MOJO IN CHINA

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Where I'm going tomorrow night:

admin | 07 October, 2008 13:34

So today I got an invite from a bass player "bassed in Shanghai" named Jimy Graham to check him out at The Blues Room. I'm excited to go because I like the Blues Room, even though I haven't been there to listen to blues yet. (The last time I was there, I watched the world's greatest slam dunks, which is always awesome to watch.)

I spoke to Jimy on the phone and he's a cool guy, but what I really like are his blues lesson videos. They are great.I look forward to seeing him live.

China BOTY Soundtrack

admin | 16 September, 2008 16:10

Get your BOTY Soundtrack here!

Chinese

English

Check out samples on Myspace!!

SUPPORT CHINA'S BBOY CULTURE AND FUTURE! GET THE CD!!

Busy weekends this weekend and next weekend...

admin | 10 July, 2008 17:48

These weeks have been pretty crazy and busy since my lovely time in Jeju with the wifey. But, as they say, the show must go on!

This Saturday, Redstar has a show at Hangzhou's G+ from 10pm-2am. We'll aslo be on FM 99.6 from 2pm-3pm to do a live interview on the air. Be there for that.

Next weekend on the 18th is the China DMC Championship. Find out more here!

The day after on the 19th is China BOTY Final. Find out more info here and don't sleep! (I know I won't!)

DJVibe.CN

admin | 04 June, 2008 10:37

DJVibe now also has...

This!

Props to Jason and Graham for getting this started. Keep it up, and keep the Redstar props comin!!

Chinese Hip-hop Tune dedicated to the Earthquake

admin | 03 June, 2008 16:21

Not a bad tune. One of the few heartfelt Hip-Hop tunes I've heard out of China.

Hiphop.cn's Xi You Ji Volume 2 Mixtape Is Out!!!

admin | 28 May, 2008 07:59

Get your copy here.

Check out Redstar's 'Who We Be'. Very different from what's on our myspace. Enjoy!

Back to the Roots @ The Shelter - This Friday

admin | 25 May, 2008 17:40

Freakin' beautiful flyer, Gary.

China's best non-pretentious party is back. Be there.

Battle of The Year China Soundtrack is on the go!

admin | 14 May, 2008 13:00

BOTY CHINA!!!

For more, look here!!!

Redstar Intro on Hip-Hop.CN

admin | 14 May, 2008 08:58

MoJo reppin' Redstar for Hiphop.cn

(The following is a translation/transcript by yours truly.)

Ready? OK.

I'm MoJo from Brooklyn, NY, but now, I'm in Shanghai with Redstar, we are a dope hiphop group. Redstar is revolution. We Are Revolution.

We're going to change the shape of China Hip-Hop by giving it more elements, depth and sophistication. This is us, we represent Shanghai, we represent real hip-hop, international hip-hop, China hip-hop, we got it all.

Check it, we were on NPR, and even they wanted to interview us. Take a look at that! Now we're on HipHop.cn. Shoutouts to Hip-Hop.cn for supporting us. We need that support. We need more people like us, more hardworking hip-hop groups.

This makes me think about a picture we have where we were walking down this street and there's this long road behind us in the picture. That picture represents the long road an mc has, a producer has, a band has, particularly a hip-hop band has long and difficult.

But now we're here for the service of the people. The service of China and the service of the entire world. This is our most important and main goal. Holler... Hiphop.cn 4 liiiife!

(Singing "Who We Be" Chorus with Tangking)(Beatboxing)

---------------

Back to the music... Enjoy this tune called "Xun Zhao" (Searching). It's not done yet, but I think you'll still like it.

This weekend in Shanghai... Which I will miss...

admin | 24 April, 2008 16:47

Brubeck Braid

I'm missing a weekend of good music to work in Suzhou and Jiangyin this weekend, so whoever is reading this and will be in Shanghai this weekend, please enjoy these for me!

Jazz superstars Matt Brubeck (familiar last name? Son of Dave Brubeck, who is a dope jazz pianist...) on the cello and pianist/composer David Braid are going to play some nice jazz/classical sets. Check out more at City Weekend.

Nas is supposed to be here tomorrow. Hopefully with no visa issues... It's at Racks... (Don't they also have one in Hong Kong?)

So while I slave away with Chivas 12 y.o., enjoy this weekend, ya'll! I'll have some updates on both cities, just like last weekend, for ya'll soon!

