'Tasteless, Vulgar and Obscene.' China Just Banned Hip-Hop Culture and Tattoos From Television

signal · Jan 23, 2018

http://time.com/5112061/china-hip-hop-ban-tattoos-television/

China has banned hip-hop culture and actors with tattoos from appearing on television.

The country's top media regulator — the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China (SAPPRFT) — now "specifically requires that programs should not feature actors with tattoos [or depict] hip hop culture, sub-culture (non-mainstream culture) and dispirited culture (decadent culture)," Sina, a Chinese news outlet, reports.

Gao Changli, director of the administration's publicity department, outlined four "Don't" rules on Friday:

Absolutely do not use actors whose heart and morality are not aligned with the party and whose morality is not noble
Absolutely do not use actors who are tasteless, vulgar and obscene
Absolutely do not use actors whose ideological level is low and have no class
Absolutely do not use actors with stains, scandals and problematic moral integrity

The ban follows the removal of the prominent rapper GAI from Hunan TV's Singer, a hit competition show. Clips of GAI, whose real name is Zhou Yan, were also removed from China Hunan TV's official Youtube Channel, but no official explanation has been given. He does however appear in the show's trailer

Wang Hao, aka PG One, another well-known rapper, was forced to apologize earlier this month after one of his songs, "Christmas Eve," was criticized for promoting drug culture and insulting women.

Rapper Mao Yanqi, aka VaVa, was cut from the variety show Happy Camp, according to Tecent News. Music by Triple H, an influential underground rapper, has also been removed from major streaming sites. And a contestant on the show Super Brian, which is not hip-hop related, even had his hip-hop style necklace blurred out.

Chinese social media has responded angrily to the ban.

"SARPPFT is so trashy! They didn't want to give Chinese hip pop singers any chance of survival! we can go back to ancient times," wrote one user on Weibo — China's equivalent of Twitter.
"How can a government with high culture have such childish logic?" asked another.

Weak. But lol @ "triple h, an influential underground rapper"

rstzkpf · Jan 23, 2018

Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

Geist · Jan 23, 2018

No more of this? How sad...

Nothing Loud · Jan 23, 2018

It's bizarrely amusing that China is surpassing the Western World at many intellectual commitments and technological advancements but they can't seem to understand hip hop.

Bung Hole · Jan 23, 2018

But why? and also what in the actual fuck is wrong with people.

Deleted member 17092 · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

China don't care.

Cruel Optimism · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

World powers have been crowned king with far worse things on their records. And China has already arrived anyway.

Dubbedinenglish · Jan 23, 2018

Bung Hole said:
But why? and also what in the actual fuck is wrong with people.

Hip Hop/ rap is usually a music of resistance. Also nationalism and cultural supremacy in action.

lordlad · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

so you made an opinionated statement based on OP's posts and determined it as absolute and..........end of story from you?

Cantaim · Jan 23, 2018

Well that's really stupid.

Gwenpoolshark · Jan 23, 2018

Everyone knows that banning Hip Hop just makes it more powerful.

Iceternal · Jan 23, 2018

Gwenpoolshark said:
Everyone knows that banning Hip Hop just makes it more powerful.

"Strike me down and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

BocoDragon · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

I think their censorship and conservatism definitely torpedoes their soft power.

I was talking with some Chinese citizens recently about how little media exports they make that is perceived as cool internationally. With a country that big, that just shouldn't be.

Bung Hole · Jan 23, 2018

Dubbedinenglish said:
Hip Hop/ rap is usually a music of resistance. Also nationalism and cultural supremacy in action.

I had no idea. In any case people should be free to express themselves. Sad times we live in.

Raein · Jan 23, 2018

China is the biggest threat to world peace; fascist state decades in the making.

Laughing Banana · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

"Never going to be a world power" is a funny way of saying it considering they ARE already a world power, lol. Arguably even more influential than the US too, considering how much of the US economy depends on them.

Like, it's just a silly thing that you said there.

Qvoth · Jan 23, 2018

Lol
Anyway the genre won't die, it's probably just not going to be shown in national tv
Higher brothers are getting bigger and bigger

Neo C. · Jan 23, 2018

China is so big economy wise, but the leaders just don't get soft power. I was in Vietnam this winter for holidays, and the youth is all about Korean and Japanese stuff. China is just not attractive with all the bizarre regulations in entertainment and popular stuff.

pramod · Jan 23, 2018

Neo C. said:
China is so big economy wise, but the leaders just don't get soft power. I was in Vietnam this winter for holidays, and the youth is all about Korean and Japanese stuff. China is just not attractive with all the bizarre regulations in entertainment and popular stuff.

Like others said, I don't think the Chinese government really cares. Holding on to power is their only concern.

Zeldaflavoredzebra · Jan 23, 2018

They're trying to ensure people like Cardi B dont end up influencing children.

kellar · Jan 23, 2018

signal said:
Absolutely do not use actors whose ideological level is low and have no class

i love this!

ashep · Jan 23, 2018

Seems extreme.

Yoshi · Jan 23, 2018

Well, they are right about hip hop and tattoos being shit, but banning seems a bit extreme.

