Chinaman was the stage name of Christopher Wong Won, known as Fresh Kid Ice. He holds the distinction of being the first Asian American rapper and a pioneering figure in the Miami Bass genre, as well as a music producer. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Wong Won relocated to New York with his family at the age of 12. After completing high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. While stationed in Riverside, California, in 1984, he collaborated with fellow rapper Amazing Vee and DJ Mr. Mixx to establish the rap group 2 Live Crew. That same year, they released their debut single, "Revelation," which gained traction in Florida, leading local promoter Luther Campbell to invite them for performances. Following Amazing Vee's departure, Fresh Kid Ice emerged as the sole MC on their subsequent singles, "What I Like" and "Throw the D." Released in 1986, "Throw the D" is recognized as a foundational track of the Miami bass genre.
With the addition of Luther Campbell and Brother Marquis, the group solidified its most recognized lineup. Their first album, "2 Live Crew is what we are," released in 1986, achieved Gold certification. The following year, their second album, "Move Somethin'," also attained Gold status. In 1989, they released "As Nasty As They Wanna Be," which became the group's most commercially successful album, largely due to the hit single "Me So Horny." The album went Platinum, but it also sparked controversy, leading the American Family Association (AFA) to argue that a "Parental Advisory" sticker was insufficient. Lawyer Jack Thompson, associated with the AFA, persuaded Florida Governor Bob Martinez to investigate the album for potential obscenity, resulting in legal action at the local level. Consequently, Broward County sheriff Nick Navarro warned record store owners of possible prosecution for selling the album, which ultimately contributed to its sales of over two million copies. "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The original lineup later produced two additional successful albums: "Banned in the U.S.A." (1990) and "Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2" (1991).
In 1992, Fresh Kid Ice released his first solo album, "The Chinaman," which sold over 200,000 copies. The album reached No. 38 on the Billboard charts, remaining on the Heatseekers Albums chart for two weeks and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for ten weeks, where it peaked at No. 56. In 1994, he, along with Luther Campbell and new member Verb, formed The New 2 Live Crew and released the album "Back at Your Ass for the Nine-4," which peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 and No. 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Fresh Kid Ice returned to 2 Live Crew in 1996 with Mr. Mixx and Brother Marquis to produce "Shake a 'Lil' Somethin'," which reached No. 145 on the Billboard 200 and No. 33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Their final album, "The Real One," was released in 1998, peaking at No. 59 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2000, he launched his second solo album, "Still Nasty," under his label Chinaman Records, followed by "Stop Playin'" in 2003. During his tours, he enlisted the then-unknown Flo Rida as a hype man, who also featured on his fourth solo album, "Freaky Chinese," in 2004.
In 2008, Fresh Kid Ice reunited with Brother Marquis and began touring again under the 2 Live Crew name. The group announced a new album titled "Turn Me On" in 2014, featuring guest artists such as Trick Daddy, Trina, Too Short, Insane Clown Posse, E-40, and Mannie Fresh; however, the album was never released. Wong Won continued to tour with 2 Live Crew until 2016.
In addition to his work with the group, he published his memoir, "My Rise 2 Fame," in 2015. Following his departure from the group, he released the compilation "Breaking Glass Ceilings Volume 1." Wong Won passed away in 2017 due to complications from health issues. Notably, he was the only member of 2 Live Crew to appear on all their releases and is recognized as the first Miami bass rapper and a prominent Asian figure in hip-hop.
