Trapped in the city of a thousand mountains – rap in China

A new phenomenon has taken the internet by storm: Chinese rap. But behind its skyrocketing popularity, there is a struggle for freedom of speech. Rappers try to figure out what they can and cannot say after more censorship is announced. In Chongqing, one of China’s biggest cities, surveillance is unavoidable. Announcements echo across the vast squares warning that “morally suspect individuals” are banned from speaking in public. It’s not exactly the most stimulating environment for young people looking for something more than collectivist slogans. They express their artistic resistance against the lack of freedom in their tattoos and underground hip-hop. The rappers feel trapped in the immense city.
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