Only Won
{{short description|American rapper (born 1974)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP primary sources|date=January 2010}}
{{Advert|date=July 2023}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Only Won
|image = Only Won Sacramento California State Fair concert 2010.jpg
|caption = Only Won at a Sacramento California State Fair concert in 2010.
|image_size =
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Baldwin Chiu
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|5|17}}
|alias =
|origin =
|instrument =
|genre = Christian hip hop, hip hop
|occupation = Rapper, actor, stunt performer
|Similar artists =
|years_active =
|label = LOG Records
|associated_acts =
|website =
}}
Baldwin Chiu (born May 17, 1974), professionally known as Only Won, is an American rapper, actor, producer and stunt performer. As a hip hop artist, he writes/performs rap, beatboxing, and singing. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild involved in acting and choreographing stunt work. Only Won started rapping professionally in 1991 after being influenced by hip hop pioneers Run DMC, Will Smith, dcTalk, and T-Bone. Because he started rapping in both English and Cantonese, some consider him to be the first Chinese American bilingual rapper.{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Only_Won_Surely_the_worlds_only_bilingual_Chinese_gospel_rapper/36378/p1/|title=Only Won: Surely the world's only bi-lingual Chinese gospel rapper|first=Tony|last=Cummings|date=July 10, 2009|work=Cross Rhythms}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jacehallshow.com/news/nerdcore/20120913/daily-nerdcore-onlywon-unsung-hero-nerdcore/?fb_action_ids=10151496586327555&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582|title=OnlyWon, the Unsung Hero of Nerdcore|first=Jeff|last=Nau|date=Sep 13, 2012|work=[Daily Nerdcore]|access-date=July 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925111724/http://www.jacehallshow.com/news/nerdcore/20120913/daily-nerdcore-onlywon-unsung-hero-nerdcore/?fb_action_ids=10151496586327555&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582|archive-date=September 25, 2013|url-status=dead}} At one point, he was labeled the "Christian" version of "Jin the MC".{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
Career
Only Won is a professionally licensed mechanical engineer with a PE License, earning him the "Lyrical Engineer" nickname.{{cite web|url=http://localsearch.sacbee.com/sp?keywords=baldwin+chiu&aff=1100|title=Archive DVD Action Flicks-Engineer Moonlighting in Showbiz|first=Bob|last=Shallot|date=March 26, 2007|work=Sacramento Bee}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The title track of his LP (The Lyrical Engineer), provides an exposition of the life and livelihood of a professional engineer.
Only Won is also a guest speaker at conventions, schools, and youth events challenging and encouraging the next generation to pursue their dreams and passions while maintaining an education and focus on God.{{cite web|url=http://philippinefiesta.net/issues/2007/03-23/09.jpg|title=Hip Hop Christian|first=Peter|last=Marquez|date=March 23, 2007|work=Philippine Fiesta|access-date=April 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724004720/http://philippinefiesta.net/issues/2007/03-23/09.jpg|archive-date=July 24, 2011|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=http://philippinefiesta.net/issues/2007/05-11/06.jpg|title=Psalms of Hope at the New Hope Center|first=Jose|last=Marquez|date=May 11, 2007|work=Philippine Fiesta|access-date=April 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724005349/http://philippinefiesta.net/issues/2007/05-11/06.jpg|archive-date=July 24, 2011|url-status=usurped}}
Signed in 2009 under Los Angeles record label, LOG Records. Only Won has appeared as both a host and musical guest on JCTV and has been featured on collaboration albums. Only Won's release, "The Lyrical Engineer" is produced by Grammy nominated group Dynamic Twins,{{cite web|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Full_Length_Debut/37199/p1/|title=Dynamic Twins' Noel Arthurton producing Chinese rapper Only Won|first=Cross|last=Rhythms|date=Aug 6, 2009|work=Cross Rhythms}} Billboard winner Maximillian and Larissa Lam. The music video was directed and edited by Emmy Award-winning director, Marlon Jones. Only Won and Larissa Lam launched a viral music video title "Cantonese Boy"{{cite web |url=http://www.oneinchpunch.net/2009/09/08/music-video-cantonese-boy-parody-of-estelles-american-boy |title=Cantonese Boy-Parody of American Boy |first=oneinchpunch |last=88bar |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723173929/http://www.oneinchpunch.net/2009/09/08/music-video-cantonese-boy-parody-of-estelles-american-boy/ |archivedate=July 23, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} which was a parody of the Grammy winning song American Boy by Kanye West and Estelle. After being seen performing "Cantonese Boy" in Chinatown, Only Won was asked to perform at the 2010 Green Globe Film Awards as they honored Asians in film and entertainment.
