Chinese Hip hop music: Negotiating for cultural freedoms in the 21st century

Abstract Just as China has opened the country to economic free trade and financial liberalisation, so the country has also witnessed significant developments in the cultural fronts. One such development that is fast gaining currency is the presence of American-derived Hip hop music in Chinese restaurants and music centres patronised by Chinese youths. Chinese youth who have had contact with the outside world are mostly responsible for bringing the musical genre of Hip hop into China. High technology that China now commands has also made the transfer of cultural flows in the name of Hip hop possible. But it is important to point out that the direction of the growth and movement of Hip hop has not been one way with China only receiving, and America creating the tunes. Chinese youths who are innovative with technology have also introduced patterns of tunes and themes unique to China, which also resonate with youth cultures world wide. The aim of this article is therefore, to identify some selected Chine artists in Hip hop, and analyse their lyrics composed in the English language.