Shanghainese Rap CD Release Party
I may have posted about Shanghainese rap once before, but I normally only listen to rap or hip hop occasionally. Still, the one time I went to a hip hop show at Caesar’s Pub (since closed) with my girlfriend, Brad, and a few other friends, we had a really good time. So when Brad mentioned to me that ShanghaiNing was throwing a CD release party, I was happy to go.
I don’t have a lot to say about the actual event… Obviously, the fact that you can get a record deal (with Sony BMG) doesn’t really mean your music is better. I heard a few songs I liked, and also got an earful of awful “hip hop English.” Some of the songs on the CD are not bad, however.
Here’s what the CD cover and track listing look like (click for full size):
Check out Brad’s photos of the event:
Check out Dan’s blog entry and photos of the event:
Shanghaiist also has a report on the event.
This is just the beginning of China’s rap/hip hop scene….
Ya, I just saw this news last night, the CD costs 10 Yuan, hehe. I like MWC (Mild Wild Child)！！！！
‘Cause we all know that Shanghai Streets are all about the soul. B-boying, bombing, freestyle mic battling through the streets – it’s a daily occurance in Shanghai. Yep, that and the dark skinned negro on the corner selling crack, standing next to the liquor store. Uh-huh, Shanghai hip hop. What’s next?
Looking over the party pics, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I’m glad the young Chinese are adopting many ways of America since it shows that China is becoming increasingly open. Who could imagine rap in Mao’s era?!! So I’m happy about that.
However, I can’t help but shake my head at how shamelessly they imitate black American musicians–their clothes, mannerisms, etc. They’re not wiggers but . . . yiggers?! Haha. I mean, c’mon, it’s rather a little silly, don’t you think, skinny Chinese guys arrayed in oversized basketball jerseys with baseball caps askew? They’re the ultimate wannabes, and wannabes ain’t cool. But hey, it’s a start, I guess . . .
Skinny? Man, there are a couple of dudes in the pix that are clearly wealthy city boys – with an obvious affection and love for KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. Forget the wannabee’s, they don’t have soul, they don’t have vision, but they do know how to copy, pirate and follow.
If you want the REALNESS: check out Emcee-T at http://www.emceet.com — Generation-Y American Born Chinese rapper hot on the heels of Jin da Mc (and about to surpass him by tenfold).
I’m more partial towards MC Hotdog and LMF
Hey, if they rap in Shanghainese, they’re cool by me, even if they’re fakers.
I find it strange in china to see this kind of ‘rap’ hip hop stuff. after all they discriminate against black teachers and say ‘they scare the children’ and don’t usually hire them, except in an exception, yet
they try so hard to be wannabees.
gary shutup if u don’t know shiet. The hiphop culture is a different breed in Shanghai and Asia. Most hiphop songs in shanghai is influenced by Shanghai hua and most artists rarely use english. Hiphop grows in urban area and it is an art its an representation of urban life and things like b boying freestyling is part of that art. Don’t say that we try to copy from black people cracker.
gary shutup if u don’t know shiet. The hiphop culture is a different breed in Shanghai and Asia. Most hiphop songs in shanghai is influenced by Shanghai hua and most artists rarely use english. Hiphop grows in urban area and it is an art its an representation of urban life and things like b boying freestyling is part of that art. Don’t say that we try to copy from black people cracker.