As an actor and member of SAG, he appears in many feature films such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, xXx2: State of the Union, Twisted, and Pursuit of Happyness.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2069846 |title=IMDb The Internet Movie Database| work=IMDb}} He has also provided music for the soundtrack of Dead Man Down and the animated film, "The Monkey Prince".https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2986062/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}
He is also an advanced level martial artists having trained under the lineage of Kanbun Uechi and Wong Doc-Fai. He is a 3-time UC Berkeley Wushu Champion in tai chi, weapons, and push hands {{cite web|url=http://www.csus.edu/org/mtl-arts/NewsArchive.html |title=Martial Arts Club of CSUS - News Archive |publisher=Csus.edu |date= |accessdate=October 26, 2011}} and teaches Tai Chi in Hollywood. He has used some of his skills in choreographing fight scenes in movies and doing stunt work for Ang Lee in the movie Hulk.{{cite web|url=http://www.cinema.com/people/042/272/baldwin-chiu/filmography.phtml |title=Baldwin Chiu Filmography |publisher=Cinema.com |date= |accessdate=October 26, 2011}}http://media-casting.com/resume.cfm?uid=401 {{dead link|date=November 2012}}
On April 29, 2010, California State University, Sacramento, honored high-achieving alumni at an annual award ceremony called the "Distinguished Service Awards". This is the highest recognized award for CSU Sacramento. Baldwin was recognized for his contributions in engineering, his performances as Only Won: The Lyrical Engineer and other entertainment industry endeavors as well as his work with youth.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecs.csus.edu/portal/ecsnews.php?id=149 |title=The Lyrical Engineer | College of Engineering & Computer Science | Sacramento State |publisher=Ecs.csus.edu |date=October 14, 2010 |accessdate=October 26, 2011}} He received this award alongside KXTV ABC News anchor Cristina Mendonsa.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/21/2695397/sacramento-state-to-honor-distinguished.html#ixzz0lmLN8yWf|title=Sacramento State to honor distinguished alumni|first=Bill|last=Lindelof|date=April 21, 2010|work=Sacramento Bee}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=80531&catid=348|title=Sac State Distinguished Service Awards|first=Michelle|last=Ponto|date=April 30, 2010|work=ABC News 10|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503004633/http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=80531&catid=348|archive-date=May 3, 2010|url-status=dead}}
On Pi day 2012, Intel asked Only Won to be part of President Barack Obama's national White House campaign titled, Stay With It, designed to boost retention of students in undergraduate engineering programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.csus.edu/sacstatenews/Articles/2012/03/StayWithItMatsui03-14-12.html|title=Campaign Encourages Future Engineers|first=Craig|last=Koscho|date=March 14, 2012|work=Sac State News}}
Only Won releases
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Cat No. || Artist || Title || Date || Configuration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Only Won | First Impressions | 1997 | EP |
| 2 | Channel 3 | Channel 3 Anchormen | 2001 | Single |
| 3 | Minister RMB | When the Storm Comes | 2006 | LP |
| 4 | Only Won | Glory EP | 2006 | EP |
| 5 | Hip Hop International | H2i Mix Tape | 2009 | LP |
| 6 | Only Won | The Lyrical Engineer | 2010 | LP |
| 7 | Only Won | Crush em Like Godzilla | 2011 | Single |
| 8 | Only Won | JUN BAY | 2012 | Single |
| 9 | Larissa Lam | Love and Discovery | 2015 | LP |
Other work
Tai Chiu Music was set up in 2008. After moving its location from Sacramento, California, TCM joined forces with LOG Records and producer Larissa Lam in Los Angeles.
In 2011, Only Won released a "Geeked out" remix video of the hit song "Billionaire", titled "I Wanna Be An Engineer",{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiJczH3cr48 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/WiJczH3cr48 |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=I Wanna Be An Engineer - (Billionaire Geeked Out Mix) by: Only Won - the Lyrical Engineer |publisher=YouTube |date=January 18, 2011 |accessdate=October 26, 2011}}{{cbignore}} a parody that reached 1.2 million views on YouTube and caught the attention of CNN, Discovery Channel, The Pentagon, and FIRST Robotics Competition. The song "Crush 'em Like Godzilla" was inspired by Ed Wang, the first NFL player of full Chinese descent.
