Year of the Ox’s “Viral” Song Gains Traction Amid Rise in Anti-Asian Violence

Violence against Asian Americans during the pandemic has been in the news (and here).

Pop culture has condemned the violence.  Not long after the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic in 2020, hip-hop duo Year of the Ox released “Viral”—a track that addresses the rise in anti-Asian crimes linked to the health crisis.  The video includes footage of attacks on Asian Americans at a time when political figures use xenophobic rhetoric in assessing blame for the pandemic. Former president Donald Trump was criticized for calling COVID-19 as the “China virus” and “kung flu.”