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Main | Albums | Admin

Vlad and Friend Boris on Palin

admin | 31 October, 2008 13:47

China borders Russia... Can Palin see Zoe and I?

I am so proud of our Middlebury Alumni. =)


Chinglish, Engrish? I dunno. Here's a mix from Shanghai and Wuhan.

admin | 31 October, 2008 13:31

These are all from my cell.

"Take care of the gap." Make sure it gets plenty of food and water.

OK! OK!! OK!!! I'll be cautious!! My bad!

"Striving for national civilized city, I know, I participated in, I dedicated. Renovated during the construction period, cause inconvenience to you, after updating" ... I have nothing to say to this one...


The Legend of Bruce Lee

admin | 30 October, 2008 17:35

With 1.3 Billion people, you are bound to find a guy that looks like Bruce Lee!!!

The Legend of Bruce Lee is on CCTV 1 from 8-9:45 in China. Go watch it. It was originally meant to be shown during the Olympics, but it started after. Strangely, I think Chinese people know less about Bruce than Americans do.

This guy really does look like Bruce though. And you have to see his gestures... It's a mirror!!!


Soulfire in Nanjing!

admin | 07 October, 2008 15:14

Yes, Soulfire is now on Jing Ling Zhi Sheng
In FM 99.7, 10:30-11:30PM.
Nin Hao, Nanjing. Wo Hui Lai Le.

Where I'm going tomorrow night:

admin | 07 October, 2008 13:34

The Blues Room
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!)


Chinese Drama On Trying to Make It With Hip-Hop

admin | 23 June, 2008 05:45

I was kinda shocked to see this myself...

I don't know how many shows there are, but you can take a look, they are all on Tudou.com. I think Tangking told me about this...


50 Moganshan Lu is the bomb

admin | 15 June, 2008 10:54

I need to go there more often...

The last time I was at 50 Moganshan Lu, I was working with the 'Nanking' movie crew at Art Deco. Zoe and I finally found a reason to go checking out second hand fleamarket for our friend Kuli.

The place is full of art studios, clothing designers, antique furniture stores, bookstores and cafes. It's the SoHo of Shanghai, but a bit smaller, more Chinese and trendier.

On our way out, I bumped into two Middlebury alums who also studied Chinese and now live in Hangzhou. They loved the place and would love to go back.

Here's more pics!

Speaking of the fleamarket, my boy Shige (You might recognize him as DJ Shige if you are around Shanghai) had his stuff on sale there and also runs his own little business on the side selling battle breaks and DJ equipment on-line and via e-mail at Scratch Temple. You can contact him at mail@scratchtemple.com. He knows his stuff.


The Greenwich Village has finally come to Shanghai

admin | 13 June, 2008 17:41

This was taken on the 2 line in Shanghai... How did I miss this?

The guy in the red with the glasses looks a little... uncomfortable...

"It's gotta be the shoes."

On the note of 'interesting' people on the train, there's this portly guy who (I saw him on the 1 train with my wife) gets on the train, starts ranting away some speeches, preaches about life and current events on the train out loud. It's kind of funny. If anyone can find videos or stories on this guy, please send them in.


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.


HA HA HA: The Movie

admin | 02 June, 2008 10:42

HA HA HA
Yes, that's the movie's name. I think you know by now that it's a comedy. It features David Wu (You might have heard of him from Talk Da Talk) and one of my favorite comedy duos in China, The Back Dorm Boys. (They became famous in China and around the world for lip-synching a lot of Backstreet Boys and other English and Chinese pop tunes. See below:

Their expressions are just plain unforgetable...

Anyway, back to the flick. "HA HA HA" is a comedy about a baby from a rich family who gets stolen by a bunch of bad guys, but when the bad guys lose the baby, a poor family whose been trying a praying for ages to have a child gets the baby on their doorstep as a nice little surprise.

