Chinese rap musicians blend beats across borders

Maturing market

Rapeter said he then began writing songs and became a "school rapper" at his school, but the rap music atmosphere was also just starting and was "impetuous", but he was still in the best era, when the Chinese hip-hop market was maturing.

In 2022 he decided to study at New York University. At the same time he continued to pursue rap as a hobby and a profession, developing his own unique style known as New Boombap.

Drawing inspiration from the traditional subgenre and music production style prominent in East Coast hip-hop during the golden age from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, Rapeter blended this style with his own personal flair.

Boombap is a genre in which the lyrics take central place, Rapeter said. He spends a lot of time polishing his lyrics, he said.

"I feel more confident when using the native language, which I'm more familiar with, and have more puns and a lot more punch. After coming to America I (became) particularly mindful of polishing certain lyrics, especially concerning introspection in this new environment and exploring significant societal topics. I want to produce lyrics with greater depth."

His New York Trilogy documents themes of family, love and contemplation on life. It explores his journey as an outsider adapting to life in the US, but also critiques anti-Asian hate crimes, and delves into issues such as drug abuse and homelessness. Through his music he wants to capture the "real" essence of the US, he said.

"These are all stories I've truly experienced. I hope my songs can show the audience what America is like, with its bustling metropolises and inclusive culture, but also its societal issues.

"Rap originated in the Bronx of New York, within the context of rap heavily influenced by street culture, but as a native Chinese speaker and participant in cultural exchange we can explore more possibilities of rap music with Chinese wordplay or punchlines."

China's culture is incredibly diverse, and local rappers in the US usually incorporate elements such as Shaolin martial arts and Chinese traditional instrument sound samples into their work, he said, and his songs were presented to one of the members of the influential hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan during the overseas competition.

RZA, one of the group's members, said during a media interview for Wu-Tang: An American Saga, a Hulu series that he co-created, "Wu-Tang gets its name from kung fu films — Shaolin versus Wu-Tang- and Asian culture has been something that helped me grow as a young man coming up in the hood."

The group of rappers was greatly influenced by Asian culture, especially martial arts and Eastern philosophy.

"They also find it incredibly magical because their inspiration comes from Chinese culture, and now they've become our inspiration," Rapeter said."So it's a blend and gives me a spiraling upward feeling. I think that's particularly wonderful.

"For Americans, they felt that their (rap) culture is respected by young people in China. We appreciate their culture; they respect our Chinese culture as well. The exchange exists and will definitely be maintained between young people of the two cultures."

Boxi Chen, 22, a pop musician and student at Columbia University in New York, told China Daily: "As younger generation musicians we want to try something new. Chinese rap music is gradually aligning with the mainstream market, and we are catching up, with a lot of room for growth."

He is often invited by Chinese rappers who travel to the US to perform, he said.

His work is not limited to hip-hop but also encompasses Chinese pop, electronic music, jazz and R&B in various styles. His idol is Jay Chou, a Chinese pop singer with rap elements, and he is also influenced by many Western artists such as Eminem and Bob Marley, he said.

Chen said he has been influenced by the music cultures of various regions, and rapping is a way that gets people together to talk.