Director Paul
Nguyen and Vietnamese-Canadian rapper Chuckie Akenz made
history when they filmed the Vietnamese rap music video You Got Beef?.
The video became a viral hit seen by millions around the world to propel the
Azn Pride movement of hip
hop music by artists of Asian-origin. You Got
Beef? received national
media attention and was responsible for putting
Jane-Finch.com on the map.
The video was filmed
over a period of two days on May
23 to May 24, 2004. You Got Beef?
was the third
collaborative effort between Paul Nguyen and Chuckie Akenz.
It became their biggest hit launching both of their artistic
careers. The video
debuted on Jane-Finch.com where web traffic surged and
crashed the web host.
You
Got Beef?
is now firmly cemented in urban Asian pop-culture
and heralded Chuckie Akenz as Vietnamese rap's newest
anti-hero.
Trivia: You Got Beef?
was officially selected to screen at the 2005 Vietnamese
International Film Festival and is included on record at
Library and Archives Canada. The video went viral before the
days of YouTube and launched the careers of Paul Nguyen and
Chuckie Akenz.
Media coverage
Chuckie Akenz with Paul
Nguyen courtesy of Toronto Star (2004)