In 2018, Chinese media regulators issued a directive to the nation's entertainment industry, instructing them to avoid showcasing artists with tattoos or those associated with hip-hop or other subcultures. Following this directive, rapper GAI faced repercussions, missing a performance on a popular singing competition despite an initially successful appearance. Speculation arose among fans, fearing the demise of hip-hop in China, leading some media outlets to describe it as a ban.
This directive came at a time when hip-hop in China was flourishing, with a TV show creating new stars and introducing the genre to a vast audience. Despite the initial silence following the directive, the genre quickly rebounded. Nathanel Amar, a researcher of Chinese pop culture, noted that hip-hop had become too popular to be censored entirely.
The epicenter of this hip-hop resurgence is Chengdu, in southwestern China's Sichuan region. Artists from Sichuan, such as Wang Yitai, Higher Brothers, and Vava, have propelled Chinese rap into the mainstream, blending Mandarin with the local Sichuan dialect. Initially rooted in trap music, Chengdu's hip-hop scene has diversified into lighter sounds, including R&B and afrobeat rhythms.
Chengdu's appeal also lies in its openness to outsiders. Rapper Haysen Cheng, who moved from Hong Kong to Chengdu to work on his music, praises the city's supportive atmosphere. The city's embrace of rap is exemplified by groups like Chengdu Rap House, which evolved from humble beginnings to performing in stadiums.
However, the genre's mainstream success has come at a cost to the underground scene. Authorities crackdown on profanity and other content deemed inappropriate, leading to the end of rap battles in Chengdu. Despite this, the number of rappers continues to grow, adding to the diversity of the scene.
A pivotal moment for Chinese hip-hop was the talent competition/reality TV show "The Rap of China." Despite initial controversies and government scrutiny, the show played a significant role in popularizing rap and hip-hop culture in China. The show's success required artists to navigate government red lines, leading to a new era for Chinese hip-hop under the guise of "shuochang," or storytelling.
Artists have responded to censorship by either embracing patriotic themes or avoiding sensitive topics altogether. GAI, for instance, transitioned from dissing other rappers to celebrating China's history on national television. Despite these challenges, artists like Fulai strive to maintain originality by finding innovative ways to express themselves within the confines of censorship.
Developing a distinct Chinese brand of rap remains a work in progress, requiring artists to adapt hip-hop's essence to fit the Chinese context. While challenges persist, artists like Wang Yitai remain optimistic, believing that hip-hop's spirit lies in original creation and personal storytelling.