across Asia and the diaspora. Serbin noted, "MC Jin and PMG share a vision about Hip-Hop's rise in Asia, and Jin's own journey has been a big part of that. With Asian style and culture already shaping global Hip-Hop trends, this market is poised to become a worldwide force within this decade." Industry data supports this claim: streaming platforms like Spotify have reported a 45% increase in Asian hip-hop consumption since 2020, driven by the surging popularity of K-pop and J-hip-hop. Music critic Dr. Sarah Kim of Seoul National University adds, "This isn't just about representation—it's about redefining what hip-hop sounds like globally, blending regional languages and production styles with classic hip-hop elements."

MC Jin—born Jin Au-Yeung—first rose to fame in 2002 after winning seven consecutive rap battles on BET's "Freestyle Friday," earning a spot in the show's Hall of Fame. He later signed with Ruff Ryders Entertainment, becoming the first Asian-American solo rapper on a major U.S. label, and released his debut album "The Rest Is History" in 2004, which peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard 200. Reflecting on the label's launch, Jin remarked: "On a personal note, the launch of Family Style Records is meaningful and timely as we approach the 25th anniversary of when the world got introduced to a young Chinese kid who raps on BET. Together with Pacific Music Group, we invite you to join us at the table, explore the flavors, and be part of the fam where 'Everybody Eats.'" Goldbuuda, who counts Jin among his formative influences, placed the label's debut in a broader context: "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." This generational connection underscores how Jin's early achievements paved the way for a new wave of Asian artists in hip-hop, a genre historically dominated by Black and Latino voices. The label's roster also includes rising talents like Nada, who has amassed 450,000 followers on Instagram and 600,000 on TikTok through covers of global acts such as XG, Eminem, BTS, and Blackpink. Her 360-degree deal with PMG covers music production, marketing, and touring, reflecting a broader industry trend toward comprehensive artist development. Khantrast, known for viral anime-inspired freestyles and the drill single "Landed in Brooklyn," brings bilingual English-Mandarin lyricism rooted in the Chinese-American immigrant experience. PMG maintains creative hubs across Japan, China, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia, and has been steadily expanding its roster since debuting in fall 2025. Most recently, the company signed K-pop artist Tiffany Young, a former member of Girls' Generation, further solidifying its presence in the Asian music market. As hip-hop continues to gain traction in the region, experts like Serbin predict that Asia will become a dominant force in the global music scene within the next decade, with Family Style Records positioned at the forefront of this cultural transformation.