This movie (Like most Chinese comedies) starts off like a lot of Adam Sandler movies, really slow, silly and hard to follow, but as time goes along, you get into it. There are a lot of China related figures and themes in the movie, like the Chinese Boss who has a lot of money from some random business, the crazed internet bar junkies who think their lives are like an RPG computer game (played by the Back Dorm Boys), and how the baby flies into the poor couple's home via a huge pink balloon in the shape of a pig. (In China, the pig always stands for abundance and fertility.)

Give it a try!


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!

Sharon Stone on China Earthquake

admin | 26 May, 2008 22:02

Sharon Stone in Shanghai. How ironic...

Thoughts?


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.


The Forbidden Kingdon (Gong Fu Zhi Wang)

admin | 23 May, 2008 07:36

Jackie Chan and Jet Li... at the same time...

You know I had to do a post on this one. Zoe and I saw The Forbidden Kingdom just the other day. Actually, Zoe was more excited about this film than yours truly (Because she is more American than me!). When I heard about it, I wasn't all that shocked and amazed by it. I hear about Jackie Chan and Jet Li all the time out here. If I never learned Chinese and I didn't live in China, I would probably go nuts about this film. Even from it's trailer:

I thought the movie had some good fight scenes and it was nice to see Jet Li be goofy for a change (When he playes the Monkey King). Apparently he wanted to do a role like that for his daughter. The story isn't a real Chinese story by the way, and in certain ways, it's a bit no believeable, particularly for a Chinese audience. (I asked my wife if she ever read about anything like this in High School, she said very clearly... "NO.")

It's also interesting seeing Jackie Chan getting back to his "drunken ways". He's pushing 60 and he moves like a 12 year old in this movie. Really amazing. The role of the kid from Boston is something you see in too many US style Kung Fu movies (Look at The Last Dragon... LEROY!!!), but he's good with the staff.

I think the girl that plays the Pipa in the movie (Liu YiFei?) is going to get noticed in the states kind of like how Zhang Ziyi got noticed in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". To other parts of the world, she's the strereotypical attractive Chinese woman from China, who actually in China, looks normal. hehe. Hats off to Fan Bing Bing (the one with the long white hair). Besides looking like a videogame vixen, she's made a small place for herself in the Hollywood market.

Overall, this movie makes me wonder... Why don't more people in China study Kung Fu? Noone knows it out here. Actually, a lot of When I saw this movie, it made me think that a ton of folks around the world think that in China, all we do out here is fight. Like, when I go to work, I have to battle 10 people at once, no weapons - just fists, bare-chested, on the Line 3 train (or 4) so I can make it to my stop on Hongqiao Lu... That's crazy!

Anyway, Zoe and I were pretty happy to watch this movie together. It's good family fun.


Legalize it... China did!

admin | 18 May, 2008 16:48

Well, not really, but it's a city name!

Belive it or not, China has a city called "Weed" (Marijuana). The characters above are "Da" and "Ma" and they match the same strokes of the famous leaf. I found this gem at the Linping bus station as I was heading back to Shanghai.

By the way, Linping isn't Hangzhou, it's a suburb of Hangzhou... I thought we would perform in the center of Hangzhou... oh well. The gig went well and Zoe and I were able to land this great picture!)

China's pretty OPEN, huh?

Xuzhou next week!!


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.


Nanjing... we back in tha building!

admin | 14 May, 2008 07:25

1912 in Nanjing

Once again, I returned to Nanjing and when I arrived, I realized so much has changed. Firstly, the town is a lot greener with more trees. Secondly, there are way more foreigners living there than I've ever seen. Lastly, 1912 has finally become a huge part of Nanjing's dining, nightlife and overall entertainment experience.

1912, as you might know, is called 1912 because in 1912, Nanjing became the capital of China with the country's first president, Sun Yat-sen. (Not far from 1912 is the Presidential Palace.) 1912 was a great time for Nanjing because it shows Nanjing at a time when it was bustling and becoming the true epicenter of China.

