I knew I should have worn my Testaverde jersey
I was going to write something here about how I don’t get the whole Chinese hip-hop thing, how it’s a rather unoriginal way for Chinese youth to express their individuality, how it would be nice to see these kids clinging to something more Chinese, something that could grow in China organically, the way rap did in America in the 1970s. I was going to write all that — but then I realized to do so would be stupid and hypocritical. These kids have just as much right to their rap music — maybe more — as little white Danny Washburn did in lily-white Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania in the 1980s. And I listened to rap music. Lots of it. I hooked up my stereo to a TV cable and was able to get Power 99-FM from Philadelphia. So I knew about all the new rap and R&B before even the guys at the record store on Main Street. It made me feel special. I liked being different. Eric B and Rakim were some cool motherf**kers, and because Follow The Leader occupied my Walkman, so was I. What’s more absurd: And honor student in rural Pennsylvania listening to gangsta rap or city kids in China flashing gang signs for photos?
The kids I saw last night at the Shanghai Hiphop II Party at Club Fusion had the style down, alright. In fact, it looked as though the event was cosponsored by Champs Sports and IcedOutGear.com. (Actually, it was cosponsored by ShanghaiNing.com and Sony-BMG, which helped release the Shanghai Rap CD that Friday’s partygoers got for free.) Where can you get cool retro NBA jerseys in huge sizes in Shanghai? Ask this guy. And if you’re a Christian in need of some bling, this guy might be able to point you in the right direction. And what of the music? Hard to say. I couldn’t understand any of the lyrics, save for the odd “baby girl,” “check it,” “murder” or “word up.” Actually, most people in China wouldn’t have been able to understand the lyrics. They were in Shanghainese, which is cool, because the dialect is at risk — fewer and fewer young Shanghainese are learning it. The beats, however, were universal — and, often, very tired and familiar. The only thing original about the music was the language. But give these guys some time. It’s early yet. And hey, Shanghainese rap is already less annoying than Vanilla Ice.
Links:
42 of my photots from Friday night on Flickr
All Flickr photos tagged “shanghaihiphop”
My videos from the show on YouTube (Direct links to the three clips: Bamboo Crew, Super Rap Crew, Super Rap Crew slows it down)
Shanghai Rap page on ShanghaiNing.com, with downloadable songs
Shanghai blogger Josh reviews Shanghainese rap songs
More at Shanghaiist.
07.30.2005, 9:01 PM · Audio, Music, Observations, Photos, Video · Comments (3)
This is when I force my taste in music on you
It’s already been a great year for music … and it’s still July. The following are my five contributions to the Shanghaiist The Best Music of 2005 (so far) list. Other albums on the Shanghaiist list that I highly recommend are I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning by Bright Eyes, Face The Truth by Stephen Malkmus, Gimme Fiction by Spoon and Illinois by Sujan Stevens. After these five blurbs, I’ll list some other albums that are on my personal Best of 2005 (so far) list. Why should you care about any of this? That is a very good question.
The Mysterious Production Of Eggs by Andrew Bird
I was somewhat — no, very — surprised to like an album by a former Squirrel Nut Zipper, but I’ve always had a thing for professional whistlers.Buy | Reviews | Official site | “A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left” | Stream the entire album
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Shhhh. Hear that? If you are quiet, you can hear the buzz surrounding this Brooklyn band from any spot on Earth. Arcade Fire for 2005.Buy | Reviews | Official site | “In This Home On Ice” | “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood” | “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found)”
The Sunlandic Twins by of Montreal
“We’ll have bizarre celebrations,” sings Kevin Barnes, and that’s exactly what this album is. This is what happens when indie psych-pop boys play with computers.Buy | Reviews | Official site | “So Begins Our Alabee”
Black Sheep Boy by Okkervil River
No new Wilco album this year? Not to worry. This Austin band offers homespun tunes and stories … and some of the year’s weirdest album art.Buy | Reviews | Official site | “For Real” | “Black”
Apologies To The Queen Mary by Wolf Parade
This album “officially” doesn’t get released until late September, but jump on this Montreal band’s bandwagon now. Partially produced by Isaac Brock, and it shows.Buy | Reviews | Official site | “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son”
07.30.2005, 6:30 PM · Music · Comments (4)