Through our analysis of the performances and corpus of lyrics produced on the Reality TV show The Rap of China, we investigate how discrete Chinese inflections refract globally resonant hip-hop themes such as representations of masculinity and loyalty. We identify how rappers use classical Chinese cultural templates, invoking the knights-errant who populate the physical and ideational realm of Jianghu that underpins China’s long tradition of folk tales, martial arts literature, and film. The article explores how Chinese rappers invoke such templates to navigate the twin demands of authenticity and the political imperative of positive energy.
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