Almost 100 years later, it's getting back to that feel from 1912 at the formentioned entertainment district. Full of cuisines from Thai, local Chinese to KFC and more bars and clubs that you can shake a stick at. I perfromed there with Chivas last Saturday night at a place called Fei Bi Club (aka Phoebe Club). The place had a bit too much neon lights and metalic frames for my tasts (which is very common in Chinese clubs), so I did take a trip to Little Scarlet along with my wife, DJ Melkman, along with local friends Yuichiro (my Midd class mate and GT representer), Miki (From F&W and in-nanjing.net) and his girlfriend, and Kai.

If you're looking to move away from the 1912 spots, I would sugest two more places also worth checking out:

Nanjing's Underground Mall (aka Fashion Lady)

You want sneakers, high heels, dresses, shirts, hats and sunglasses for cheap (or relatively cheap), you got it all here. There's like 2-3 floors ful of tiny stores where you can bargain for all your clothing needs. I find that the fit for most of the clothes here is a bit small for me, particularly in the shoes department, but otherwise, it's great if you are a gal looking for a bargain and different styles that, chances are, other people won't have.

The place is full of people, I would recommend going on Sunday afternoon where it is a little easy to walk through. The spot is not far from Xinjiekou across the street from Dong Fang Shang Cheng Shopping Mall (which now has the real Gucci and Armani stores???) near the Jinling Hotel.

Planta

Planta is a Thai food/lounge/bar/club in Nanjing. It's pretty far away from other clubs and kinf of hard tofind because it's way behind some science building. When you areive at Planta, you'll find plenty of couches, dimmed lights and chill music. When I was first there with Aric in '06, there was noone there. Last Saturday, When I was there with Zoe, I thought I was at Glamour Bar on a Friday night. It was packed with people, Chinese and foreigners alike, all dressed in black with downtempo and acid jazz playing and folks schmoozing. Call it pretentious, call it cool, but this is a change for Nanjing, finally, an alternative for all.

Anyway, that's all for now. This Friday is Hangzhou at Lin Ping Ben Se.


Suzhou, Jiangyin and Ningbo... Oh My!

admin | 03 May, 2008 11:04

Suzhou

It's Labor Day in China!!! Time for me to get back to work on this blog!!

"The Venice of China" is what people say about this city, full of canals and waterways. I've been there about three times already, so I'm all watered out.

So what do you do if you've seen all major attractions of Suzhou? Simple. You shop!

I suggest you go around "Guan Qie Jie" and there's a pedestrian street full of shops where you can bargain, malls where you can get all kinds of quality, international products and there are restaurants galore. Don't sleep on this spot.

As for Jiangyin, that place didn't leave very much of an impression on me, except for the club I perfromed at with Chivas 12 Y.O. called "Armani". Yes, spelled the same as the Armani we all know... (So much for Intellectual Property Rights...) Anyway, it's the hugest club in Jiangyin and it looks like a warehouse... If you want to see how Chinese people party in Jiangyin, go there...

But you won't see me there again unless they pay me...

I'm in Ningbo now, and I'll fill you in on what I think of the place in anohter post. Zoe and I are off to get our hands on a Ningbo Guide. Later!


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!)


Whatcha gonna do when Yiwu goes wild on you!

admin | 21 April, 2008 09:27

Yiwu: The Wholesale Market Capital of the World!

So I took a trip with Chivas 12 y.o. to Yiwu this past Saturday. Heard a lot of things about this place... actually... not so many... but I know that there's a HUGE wholesale market there with a lot of stuff for cheap.

Of course, you have to try to find things you like and buy a lot of it before you can go on and say how much of a great deal all of this is. Clothes, bedding, silverware, utensils, they got it all there for cheap.

Saw tons of Middle Eastern, African and Easter Europeans there getting their deals on for their business... Sometimes, it felt like there were more foreigners there than in Shanghai.

