China takes aim at hip-hop, saying 'low-taste content' must stop

[UglyCasanova]

http://news.trust.org/item/20180122095311-4tpfd

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - China's censors have a new target in a widespread clamp-down on popular culture: the country's nascent hip-hop scene, which resonated with Chinese youth last year on hugely popular television show "Rap of China."

Hip hop artists Wang Hao, known as "PG One" and Zhou Yan, known as "GAI" - the two winners of the show - have been sanctioned in recent weeks for bad behaviour or content at odds with Communist Party values. GAI was pulled from hit show "The Singer" last week.

The crackdown on hip-hop, still very much a new genre in China, reflects a broader squeeze on popular culture as the country's stability-focused leadership looks to rein in potential platforms for youthful dissent.

 

[hal2kilo]

I completely agree with China on something. Who knew?

 

[Fardringle]

I don't agree with the solution in that censorship almost never turns out well, but I absolutely agree that low/zero talent "artists" really need to stop spewing out garbage "music", and the (apparently) low-taste consumers need to stop buying it. If people really want garbage, there's a can by the corner of my house full of items with far more value than the average hip-hop 'song'.

 

[brycejones]

The crackdown on hip-hop, still very much a new genre in China, reflects a broader squeeze on popular culture as the country's stability-focused leadership looks to rein in potential platforms for youthful dissent.

If the kids were getting all hip with the latest jazz the government would be doing the same thing if any of the lyrics could be seen as being anti-government. Its the only thing the "communist" party in China cares about at this point. Controlling dissent in order to preserve the party's control over the country's political future.

 

[realibrad]

Jesus some of you sound like old fuddy duddies. You two would have been the same people to complain about the Eiffel tower being an eyesore.

*edit

Or the Germans in WWII who tried to ban Jazz. Bryce credit for making me remember that.