Her Ethnic Background

Bago: “I’m a quarter Chinese, my mom is half-Chinese. I’m German, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Dutch, Scottish. I am the Olympics. [Laughs.] I love Chinese culture. Usually, when I fill out the census or any weird state form—like back in the day when the Scantron on school exams asked you for your ethnicity—I’d always pick Asian American. I’m a quarter Chinese because that’s definitely my most dominant [feature]. My dad is more like white and my mom is more of the Asian and the Portuguese and all of that.

“I don’t speak Chinese but I wish I did. I’m mad at my grandma for not teaching me Chinese. My grandma Lily—oh my gosh my grandma Lily is like my world—is a very Chinese woman. She cooks great and speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin. I’m always like, ‘Grandma, what’s the deal? You didn’t even lace me with some Chinese?’ And she’s like, 'Whatever.'

“My grandma likes the signing part [of my career]. I remember when I put out the video for ‘Doctor Lock’ she was so sad. She called me and she was like, 'Lauren, I haven’t been sleeping for days because you die in the video.'

“She’s not into that but she’s so supportive [otherwise]. She’ll come late night to every show. Anytime, I play she’s just like, 'Oh let me come!' I’m like, ‘Grandma I’m not letting you come to a rap show.’ She doesn’t like the whole idea of it but she just likes the signing.”