Now only if they work on their social scene...

Overall, in between my trips to Shaoxing and Yiwu, I realized something... A good number of folks in Zhejiang province are really well off.. why? because they got into their businesses early and made something out of nothing. From selling a lot of cheap stuff, making millions off of zippers, or even manufacturing... Zhejiang is loaded.


The Expat Directory Warms My Heart

admin | 19 April, 2008 02:39

Props!!

Check out what the China Expat Community from The Expat Directory have to say about MoJo In China (And I didn't write this!):

"....Probably the most energetic Expat website I have had the pleasure of reading through. The site is about MoJo and his take on life in China as a hip-hop MC, China academic and whatever else. You won't regret browsing this very interesting, funny and entertaining site! Highly recommended..."

This is the part when I start to tear up... Nah, man!! It's just dust in my eye!!, Alright?!?!, Just dust!... From all the construction and developing a harmonious society! Nah mean? I'm still a man! A sensitive one... but still!!... Hehe

I'll keep jia'ing my you (jia you) for the world to learn more about China, from MoJo's eyes... Xie xie, dajia!

(Note to self... Write book on MoJo In China... make millions... MUAHAHAHAHAH....)


MoJo in Shaoxing

admin | 19 April, 2008 02:10

Waterways and canals can be found throughout Shaoxing.

My wife and I are in Shaoxing located in Zhejiang province, for one stop on a nine city tour for sevan weekends through Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces for Chivas 12 y.o. I'm mcing and beatboxing the shows, which is fun. When ever I do these kinds of shows, I get to see bits and pieces of these cities, but it's never long enough...

Anyway, my wife's family is originally from there (Father-in-law's side, grandfather...) and it's been nice to see it... There are a lot of canals and waterways, much like Suzhou, but I find Shaoxing to be more quaint, at least at first glance.

Next up, Yiwu. Looking forward to it!


Things you shouldn't do in China... and why.

admin | 14 April, 2008 09:33

Why did you split the pear????

Every now and then, I'll throw up a post on things you shouldn't do while you are in China. Tradition and superstition is pretty big out here, even as China becomes a modern society... here's some stuff you NEED TO KNOW.

1. Don't split your pear and share the other half with your loved one.

Pear in Chinese is "Li Zi" and to say divorce in Chinese is "Li Hun"... notice that both pear and divorce in Chinese contain the word "li" they are written differently with different vocal tones, but are similar because of the li pronunciation. Li, in this case, would mean "to split" or "break up".

Don't give your loved one the other half of your pear... Get a second pear and both you eat a whole one... and don't have so many "li's" going around!

2. Don't giving anyone Chrysanthemums.

Stupid idea. I've done it (And I won't say to who, but that person knows I didn't mean it...). They are are pretty, but they are closely related to Tomb Sweeping Day. Yep... Death Flowers.

The movie Curse of the Golden Flower is also closely related to Chrysanthemums... and at the end of the movie, just about everyone dies.

Get tulips instead.


Back on Channel Young Again!

admin | 12 April, 2008 17:25

Miami Vice Revisitied?

No, it's for a show called "Kong Jing Zi" on their program "Jin Ri Ying Xiang" on Channel Young. It's on tonight at 9:30 in Shanghai. They make over people in different office and they stopped by the Soulfire office to pay us a visit. Lucky me, I was one of the one's chosen... I guess I'm THAT BAD... *sniff*...

More and more folks are into the makeover thing out here in China, which was definitely big in the states in the 90's with the likes of Ricki Lake (Go Ricki! Go Ricki!!) and Jenny Jones. (Remember, "From Geek to Chic?")

Anyway, I had fun doing it, but I didn't really like the pink jacket.. it was a bit... too... pink... But I'm glad I could have a chance to re-live my dream to become Philip Michael Thomas (or Jamie Foxx for that matter...) in the flesh.

