Chris Wong Won

Christopher Wong Won (Fresh Kid Ice) is the first Asian American rapper, a Miami Bass pioneer, and a music producer. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, he and his family moved to New York when he was 12. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force for a four-year stint. While stationed in Riverside, California, in 1984, he got together with fellow rapper Amazing Vee and Dj Mr. Mixx to form the rap group 2 Live Crew. That year they released their first single, "Revelation". It became popular in Florida and local promoter Luther Campbell invited them to perform. Around this time Amazing Vee left. For their next two singles, "What I Like" and "Throw the D" Fresh Kid Ice was the only MC featured. "Throw the D", released in 1986, is considered to be the blueprint of the Miami bass genre. Luther Campbell and Brother Marquis joined the group and the four of them became its most well-known line-up. Their 1986 debut album, "2 Live Crew is what we are", is certified Gold. A year later, their second release "Move Somethin'" also went gold. In 1989, the group released, "As Nasty As They Wanna" Be, which also became the group's most successful album. A large part of its success was due to the single "Me So Horny". The album went Platinum. The American Family Association (AFA) did not think the presence of a "Parental Advisory" sticker was enough to adequately warn listeners of what was inside the case. Jack Thompson, a lawyer affiliated with the AFA, met with Florida Governor Bob Martinez and convinced him to look into the album to see if it met the legal classification of obscenity. Legal action was taken at the local level and Nick Navarro, Broward County sheriff, received a ruling from County Circuit Court and warned record store owners that selling the album might be prosecutable. As a result of the controversy, "As Nasty As They Wanna" sold over two million copies. It peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The original line-up would go on to make two more successful albums "Banned in the U.S.A." (1990), and "Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2"(1991). Fresh Kid Ice released his first solo album "The Chinaman" in 1992. The album sold over 200,000 copies. On the Billboard charts, the album peaked at No. 38 and stayed two weeks on the Heatseekers Albums chart and at No. 56 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for ten weeks. In 1994, with Luther Campbell and Verb (a new recruit), they formed The New 2 Live Crew and released the album ''Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4''. It is the sole release of that formation. The album peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 1996, he returned to 2 Live Crew with Mr. Mixx and Brother Marquis to make "Shake a "Lil' Somethin'" who went to #145 on the Billboard 200 and #33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. "The Real One" in 1998 is the final 2 Live Crew album. It peaked at #59 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2000, he released his second solo album "Still Nasty" on his label Chinaman Records. In 2003, he followed up with "Stop Playin'". For his tours, he hired a then-unknown Flo Rida as a hype man, who was a featured guest in his fourth solo "Freaky Chinese" in 2004. In 2008, he reunited with Brother Marquis and restarted touring with the 2 Live Crew banner again. In 2014, the group announced their new album "Turn Me On" with guest stars Trick Daddy, Trina, Too Short, Insane Clown Posse, E-40, and Mannie Fresh. The album was never released and Wong Won continued touring with the 2 Live Crew until 2016. Separately from his group Wong Won published his memoirs "My rise 2 fame" in 2015. After his departure from the group he released the compilation "Breaking Glass Ceilings Volume 1". Wong Won passed away in 2017 due to complicated health issues. He is the only 2 Live Crew member to appear on all of their releases, furthermore, he is the first Miami bass rapper and prominent Asian in hip-hop.