In what's now becoming a common formula of success for North American performers of Asian descent, this article talks about Jin (of BET fame) who is gaining popularity overseas in Asia after hitting the ceiling in the U.S.

But most uniquely, he delved into the Chinese heritage that made him both a media phenomenon and crossover conundrum. In February he delivered a Cantonese-language hip-hop record, "ABC Jin," which takes its title from the expression "American Born Chinese." Last month he released "No Sleep Til Shanghai," a DVD of his 2004 tour in Asia. And he is currently wrapping up a month of gigs in Shanghai.

"In the North American context, Asian-American males are still invisible," says Jeff Chang, author of "Can't Stop Won't Stop; A History of the Hip-Hop Generation." "What Jin has really learned to do is bridge communities of young folks of Asian descent all over the world. ... That's big, that's different and that's new. It's shaking up preconceptions about what Asian-Americans and especially Asian-American males can and can't do within the media."

Those close to the lyricist have seen the transition. "Jin has really embraced the culture a lot more," says Carl Choi, Jin's business partner and the executive producer on "ABC Jin." "Three years ago he wouldn't have been as open to things. It was like pulling teeth out of a kid to get him to collaborate with (Asian artists). Now he's being really proactive about it."

Jin says his Cantonese album was his most personal project thus far: "Recording it helped me really connect with myself as far as my identity."

These days, Jin won't flinch if he's described as a Chinese rapper.

"In retrospect, it's cool," Jin says. "If it takes that process to go down so that maybe in the future it's not an issue any more, so be it. Because I am all about the upliftment of the community. If a sixteen-year-old Asian kid says to me, 'Yo, you are my hero ...' That's the greatest feeling in the world."