Jesse Warren

RAPPING has come a long way from its West African roots among traveling folk poets.

The art form began taking shape in Jamaica in the 1960s as DJs chanted rhythmically over dance hall and reggae music. When DJ Kool Herc went to New York City in the 1970s and began throwing block parties in the Bronx, modern rapping was born as young Americans embraced and refined the ancient spoken art.

Nowadays, as hip-hop culture has spread around the world, Chinese youth have given rapping their own creative twist and received a few things in return.

Rap, cash, and happiness

Sporting gold chains, diamond rings, flashy sunglasses and a baggy jumpsuit, 18-year-old Jimminem of Shenzhen exclaims “Yo yo yo, what’s up homie?!” with hands raised in the air. As if straight from a rap video, Jimminem is a product of mainstream hip-hop culture.

Formerly named Jimmy, he changed his name upon falling in love with Eminem and rap music in general. This love affair, requiring comprehension of fast lyrics, quickly equipped the youngster with perhaps the best oral English in his school, and put him on the road to recording.

Jimminem’s own songs, rapped in English, are a reflection of his idols, but filtered to his own taste, saying: “I like to make music about happy things, making money, chasing paper, clubbing, popping champagne. It’s happy. Not about guns, gangsters, none of that.”

Quick to defend hip-hop from negative publicity, he states: “Hip-hop has a lot of bad news. But it’s a real scene from the street. People should hear from the real underground.”

Echoing sentiments that likely resonate with Shenzheners alike, Jimminem states: “Hip-hop music gives me more confidence, motivates me to work hard and get more money to have a life of luxury.”

Although in the minority, Jimminem represents a new breed of young Chinese rap lovers that can be found in middle schools across the city.

Hip-hop with Chinese characteristics

Bringing hip-hop closer to home, 22-year-old MC Fedup of Shenzhen exemplifies the fusion of hip-hop with Chinese pop elements. Based on melodic, piano driven, self-produced beats, Fedup smoothly raps and sings in a style not unlike Jay Chou and other Chinese pop artists.

But Fedup is not all pop, as he says: “I think rap is an attitude. It makes me feel full of strength. We can sing more underground and more original.” Rap music has also influenced local slang, as he relates such terms as “chigga,” “yella”and “Shen-town” that are widely used in his circle of friends.

One of the best known rappers in Shenzhen, Fedup has been featured on 97.1 FM, and has performed at numerous clubs, including a gig at an international music festival in Shanghai.

But hip-hop has not yet arrived in Shenzhen, as he says, “The audience is just a small group. It’s not accepted yet. Few people really love hip-hop.”

Fedup is hopeful that real hip-hop will blossom in Shenzhen in a few years, and with the formation of his hip-hop collective, the D-Flow crew, it’s off to a start.

Straight from the ghetto

Showing the harder edge of Chinese rap music is JR Fog. Another well-known rapper, regarded by some as the best freestyle rapper in Shenzhen, the 18-year-old local started rapping in 7th grade after hearing the Hong Kong rap group, LMF. Attracted by the lyrical content, he said: “They say something you don’t hear. They are fighting for life. If it’s all about love, it’s very boring.”

Describing his neighborhood in Luohu as a ghetto, JR’s lyrics reflect his environment, much in the same vein as American rappers, relating the ills of urban life. But his less than ideal home has fueled his aspirations. “It’s not easy to leave, but if we work hard, we can,” he says.

JR performs almost every week, but regarding commercial success, he says all hip-hop in China is underground. “It cannot earn money yet. If we want to be popular, there are a lot of limits.” Many rap albums are illegal in China, only sold in underground markets.

Young prodigy

Going back to school, we met 15 year-old Steven Zhang, known as MC Stiffen. The Shenzhen local became hooked on rap three years ago after hearing Jay-Z’s “99 Problems.” Recalling the moment, he said he couldn’t control himself. “My brain was racing. That’s a really cool way to express my feelings.”

Only a year later, merely 13 years old, Zhang produced and recorded an entire album “AIDS: Abandoned Isolated Discriminate Sacrifice.”

“After ‘99 Problems,’ I felt a responsibility for the whole community. I came up with this idea to shout to people.”

With an album cover designed by his friend and a mix of English and Chinese songs made on “an old computer and crappy microphone,” the youngster set out with 250 CDs and delivered them to a small music store in Huaqiangbei. Six months later, nearly all of them were sold at 10 yuan apiece. He also peddled his album to friends at school. “Before, they didn’t listen to hip-hop. But now they listen to it because of me, because I’m just like them.”

Of the album, Zhang says it basically talks about society’s responsibilities.

“We should help people who have AIDS or strange issues. Some of them don’t deserve this. We should care for them.”

Much like rap legends from KRS One to Nas, Zhang has used rap as a platform for a message, demonstrating a depth of thought and maturity rarely seen in kids so young.

The future

These young Shenzheners have injected hip-hop with their own energy and ideas. And hip-hop has given them something as well: passion, motivation, and a voice. The art of rapping is not yet widespread here, but judging by these talented youth, hip-hop has a bright future in Shenzhen.