If you can watch Channel Young tonight, please do. I beatbox too. Holler.


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

More on the project.... DONG TING!!!

(BTW... FIVE days till my birthday!)


Hip-Hop in Kunming

admin | 03 April, 2008 12:24

Hip-Hop nights at Uprock in Kunming, China


So my boy DJ DSK has a a little club called Uprock in Kunming, China. They're working on a hip-hop night down there that breaks it all down to the four elements, bboy, MC, Graffitti and the DJ (If I didn't add DJ, DJ DSK would kill me).


So if you plan on making a flight Yunnan to check out the Naxi Tribe, or take a boat around Erhai Lake be sure to check out Uprock in Kunming. Tell em MoJo sent ya...

(Respect to Mr. Stokes!!)

(By the way... 6 days till my birthday!!)


Qingming Jie aka Tomb Sweeping Day

admin | 29 March, 2008 20:13

Tomb Sweeping Day, 4/4
Hey All! It's your boy MoJo again with more China, straight from China. Just want to first send my apologies about DJ Kentaro yesterday because Redstar actually sadly did not perform last night... But there will be more chances to see us do our thing!
Back to the post. Last Friday at work, I checked my schedule at Soulfire and realized that we have a day off next Friday. This is great since we've worked pretty hard these days trying to makes our shows so great, that starting in April, we'll also be broadcasting in Chengdu on Ming Jiang Radio!
So on 4/4 (which is kind of funny cause that's "si si", which sounds similar to "Dead Dead" in Chinese), most folks will be off for Qingming Jie also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.
In short, Tomb Sweeping Day is a big holiday in China all about visiting the tombs of your ancestors, sweeping their tombs and leaving them gifts like flowers, wine, chopsticks and stuff like that. Frequently people burn paper that looks similar to old money.
This is a very old and traditional holiday in China, and for many people to get off this day is China next step in helping people rememeber and take the time to celebrate this holy holiday in China.
I ppersonally don't have any relatives to visit out here, and my wife says that we don't either, but I wouldn't be surprised in on Thursday, I get a call from Dad and Mom telling me that we're headed to the Temple for some reason...

DJ Kentaro at The Shelter

admin | 28 March, 2008 17:16

DJ Kentaro at The Shelter
DJ Kentaro will be at The Shelter this evening. So if you are in Shanghai, do stop by. ALSO, Redstar will perform, so definitely be prepared for that. Another fun Friday in Shanghai with some great music.

It has begun...

admin | 25 March, 2008 08:00

The Olympic Torch is lit and ready to go!
After years of commercials, widespread reminders and TV ads... The Olympics Torch is on the go through 5 continents!
But y'know... there will always be some backlash...
Protester
Anyway, with al that's going on with the world and China, the show must (and WILL) go on.
To tell you the truth, I'm most focused on who will be the FINAL torch bearer for this year Olympic games? Will it be Yao Ming (Get better soon!) or Liu Xiang? Hard to say...

Deadly Delicious

admin | 23 March, 2008 12:59

"Women want to watch it... Men dare to watch it!"
That's what some critics say about this movie about love, marriage, affairs and food in this movie, Deadly Delicious. I saw this movie with my wife a couple days ago and I can't get it out of my head... Hopefully, a post will help me out!
The movie takes place in Shanghai. A rich and charming corporate guy has a relationship with a pretty and young flight attendant. The flight attendant realizes that it's hard to keep her man happy and learn from an older and strangely wise female stranger that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach. The stranger offers her hints on how to cook great food and even gives her a cookbook to help the young lady in her relationship, and he loves it! But he get's sicker and sicker...
What is making him sick? Who is this "friendly stranger"? All the answers are in the movie.
I really enjoyed all the emotional twists and turns through the movie and it has a great commentary on marriage and the intricacies of Chinese food.
Men... get ready to take a good look at yourself when you check out Deadly Delicious.

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.

