IS rap music inherently political? In China, at least, that seems to be the case. One hundred local rappers recently collaborated on "100%," a track that sings the praises of the Chinese Communist Party. The track is one of the CCP's many initiatives to win over the country's youth.
China commemorated the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, July 1. Ahead of the official celebrations, Hip-Hop Fusion invited 100 big names in Chinese rap to join forces in singing the praises of the CCP in the track "100%."
It's an initiative that may be a "pioneering act in global music history," as the brand claims on its Weibo page.
While rap is above all known as a protest genre, the lyrics of "100%" are nothing if not conformist. For Hip-Hop Fusion, they reflect the "patriotic spirit" of each rapper contributing to the track.
"From extreme poverty to radiance, I don't regret being born in China, new high-speed trains, new ports, new looks, and new history. Come on China, let's rejuvenate the great nation," raps one contributing artist on the track.
A musical genre that's frowned upon by the government
Although American rappers like Eminem and Q-Tip have been popular in China since the 1990s, local rap music didn't begin to develop until a decade later. The TV talent show "The Rap of China" helped bring the genre into the mainstream, and launched the careers of artists like GAI, MC Jin, Lexie Liu and VAVA.
But this taste for rap music hasn't always been to the liking of the State Administration of Press, Publishing, Radio, Film and Television. In 2018, the government agency banned TV stations from giving airtime to artists with tattoos or representing hip-hop culture, as well as musicians purportedly in conflict with core values and Party morals.
At the time, rapper PG One had to publicly apologize for his "obscene" lyrics, accused of inciting dissent or decadent behaviour in young listeners.
Rap to drive military recruitment
For Nathanel Amar, Beijing's interference in the arts pushes some hip-hop artists to prove their credentials by promoting the values of the Chinese Communist Party, as is the case with "100%."
"Rappers have understood that they have to pay lip service to the Party occasionally if they want to continue hitting the mainstream," the director of the French Center for Research on Contemporary China in Taipei told Quartz.
China's People's Liberation Army has understood this and is increasingly collaborating with local rappers in order to revamp its image. And for good reason, ensuring continuity is no mean feat, given the hundreds of thousands of recruits it needs each year.
So what better than a rap song to encourage Chinese youngsters to join the army? In 2016, China's People's Liberation Army released "Battle Declaration," a track with "masculine lyrics" to promote military values.
"War can break out at any time. Are you ready?" the song tells listeners in search of a new calling. – ETX Studio, August 17, 2021
