Hip hop in China bounces back as new show gives next-gen rappers mainstream appeal, despite censorship
The Rap of China show has been viewed more than 700 million times in its first month, but some in the underground community say it’s commercialising the genre
Two years after the Chinese government cracked down on hip hop, the genre is witnessing a resurgence across the country, led by a televised competition show, The Rap of China.
The show, produced by China’s major on-demand video platform iQiyi, released its first episode on June 24. Within the first four hours, the show had been viewed online more than 100 million times and to date it has received more than 700 million views.
While hip hop first appeared in China in the early 1990s, the genre has largely stayed underground. Over the years, it has been a frequent target of censors.
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The genre has been hit hard since the administration of President Xi Jinping took office in 2013, with the Ministry of Culture blacklisting more than 120 songs, including many Chinese hip hop classics. During the 2015 sweep, members of hip hop band In3, which had 17 songs banned, were held in custody for five days.
We used to have only a few dozen fans when we performed a few years ago. But now we can easily pack a club.
The three Beijing-based rappers were reportedly hooded, handcuffed and arrested by police officers on a plane when they returned from playing an underground show in another city.
But now the genre is experiencing a rebirth in China thanks to a new generation of rappers who focus more on hedonism rather than political messages.