Happy Spring!

admin | 20 March, 2008 17:15

Not Spring Rolls!! Spring is here!
Yes... It's that time of the year again! It's spring time in China. The weather is still a bit chilly, so pack a jacket before going out, but the sun is out and beaming, blue skies even! (Something you HAVE to cherish out here!!!)
I don't have any special stories or anything like that, but just want to wish "yu" all a Happy Spring! (And do celebrate with me and my group Redstar tomorrow!)
Those Spring Rolls still look madd good tho'...

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!)


NO TALKING IN THE MOVIE THEATER!!!

admin | 13 March, 2008 08:14

NO TALKING IN THE MOVIE THEATER
Last week my wife and i got to check out the movie Atonement (artsy, yet marketable, but the gov. cut out some sex scenes...). Anyway, my wife were really getting into the movie until one dude picked up his phone during the movie and started talking on the phone... LOUD.
This is a common thing in China. No one turns off their cell phones or puts them on silent or vibrate when the movie is on... OK, true, they might forget to switch their cell phone settings... But my gosh... do you have to pick it up and have a full 5-minute conversation during the movie?
This may sound like a rant, but if you love the movie theater expereince, you HAVE to agree with me.
People talk at the movie reading the subtitles from the screen: "Oh! It's 3 1/2 years later now!", "Oh! She's old!"
My favorite was one my wife told me that she heard from the couple beside us: "I think she said 'I Love You' too quickly."
Holy cow! Just close your mouth and watch the movie! If you see something funny, laugh. If you see something scary, gasp. No one is paying 30-70 kuai for your commentary or your phone call!

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.


Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jessica Simpson Speak Chinese???

admin | 06 March, 2008 07:39

Well... Kind of!

Here's some proof positive that more celebs are getting themselves out into the China market. Here's american Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt and singer Jessica Simpson in a TV commercial/Paid Advertisement for skin care product, Proactiv. Here's the commercial translated:

Jennifer Love Hewitt:

Ni Hao! Wo Shi Jennifer Love Hewitt! (Hello! I am Jennifer Love Hewitt!) Gao Lan Yao Fu, fei chang hao! (Proactive is really good!)

Jessica Simpson:

Da Jia Hao. Wo Shi Jessica Simpson. (Hi everybody. I am Jessica Simpson.) Wo Ai Gao Lan Yao Fu. (I Love Proactive.)

If I were to do a Chinese language battle between these two Hollywood starlets, Jessica Simpson would definitely win. She sounds more natural, smooth and chill, just like the way when someone normally talks to you. Jennifer Love Hewitt has that foreign voice that most Chinese out here make fun of foreigners for...

But these guys are celebs and Chinese is hard... Kudos to the both of these guys for speaking the language and speaking it pretty clearly!

By the way, the first lady in the show is named Annie Shizuke Inoh, also known as Yi Neng Jing... she is a popular singer and actress from Taiwan and is married to singer-songwriter Harlem Yu - Yu Chengqing. I love that he's named after the black neighborhood of Harlem. DEEP down inside... Harlem Yu's a brother.


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."

Bring China's Hip-Hop Granny to BOTY China 2008!!

admin | 02 March, 2008 13:57

Hip-Hop Granny, In 'Da House!
I saw this exact same report on TV about a week ago, and thank god for Youku, I found exactly what I needed.
This is the Hip-Hop Granny, aka (Jie Wu Nai Nai - Street Dance Grandmother). She 61 and tond of fun. She's from Shanghai and she's got moves. Reminds me of another Hip-Hop Granny in the world... hmmmm...
Hip-Hop Granny, meet Crazy Grandma... (I met her at R-16 last year. 65 years old... wow...)
Anyway, all of this is old news.. my point for this post if for all BOTY organizers in China, get the Hip-Hop Granny in China BOTY 2008. (Happening in Shanghai, folks!)
For all Grannies out there, keep dancing like your grandkids aren't watching!