The Fung Brothers
The Fung Brothers | |
---|---|
Medium | Stand-up, Internet videos |
Nationality | American |
Genres | Comedy |
Subject(s) | Asian American lifestyle, Asian food, hip hop music |
Notable works and roles |
"The Jeremy Lin Effect - Fung Brothers" "Asians Eat Weird Things" |
Website | fungbrothers.com |
The Fung Brothers are an American duo of Chinese descent consisting of comedians and rappers Andrew Fung (born March 30, 1988) and David Fung (born September 1, 1986[1]), who are brothers originally from Kent, Washington, and are now based in New York City. They are best known for their YouTube videos regarding NBA player Jeremy Lin, Asian cuisine, and the "626" area of the San Gabriel Valley.[2] They also have a TV show on A&E Network's FYI channel entitled "Broke Bites: What The Fung?!"[3] Much of their content revolves around Asian American subject matter.[4]
With Grandmaster Jason Chu, Andrew and David formed a rap group known as "Model Minority", which has released a mixtape titled Model Minority Report that has been reviewed favorably in The Los Angeles Times. In the rap group, Andrew Fung's stage name is Inglish and David Fung's is D-One.[5] They graduated from University of Washington in Seattle.
Background
Andrew and David Fung were born in the United States to Chinese parents and grew up in the East Hill neighborhood in Kent, Washington.[6][7] Their father was born in Guangzhou and raised in Hong Kong, and their mother was born in Shanghai, raised in China and Japan, specifically Shandong, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.[8][9]
The Fung brothers attended Kentwood High School.[7] After graduating from University of Washington at Seattle, the Fung brothers decided to settle in the Los Angeles area, initially in Koreatown, and later on in Monterey Park, in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County.[10] In 2016, they moved to New York City.[11]
Work
TV shows and food channels
In 2015, the Fung Brothers started hosting a show on the A&E Network's FYI channel entitled "Broke Bites: What The Fung?!"[3][12][13] In the series, Andrew and David travel across the U.S. in search of the best local spots to eat, with a budget of only fifty dollars.[12]
In 2012, they starred on a program on the "Hungry" YouTube Channel titled "The Fung Brothers Mess With Texas." They visited various regions of Texas where they tried the food from restaurants.[14]
Interviews
The Fung Brothers have been doing various videos about Taiwanese American NBA player Jeremy Lin ever since he first signed with the Golden State Warriors. Their most popular Jeremy Lin videos are the "Jeremy Lin Effect" series, made during the height of "Linsanity" when Lin joined the New York Knicks, and the videos have been covered by CNN (pointing out that they were the first ones to use the phrase), The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Yahoo! Sports, and Taiwan News Station CTV.[15][16][17] The first Jeremy Lin Effect video was directed, produced and edited by Mike Eshaq, and the second one, known as "Linsanity" was directed, produced and edited by Timothy Tau, and the third one, titled "Linsanity Withdrawals," was directed, produced, and edited by Tommy Su. The Fung Brothers wrote and acted in all of them.
David Fung has also interviewed celebrities through a popular Korean website, Soompi.com. Some notable interviews include hip hop group Far East Movement.
Music videos
The Fung Brothers have also released a rap video titled "626" directed by Jason Poon set to the beat of Wiz Khalifa's track, "Young, Wild and Free," that highlights the various Asian restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley area.[18][19]
They have also done another song titled "Colima Road" about the various Asian food establishments in the Rowland Heights area, directed by Dan Zhao.[20] Another popular viral video that they have done is a music video for a rap they performed titled "Wanking in the Dorm Room" also directed by Dan Zhao.[21]
On February 20, 2013, The Fung Brothers released a music video titled "Bobalife", also directed by Jason Poon, about the Taiwanese drink boba milk tea, which is also known as "bubble tea" or "pearl tea" and is popular among young Asian Americans, especially in the "626" area code.[22] The music video has been covered by the likes of The Huffington Post,[23] 8asians,[24] Angry Asian Man,[25] and more.
In July 2013, the Fung Brothers released a music video for a song titled "Asians Eat Weird Things" on YouTube. The song features vocals from AJ Rafael, and was partially filmed in a 99 Ranch Market store, who they partnered up with for the video.[26]
In July 2014, another music video of the title "Singapore & Malaysia" was released on YouTube. The song portrays the variety of foods and cultures in the Southeast Asia countries, Malaysia and Singapore. [27]
References
- ↑ "Happy Birthday to the other half of the Fung Bros". September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ↑ Xia, Rosanna (August 27, 2012). "Asian American Youth Culture Comes of Age in 'the 626'". Los Angeles Times.
- 1 2 "Broke Bites: What the Fung?!". FYI. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ Wang, Oliver (May 7, 2012). "San Gabriel Valley Goes Viral: The Fung Bros Rep the 626". KCET. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ Wang, Oliver (March 22, 2011). "Model Minority: Three Chinese Americans shuttle between racially colored humor and politics". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ "Andrew Fung aka INGLISH: “For the music we make, it helps to be honest, real and humorous.”". theotherasians.com. 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
- 1 2 Conerly, Michelle (March 18, 2013). "Kent brothers laugh their way to Internet fame". Kent Reporter. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Q & A with The Fung Brothers: Food Nerds, Asian Vegetable Superiority and the Lack of Drunk People in the 626". LA Weekly. April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ↑ "The O.G.s of the SGV". LA Weekly. May 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ↑ Xavier, Esmee (March 14, 2012). "From Seattle, with love: Why the Fung Bros sing about the "626"". alhambrasource.org. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ↑ The Fung Brothers (July 6, 2015). We're Moving to New York City!. YouTube. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- 1 2 "New Series 'What The Fung?!' to Premiere Saturday, May 23 on FYI" (Press release). FYI. April 14, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ Szkaradnik, Carly (April 9, 2015). "YouTube Stars The Fung Brothers Are Filming a New Show at PYT". Philadelphia Eater. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ "The Fung Brothers Mess with Texas". Angry Asian Man. August 27, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ Yu, Timothy (February 20, 2012). "Will Jeremy Lin's success end stereotypes?". CNN. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ Chin, Josh (February 11, 2011). "Jeremy Lin Drops 38 on Lakers, Breaks 500,000 on Sina Weibo". China Real Time Report. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ Washington, Jesse (February 18, 2012). "Jesse Washington, Asian-Americans rejoice as Lin Smashes Stereotypes". Yahoo! News. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ ""626" by Fung Brothers: An Ode to San Gabriel Valley". Angry Asian Man. February 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Music Video: "Colima Road" By Fung Bros. Feat. Aileen Xu". Angry Asian Man. September 23, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ Golden, Geoffrey (July 23, 2013). "7 Funny Music Videos By The Fung Bros". Crave. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ The Fung Brothers ft. Kevin Lien, Priska, Aileen Xu (February 20, 2013). Bobalife. YouTube. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
- ↑ "'Bobalife' By Fung Brothers Presents Health Benefits Of Taiwanese Tea Drink (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. February 22, 2013.
- ↑ Koji, Steven (June 11, 2013). "Hip to be Asian American?". 8Asians.
- ↑ "The Fung Brothers are Living That Bobalife". Angry Asian Man. February 20, 2013.
- ↑ "'Asians Eat Weird Things' Video Showcases Asian-American Cuisine". The Huffington Post. July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Singapore & Malaysia (MUSIC VIDEO) - Fung Bros". July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014.