In summer 2012, Only Won released two songs on the video game Sleeping Dogs.
In Spring 2013, the song "JUN BAY" (aka: Get ready) was featured on the film Dead Man Down.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101341/soundtrack {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}
Reissues on other labels
LOG Records issued the 2010 release of Only Won-The Lyrical Engineer tracks for download, through major outlets (Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby, Nimbitmusic, etc.). Also featured with Holland music collaborating with One Truth.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| "
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes | |||
| 2020 | Far East Deep South | Producer | Documentary Feature |
| 2015 | Finding Cleveland | Producer | Documentary Short Film |
| 2013 | JUN BAY (aka: Get Ready) | Soundtrack | Film: Dead Man Down |
| 2013 | DIM SUM | Principle Musical Artist | TV WEB, Film Festival |
| 2012 | Sleeping Dogs (video game) | Musical Artist | Video Game - Square Enix |
| 2011 | I Wanna Be An Engineer Music Video | Principle Musical Artist | WEB |
| 2010 | JCTV Christmas Special | Featured Rap Artist | TV |
| 2010 | Lyrical Engineer Music Video | Principle Musical Artist | TV |
| 2009 | JCTV Top 3 | Musical Guest | TV |
| 2008 | Cantonese Boy Music Video | Principle Musical Artist | WEB |
| 2008 | JCTV Christmas Special | Beatbox | TV |
| 2006 | Pursuit of Happyness | Intern | FILM |
| 2005 | xXx2: State of the Union | Navy Officer | FILM |
| 2004 | Twisted (2004 film) | CSI Photographer | FILM |
| 2003 | Hulk (film) | Swat & FBI | FILM |
| 2002 | The Matrix | Zion | FILM |
Film Maker
In 2015, Only Won produced a documentary short titled, Finding Cleveland with Larissa Lam as the director and music composer. It garnished multiple nominations for Best Documentary.{{cite web |url=http://www.findingcleveland.com/ |title=Home |website=findingcleveland.com}}{{cite web|url=http://asiansonfilm.com/asians-on-film-festival-summer-quarter-2015-winners/|title=2015 Summer Quarter Winners|publisher=Asians On Film|date=October 15, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.baaff.org/2015-guests.html|title=2015 BAAFF Guests and Screenings|publisher=Asians On Film}} In 2016, Finding Cleveland won Best Documentary at the Oxford Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2016/02/22/film-fest-ticket-sales-up/|title=Film fest ticket sales up|publisher=Oxford Eagle|date=February 22, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://oxfordfilmfest.com/oxford-film-festival/|title=BEST OF OXFORD SHORTS AT THE SHELTER MARCH 5 FREE!|publisher=Oxford Film Festival|date=February 26, 2016}} The story started as a journey for him to search for his family roots, but instead of taking him to the far east, it took him into the deep south of Cleveland, MS. While the 12-minute documentary focuses on the family's discoveries about their roots, it also touches on a broader history, such as the treatment of Asian immigrants in the region and the role the Chinese Exclusion Act played in that.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/story-about-america-short-doc-explores-familys-immigration-story-n444476 |title='This is a Story About America': Short Doc Explores Family's Immigration Story|website=NBC News|date=October 21, 2015}}
In May 2021, his multi-award-winning film Far East Deep South released on PBS America ReFramed.Summer Evans.[https://www.wabe.org/far-east-deep-south-shares-the-journey-of-one-chinese-family-trying-to-discover-their-ancestry-in-mississippi "‘Far East Deep South’ Shares Journey Of A Chinese Family Trying To Discover Their Ancestry In Mississippi,"] WABE, May 3, 2021.
Personal life
In March 2008, he married American talk show host, singer-songwriter, director and producer Larissa Lam. The couple currently reside in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=http://christianwomenonline.net/2009/01/05/sunny-shell-interviews-larissa-lam/ |title=Sunny Shell Interviews Larissa Lam |publisher=Christianwomenonline.net |date=January 6, 2009 |accessdate=April 22, 2013}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.hearitfirst.com/artisthome.aspx?f=artisthome&artist_id=4061&name=Only-Won Hear It First]
- [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Only_Won/17183/ Cross Rhythms]
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Category:American choreographers
Category:American male film actors
Category:American mechanical engineers
Category:American musicians of Chinese descent
Category:American people of Hong Kong descent
Category:American rappers of Asian descent
Category:American stunt performers
Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni
Category:Engineers from California
Category:Male actors from the San Francisco Bay Area
Category:Musicians from Pasadena, California
Category:Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area