Chinese rapper apologizes for his offensive lyrics by blaming influence of ‘black music’
Rapper PG One has become the most hated man on Weibo following reports of a secret affair with married actress Li Xiaolu
A famous Chinese rapper is now finding himself under fire after excusing lyrics which some have found both vulgar and offensive by explaining that he had been deeply influenced by “black music.”
PG One rose to national fame after winning “The Rap of China,” an extremely popular reality show contest which became a breakout success last summer, pushing China’s hip-hop culture into the mainstream like never before. However, the 23-year-old rapper from Harbin whose real name is Wang Hao (王昊), is now finding that increased scrutiny comes with superstardom.
Last Thursday, China’s Women’s Daily published a post on Weibo criticizing his song “Christmas Eve” (聖誕夜), which was released back in 2015, for obscene lyrics that insult women and promote drug use.
The song (which you can listen to below) contains references to “pure white powder,” along with a smattering of obscenities and sexist wordplay, such as: “Bitches all come to my house, stick out their butts and cosplay as Santa’s little reindeer. I ride on their shoulders until all their fuel is drawn out while singing Jingle Bells.”
In response to this criticism, PG One issued an apology of sorts on Weibo later that evening, taking the song offline while promising to do more to promote “positive energy” in society in the future. As for how exactly crude language, drugs, and misogyny had got into his song in the first place, PG One blamed the music that had inspired him to begin rapping.
“I was deeply influenced by black music when I was first introduced to hip-hop culture, but I had a flawed understanding of its core values. For that, I sincerely apologize. As I mature, I feel I should enhance my sense of social responsibility, promote the right system of values, and become a better role model for my fans,” he wrote, adding that hip-hop should always be about “peace and love.”
Four days later, that Weibo post has received more than 680,000 comments, gaining increased attention following explosive reports that PG One is carrying out an affair with Li Xiaolu (李小璐), a 35-year-old Chinese actress and singer who is married to actor Jia Nailiang (贾乃亮). The couple married in 2012 and have one daughter together.
Late last year, Chinese paparazzi caught Li spending the night at PG One’s home, and holding onto his arm.
“What kind of bullshit is this? Did hip-hop also teach you how to have fun with an older married woman?” asked one Weibo user.
Meanwhile, PG One has been condemned across the board by Chinese state media. In a post to its official Weibo account, the Communist Youth League said that the rapper was not giving proper guidance to young people in China, adding that he had already violated the law with his lyrics glorifying drugs.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said on Weibo that PG One had disrespected the music industry and audience and did not deserve to be on stage, while the People’s Daily said that his lyrics lacked “morals” and “warmth,” declaring that his songs would not resonate in the hearts of the public or stand the test of time.
The Global Times has used this opportunity to praise the subset of patriotic Chinese rappers who write songs not about disrespecting women or doing drugs, but about loving their country and hating THAAD, urging that the Chinese hip-hop scene needs to be “properly guided and purified” in this direction. “China hopes to transform local hip-hop into a positive influence but will punish those who cross the line,” the state tabloid warns.
