‘Laowai Hip-Hop’ (lao-wop?) is a music genre born outta the mean streets of Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian. Dealing with gritty issues like using chopsticks, struggling with the language and getting called a laowai (foreigner), it’s given a voice to the non-Chinese out there on the comfortable margins of society. Believe!
1. Beijing State of Mind
The highpoint of the genre, Mark Griffith, a photographer and videographer from the US, spent 15 months making this dope parody of Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind.
Sample rhyme
“Babies on the prowl defecating on the pavement,
I just wanna scowl, sayin’ son why don’t you save it.”
2. We Livin In Xi’an
A big-up respec’ to life in the former capital Xian from a couple of expat dawgs living there, both called Matt – Matt Sheehan and Matt Allen.
Sample rhyme
“PRC got that crazy shit,
man hella fast trains?
I don’t even trip in it.”
http://youtu.be/mAL0NT2G6HI
3. Felix MC – Beijing Style
One of the seminal works of the movement, Felix MC, a French collective, were diggin for beats in the hutongs before the alleys got played out by all the hipsters. Back in ’09 y’all.
Sample rhyme
“Over here cents are “maos”,
If you have a hundred you’ll eat
A meal that makes you fat as Buddha”
(Translated from the French)
4. Rice Rice Baby Beijing – Chinese Vanilla Ice
A food-based break by American ‘Scott’, who apparently does lamb-skewer assisted stand-up comedy at Beijng’s Hot Cat Club. Admittedly, this sh1t’s weak.
Sample rhyme
“If they’re servin’ Chinese yo I’ll eat it,
Take an instagram and then I’ll tweet it.”
5. Frenchman in Shanghai
Another French crew, the ‘Lions of Puxi’ took a departure from their usual beats to throw up this cover of Sting’s Englishman in New York back in 2009.
Sample rhyme
“Wo shi shanghai de faguoren”
(I’m a Frenchman in Shanghai)
About the author: Tom O’Malley is Propaganda Secretary at Bespoke Beijing. A lifestyle journalist, guidebook author, glutton and bon vivant, Tom is a tireless crusader for fine food, hospitality and tourist experiences in China’s capital.