Chinese Hip-Hop Music: What You Need to Know

If you’re a fan of hip-hop music, then you might be wondering what’s going on with the Chinese hip-hop scene. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know!

History of Chinese Hip-Hop

The history of Chinese hip-hop can be traced back to the early 1990s, when Chinese rappers began to experiment with American hip-hop music and culture. In 1992, the trio known as C-C-C (Cool, Comical, Crazy), became the first Chinese hip-hop group to release an album. The following year, another group called Wu-Tang Clan China released an album inspired by the American Wu-Tang Clan.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Chinese hip-hop experienced a boom in popularity. A number of factors contributed to this, including the spread of American hip hop music and culture via the internet and through films and TV shows such as kung fu movies (which often featured hip hop soundtracks) and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

In 2003, the movie Kung Fu Hustle (功夫), which featured a number of popular Chinese hip-hop songs on its soundtrack, was released. The movie was a huge hit both in China and internationally, further boosting the popularity of Chinese hip hop.

Today, there is a growing Chinese hip-hop scene, with new artists emerging all the time. While most Chinese hip hop artists rap in Mandarin, there are also a number of artists who rap in Cantonese or other languages.

The Evolution of Chinese Hip-Hop

Chinese hip-hop music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1990s. The genre has seen a rapid rise in popularity in recent years, thanks in large part to the success of pioneering groups like BDS andHigher Brothers.

Today, Chinese hip-hop is one of the most popular genres of music in the country, with a wide range of artists representing different subgenres and styles. If you’re interested in getting into Chinese hip-hop, here’s what you need to know about the evolution of the genre.

The Early Years: 1990s – early 2000s

The first wave of Chinese hip-hop music began in the 1990s, sparked by the popularity of American rap and hip-hop acts like Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg. At this time, there was no real “Chinese” hip-hop scene to speak of – instead, individual artists would rap over American beats or create their own beats inspired by American production.

One of the earliest pioneers of Chinese hip-hop was Liu Yuan (刘远), better known by his stage name LMF (Lazy Mutha Fucka). LMF was active throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, releasing a number of albums that blended elements of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. He is credited as being one of the first Chinese musicians to gain a significant following outside of China.

The Rise of Mandarin Hip-Hop: Mid-2000s – present day

The mid-2000s saw the rise of “Mandarin hip-hop,” a subgenre that emphasizes Mandarin lyrics over English ones. This shift was largely due to the increasing popularity of rap and hip-hop among young people in China – many of whom were more comfortable with Mandarin than English.

One of the earliest and most successful Mandarin hip-hop groups was backpackers (背包客), which formed in 2006. The group’s unique blend of rap, rock, and folk quickly gained a devoted following, culminating in their breakout album Shangri La (香格里拉) in 2009. backpackers’ success paved the way for other Mandarin hip hop groups like GDW (帝王谣) 、 CBD(长达百米) 、higher brothers(88rising)and so on , many of which have gone on to find commercial and critical success both inside and outside China.

Themes in Chinese Hip-Hop

Contemporary Chinese hip-hop themes revolve around four topics: Chinese nationalism, social issues, romantic relationships, and ambivalence towards mainstream Chinese culture.

Several popular songs touch on the theme of Chinese nationalism. For example, the song “Gongxi Facai” by higher Brothers promotes celebrating Chinese New Year, while “Made in China” by VAVA depicts China as a manufacturing powerhouse. Other songs, such as “Ugly Wolf” by Ty., take a more critical view of China, addressing issues such as smog and pollution.

Many tracks also deal with social issues facing young people in China. For example, Higher Brothers’ song “Black Cab” talks about the difficulty of finding a job after graduating from college. Other songs tackle more sensitive topics such as mental health, with Chengdu rapper 贰佰零壹 (201) addressing depression in his song “Pretending to be Happy.”

Of course, not all Chinese hip-hop is so serious – many songs are simply about the joys and sorrows of young love. For example, VaVa’s song “I Like That” is a lighthearted track about being attracted to someone, while Kris Wu’s “Like That” is a heartbreak anthem about an ex who has moved on.

Finally, many rappers adopt a critical stance towards mainstream Chinese culture. In particular, they critiqued the hukou system – a system that privileges urban residents over rural residents – in their songs. For example, higher brothers rap about their struggles as migrant workers from Sichuan in their song “Made in China.” In general, these artists view themselves as marginalized outsiders within Chinese society and use their music to express their dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The Popularity of Chinese Hip-Hop

Hip-hop has taken the world by storm and China is no exception. In recent years, Chinese hip-hop has become increasingly popular, with both domestic and international audiences.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in popularity of Chinese hip-hop. Firstly, the internet has played a big role in promoting the genre. In a country with over 1 billion people, there is a large potential audience for hip-hop music. Secondly, China’s economic growth in recent years has led to a rise in disposable income, which has allowed more people to access and afford hip-hop music. Finally, the globalization of popular culture has means that people are exposed to hip-hop from all over the world, and this has helped to increase its popularity in China.

Chinese hip-hop is still in its infancy but it is clear that it has huge potential. We can expect to see it continue to grow in popularity in the years to come.

The Future of Chinese Hip-Hop

The future of Chinese hip-hop is bright. With more and more artists hitting the mainstream and gaining international recognition, it’s only a matter of time before the genre explodes in popularity. We’re already seeing signs of this with the success of groups like Higher Brothers and Black Eye Peas member Apl.de.ap’s work with Chinese rappers on a recent track.

As the Chinese hip-hop scene continues to grow, we can expect to see even more experimental and diverse music coming out of the country. So if you’re a fan of hip-hop, make sure to keep your eye on China – you never know what new and exciting sounds will come out of there next!