Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted Nov 17, 2011 2:35am by inspectah_cee

Joined: Jun 17th, 2011
Posts: 3

Calling all hip hop heads,

I am currently a student at a university in Beijing studying journalism. For film/tv class, we have to make a documentary. I have chosen to do hip hop in China, primarily Beijing.

Concepts such as "Do Chinese hip hop fans really understand hip hop culture and where it comes from or do they just enjoy the image?" and so forth.

No need to get upset. I am sure there are many that fall on either side of that question. My own personal opinion is not important either. It is just something to encourage discussion, debate, and original thought.

It does not need to be too in depth, but as I have only been in Beijing for 2 months, some ideas for sources would be great.

- Any hip hop clothing stores
- Any break/bboy "crews", for either practice or competitions etc.
- Any DJs or MCs performing/practicing and don't mind being filmed and interviewed
- Any hip hop dance classes being taught (the latest dance craze type thing)
- Any graffiti sites. (Already seen a good one by Dazhongsi station)
_ Basically anything else. Clubs, dank smoky hip hop bars (my personal preference), interview subjects, fans, basically any aspect of hip hop culture in Beijing.

Thanks for any help in advance. It is much appreciated.

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Redwood

Joined: Nov 14th, 2011
Posts: 9

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: Redwood on Nov 17, 2011 7:12pm

http://www.djwordy.com/
the best hip-hop dj in china

end of the world but I feel fine

MsTang

Joined: Aug 20th, 2011
Posts: 943

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: MsTang on Nov 17, 2011 7:33pm

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa thats excellent!
>:D<

MrTang is a f-kin idiot!
WAR PLAN RED
http://www.britishreparations.org/

MsTang

Joined: Aug 20th, 2011
Posts: 943

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: MsTang on Nov 17, 2011 7:48pm

Now going viral on weibo!

MrTang is a f-kin idiot!
WAR PLAN RED
http://www.britishreparations.org/

Redwood

Joined: Nov 14th, 2011
Posts: 9

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: Redwood on Nov 17, 2011 8:11pm

Also for an example of beijing hip hop culture u can hit Vics although what you'll see there may strongly disappoint you.

end of the world but I feel fine

gonobobel

Joined: Jan 16th, 2007
Posts: 436

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: gonobobel on Nov 17, 2011 8:34pm

Vics has nothing to do with hip-hop culture. And it's filled with foreigners anyway.

DJ Wordy is really good. He has these parties called Hotpot where they play really good music, but it's in Punk so it also has nothing to do with real hip-hop culture.

I remember there were regular Section 6 events in Yugongyishan, I've been to one and it was comically bad (the rapping). Haven't seen it advertised anywhere lately though.

There are no hip-hop clubs, and I don't know about hip-hop bars.

Herbz

Joined: Jan 21st, 2005
Posts: 11,152

Re: Examples of hip hop culture in Beijing

Posted by: Herbz on Nov 17, 2011 9:48pm

Yes, Wordy is good... nice use of samplers.

@Inspectah_cee, sorry man... you messaged me a few times about this and I've been really busy lately while doing some head scratching, Gonobel sums it up really, unless there's some out in Haidian.

Hip Hop in China has been making appearances since DJ Obesse started the famous Fri/Sat sessions at the KunLun hotel's now defunct crystal disco back in 93. There was only 5 actual clubs in the city (all 100-300 capacity) and Crystal was jammed on a fri/sat night.

94 was Shanghai's first full Hip Hop club... down by the river at "Broadway" with myself and DJ Jigz (although others will claim Rap clubs/nights, it seems very unlikely! all the DJ's in Shanghai knew each other via JJ's (a commercial dance club that spawned many hundreds of copies throughout China)and we all would have heard about them.

Although there had been Hip Hop nights in Beijing at Juliana's (Holiday Inn Lido) since 84 - it was China's first club... I still use the exact same turntables muhahahaha! The true first DJ to play regular Rap in the city is DJ Obesse (Belgian Congo) he's on Linked in as Florent Obesse and still in China on other business... really nice guy and no doubt happy to talk with you.

@Redwood

Vic's wasn't initially planned to be a Hip Hop club, I # installed a sound/light system and designed the floor layout as a kind of "Maggies" alternative for all kinds of music. Shortly after it opened we did a few nights called "Blast Off @ Vic's" and the place took on a straight lower tempo format. As it expanded so did the equipment.... not sure what they are up to these days...it was Hip Hop back in the day though.

MIX and others appeared a few years later and jumped on the bandwagon around the time Hip Hop really started to become the sugary RnB cum rap most old schoolers shudder at hearing.

nb. The early distributors of Vinyl (much of it Hip Hop) in China
Juliana's (UK 1984) although HK much earlier
Solosa (Singapore 1993)
Innova (Singapore 1994)
Crossline Records (China 1994)
BPM (China 1995)

VIDEO
Soundcloud tracks
Some mixes