Ashanti and Zhang Xue You do a duet?

admin | 23 April, 2008 18:02

The Way That I Love You by Ashanti

OK, I lied... there's no duet, but is it just me or does Ashanti's "The Way That I Love You" sound a little like Zhang Xue You's (Jacky Cheung) "Yi Qian Ge Shang Xin De Li You" (how to translate... A Thousand Reasons That Cause My Pain...). Check out that piano! Is the riff from a classical song or something?

"Yi Qian Ge Shang Xin De Li You" by Zhang Xue You (Jacky Cheung)

Anyway, Zhang Xue You's is first to begin with... Just look at the video! He's got that early 90's look going on there. You can't miss that.

Both are great songs in my book.

Cool vid on The Lab

admin | 23 April, 2008 10:33

Check out this video on The Lab (Shi Yan Shi) in Shanghai and check out how these guys live, eat, sleep and breathe DJ! (In Mandarin Chinese)

(Towards the end, there's a bit of a surprise... for you AND me both!)

Nas in Shanghai

admin | 11 April, 2008 11:28

I'll believe it when it's all 100% confirmed.

More info here...

Congrats to Jay-Z and Beyonce!

admin | 07 April, 2008 12:14

It's official!

This doesn't particularly relate to China, BUT it's interesting to me!

Congrats to Jay-Z (Brooklyn!!) and Beyonce for tying the knot. Welcome to the club!

Now, let's get you guys both to China this year for a show! To Jay-Z... Yeah, you tried to come through once before... I wrote about that. We all know you got that big $150m tour coming up with Mary J. Blige. Make it happen in Shanghai, homey... Beyonce did it with Chivas!

And now... for another MoJo and Zoe karoke favorite... Upgrade You.

My favorite and the best Chinese R&B Artist is Fang Da Tong

admin | 04 April, 2008 14:06

Fang Da Tong aka Khalil Tong

You've probably heard of Zhou Jie Lun (Jay Chou), Tao Zhe (David Tao), Lin Jun Jie (I think his alias is JJ Lin), and Wang Li Hong (Ummm... Wang "Leehom") reigning in as the current (and "only") kings of Chinese R&B... Well get ready, cause there a new soulful flavor in town, and his name is Fang Da Tong!!

Don't let the quirky glasses fool you (Glasses are smart! So what we can't see?!), he's got more soul and blues in his pinky finger than mosts artists have in their whole body out here. He's got fans too.

By the way, he writes his own music, plays guitar and piano... He's an artist. With a capital A. His recordings do his live shows no justice, however, but it all sounds good to me.

Here's a few videos you can check out... The first is his big hit called "Love Song" which might remind you a bit of Jon B mixed with Tyreese and the second one is called "Nuan" which means "Warm" in Mandarin Chinese. "Nuan" is a mix of Musiq Soulchild and Babyface... I think he gets Justin Tmberlake on this one!

But don't take this guy as a carbon copy of American R&B, his lyrics carry a ton of Chinese depth, thought, and life with some soulful flavor and smooth harmonies that will brighten your day...

(This isn't an ad, ya'll... I think a Chinese dude making amazing R&B in Chinese perfectly is a miracle! And as an artist myself... It is needed.)

Mr. Fang, if you are reading this, connect to Redstar on Myspace. We'll make a real Soul/Hip-Hop album for China. Believe that.

Redstar video for Fullbright Scholar Angela Steele and Lila Babb and their project, DONG TING

admin | 04 April, 2008 12:29

Enjoy.

Redstar

Look for Urban Culture in China via Urban Magazine

admin | 21 March, 2008 10:07

Urban Magazine

Who said China doesn't have street culture?

Urban Magazine is a free, Chinese language mag on urban life in China. They cover mostly Chinese street fashion and gear, but also get into a bit of hip-hop music and general hip-hop trends in China.

Again, it's free and you can pick 'em up at The Lab.

On this month's cover, China's bad boy of 2008 Edison Chen is on the cover... No dirty pics though... I just read this copy and it's cool with a bunch of old school pics of Nike in China in 1984 and Eno's premium line mixing street wear with Chinese minority attire. Slick.

On the topic of urban lifestyle and music, if you are in Shanghai tonight, do check out Quality Control/The Lab Second Year Aniversary at The Shelter with Redstar and DJ Roli Rho.

I just found out Roli Rho's been to Shanghai about 6-7 years ago to play, so that goes to show that Shanghai's history in hip-hop and the international scene goes pretty far back.

Listen to Redstar

admin | 19 March, 2008 15:02

Redstar at The Shelter Saturday before last.

This Friday, DJ Roli Rho is at The Shelter. Warming up are your local hometown heroes: Redstar.

Check out our song above called "Who We Be", which is about: who... we... be... Obvously.

10PM this Friday! Don't sleep!

