Hip Hop in the Home of Hot Pot | Sixth Tone
Wu Yue—Sixth Tone
Hip Hop’s popularity is exploding in China. Wu Yue, a video journalist at Sixth Tone, follows Y.O.U.N.G, a 21-year-old rapper from northern Chengdu, whose life story seems to mimic many stereotypes of American hip hop artists. Y.O.U.N.G (Yang Jiankun) was raised by his grandmother in a rough part of Chengdu plagued by rampant drug abuse and high crime rates. While many Chinese rappers are seeking fame and fortune, Y.O.U.N.G says he just wants to be “badass.”
Editor’s note: Sixth Tone provided financial support to the authors of Depth of Field to mount the “China Through Chinese Eyes” exhibition at the Photoville festival in New York City in September.
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Hip Hop’s popularity is exploding in China. Wu Yue, a video journalist at Sixth Tone, follows Y.O.U.N.G, a 21-year-old rapper from northern Chengdu, whose life story seems to mimic many stereotypes of American hip hop artists. Y.O.U.N.G (Yang Jiankun) was raised by his grandmother in a rough part of Chengdu plagued by rampant drug abuse and high crime rates. While many Chinese rappers are seeking fame and fortune, Y.O.U.N.G says he just wants to be “badass.”
Editor’s note: Sixth Tone provided financial support to the authors of Depth of Field to mount the “China Through Chinese Eyes” exhibition at the Photoville festival in New York City in September.