Chinese music fans fear rap latest to fall foul of government censors
Chinese news website says ‘artists with tattoos, hip hop music’ to face government broadcast ban, amid tightened government control of the media and arts
Chinese music fans are bracing for a crackdown on hip hop after a rapper was apparently dropped from a popular singing programme, as reports emerged that the often-provocative genre had fallen out of official favour.
Hip hop is a late arrival to China’s cultural scene, but home-grown artists have steadily gained fans, getting a major boost over the past year thanks to singing-contest reality programmes showcasing their talent.
But rappers have recently raised hackles with vulgar or edgy lyrics. Fans fear hip hop has become the latest target of an escalating crackdown on content deemed potentially threatening to the ruling Communist Party.
On Friday social media began circulating a government order apparently issued to Chinese broadcasters banning them from giving airtime to “artists with tattoos, hip hop music” and other performers who are “in conflict with the party’s core values and morals”.
Popular portal Sina.com said the directive was announced by Gao Changli, a top official with the government agency that oversees the media.