Will Chinese Hip-Hop ever take itself seriously?

admin | 18 March, 2008 14:09

Dragon Tongue Squad

I read this article on the Dragon Tongue Squad in the UK Royal Opera House a few minutes ago. Once you open the page, bam... there's one out of 5 stars for the perfromance. I read City Weekend's post about Yin T'sang's latest album, and you can check their review here...

Two stars... and that's from a magazine IN CHINA...

I know these groups and they are good people. So what's with all the bad press? It's aweful... but is it the fault of the reporters or the fault of the artists themselves?

Reporters will see what they want to see and report stuff as they see it. Hip-hop has been generalized and stereotyped in so many ways. When groups from China come out with repeating already used terms such as "Hustler", "bling" and talking about "gangsters",and dressing like someone you're not... They need to stop it and think about something different to discuss and a new way to express interesting material.

Then again, reporters need to open their mind about hip-hop in China. Why? Because a lot of rappers out here are rather limited lyrically due to censorship, China's exposure to the ouside world (particualry recording hip-hop music in China) has come of age since the last decade), and China is still searching for it's VERY OWN hip-hop culture... Don't diss it until it's ripe and ready...

But maybe that's what hip-hop needs out here... It needs a kick in the pants and for some people to wake up in this country and start taking things to the next level. A more serious level that demands respect.

One that note, some shameless self-promotion...

Redstar is opening for DJ Roli Rho at The Shelter this Friday Night for The Lab's Second Year Aniversary Series and we'll be at Pause this Sunday, also at The Shelter. Do yo' thang, Gary.

Respect Is Given If You Take It. Redstar Is Revolution.

Neocha

admin | 13 March, 2008 12:07

A video I found on You Tube on NeoCha.

NeoCha, aka Xin Cha (New Tea) is like MySpace for creative types in China. Redstar is on there too. Here's our (currently so-so) site.

It's started by Sean L. and John L., one dude from B6 and another cat. Sean, John and I go back in our Hopkins-Nanjing days. Crazy, huh?

Sean, if you reading this, get the site fixed. Don't tell me you guys are blocked already! See you at The Lab's 2-year aniversary next week at The Shelter? (I can't make it tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist and I got a marriage aniversary to prep for over the weekend. I'll be at the one after!)

Bjork in Shanghai

admin | 06 March, 2008 12:10

This song's called "Declare Independence".

I'm not going to say anything to you guys, except listen carefully and discuss. This was from her concert last Sunday in Shanghai.

Anyway, I think Bjork is one of the most creative and innovative music artists in the world and I love her song with Rahzel.

Happy Lei Feng Day!

admin | 05 March, 2008 10:16

Today is Lei Feng Day. Get 'cha service up!

March 5th is "Lei Feng Day" (Lei Feng Jie). For all you guys who have no idea who Lei Feng is, check out the link below... Mao said that people should be more like this dude, selfless and for his country.

I never knew about this holiday until my wife Zoe told me. Xie xie, lao po!

Anyway, here's a video from the song "All Northeasterners Are Living Lei Fengs". Enjoy! Lei Feng Jie Kuai Le!

Those Those Northeastern Lei Feng's... they're so nice.

Foreigners singin' Chinese songs...

admin | 04 March, 2008 15:48

Below some videos of original Chinese songs and foreigners (aka lao wai) singing new English versions... If anyone can find any more stuff like this, let me know... (Other languages? Whatever, just pass it on...)

Wang Fei (Faye Wong) "Wo Yuan Yi" (I Want)

Not sure of the artist's name... But does it sound familiar? (Ahem... the one with Wang Fei!)

Jacky Cheung (Zhang Xue You) "Wen Bie" (Goodnight Kiss)

Michael Learns To Rock, "Take Me To Your Heart". Hey... This sounds the same as...

Wang Fei and Jacky are huge out here, and "Take Me To You Heart" is played to death in every shopping mall... I think the new "Wo Yuan Yi" will be big out here too... No matter what, it looks like Chinese music is finding it's own ways to spreads it's wings internationally...

I just want to hear more Redstar. Holla!

Back To The Roots. This Saturday. It's March Maddness.

admin | 03 March, 2008 10:24

A lil' bit of shameless self promotion won't hurt...

A lot of folks ask me, "When can we see your shows?...", "When can we see you perfrom?...", "Who is Redstar?"

Well... Do yourself a favor, stop asking and come out to Back to the Roots this Saturday (3/8, Happy International Women's Day!!) at The Shelter.

Experience great music and great fun in China.

"Xie Xie Ni Men De Pei He."

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