Ratrat · Jan 23, 2018

Nothing Loud said:
It's bizarrely amusing that China is surpassing the Western World at many intellectual commitments and technological advancements but they can't seem to understand hip hop.

And I suppose westerners are very knowledgeable about Chinese music and subcultures?

cervanky · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

So like, are you arguing this along historical precedent, or...

I mean we're in agreement that this isn't a good thing but we have several thousand years of history up till the present day of dickish world powers.

Akira86 · Jan 23, 2018

fools. it will only become more popular. they have single handedly handed over Communism to the hip hoppityists with their rap cars and gold fronts.

lordlad · Jan 23, 2018

Raein said:
China is the biggest threat to world peace; fascist state decades in the making.

ok...calm down with the hyperbolic.

Mediking · Jan 23, 2018

Wayyy too extreme....

ronaldthump · Jan 23, 2018

Ersatzkopf said:
Look at it this way: China is never going to be a world power if they keep doing this. Never. And if you're some China apologist that wants to quote this post and argue with me don't even bother because I don't care.

scintillating post.

china apologist.
world power.

on the back of a top about hiphop and tattoos. Okay?

China's a world economic powerhouse and its alignment of politics and communism and of course, what's the word - commercialism is all very strange but you know what, its a strange ban but I'm not surprised. It's an older generation of chinese who are in power and who will drive policies.

* the word I was looking for was capitalism, not commercialism.

Cocaloch · Jan 23, 2018

Laughing Banana said:
Arguably even more influential than the US too, considering how much of the US economy depends on them.

Not really. It's arguable that the US is no longer Hegemon, not that China is more influential. It's not even significantly more influential in its own region.

Deleted member 19003 · Jan 23, 2018

They are stifling their own culture and creativity. That's bad, and won't catch on well elsewhere.

ronaldthump · Jan 23, 2018

Raein said:
China is the biggest threat to world peace; fascist state decades in the making.

I'd argue that trump and the usa is the biggest threat to world peace right now.

China even told north korea to fuck off and closed their banks to NK.

giannisdagod · Jan 23, 2018

no more higher brothers?

boo

Deleted member 2809 · Jan 23, 2018

lordlad said:
so you made an opinionated statement based on OP's posts and determined it as absolute and..........end of story from you?

He's objectively right

Bad_Boy · Jan 23, 2018

I thought most people watch higher bros on youtube anyways

siddx · Jan 23, 2018

If they are willing to go so far as to go into other nations and kidnap people to silence dissent and criticism, it's doesn't surprise me at all that they would target an art form that is one of the most powerful platforms for protest. The Chinese elite are absolutely terrified of losing their power and will go to any lengths to keep it.

Deleted member 13496 · Jan 23, 2018

Zeldaflavoredzebra said:
They're trying to ensure people like Cardi B dont end up influencing children.

Good.

Copper · Jan 23, 2018

China's censorship of the internet has also become much more strict. Add to that the strong increase of their use of sharp power and it paint a problematic situation.
The party is undoubtly turning more and more authoritarian, and i fear the next logical step for their authoritarianism is war toward minor foreign "disrespectful" nations as a way to produce consensus like Russia.

But of course the thing it get posted here is about hip hop and not the VPN lol.

nelsonroyale · Jan 23, 2018

Pretty fucked up...there are negative elements in hip hop, but also elements that are far 'nobler' than most of the goons from the upper echelons of the Chinese communist party. Well it is more and more like totalitarian capitalism now.

-PXG- · Jan 23, 2018

Can we just come a a compromise and just ban mumble rap?

Mondy · Jan 23, 2018

The country itself is a polluted smoggy shithole and they have the gall to act like fascists as well lol

Dynamite Shikoku · Jan 23, 2018

You little bastard

gdt · Jan 23, 2018

Switch Back 9 said:
Good.

She prolly a better influence than you

Chairmanchuck (另一个我) · Jan 23, 2018

Reading the article it seems that they ban the "insulting" kind of HipHop. People like Jay Chou, JJ Lin etc. also have some HipHop/Rap Songs and I doubt it will influence their songs.
I also think it mostly affects Chinese rappers. Chinese e.g. love Eminem and, reading some comments, foreign artists arent affected by that.

HipHop in China before was more of an underground thing and this stupid law now makes it always be like that. I think it gained traction, because Chinese shows like Super Brain or Happy Camp, one of the most popular shows currently in China, invited them.

I still wonder why the government is still so keen on censoring everything. HunanTV puts his most "problematic" stuff just on Youku/Bilibili/YouTube etc.

Jimrpg · Jan 23, 2018

Chairmanchuck said:
Reading the article it seems that they ban the "insulting" kind of HipHop. People like Jay Chou, JJ Lin etc. also have some HipHop/Rap Songs and I doubt it will influence their songs.
I also think it mostly affects Chinese rappers. Chinese e.g. love Eminem and, reading some comments, foreign artists arent affected by that.

HipHop in China before was more of an underground thing and this stupid law now makes it always be like that. I think it gained traction, because Chinese shows like Super Brain or Happy Camp, one of the most popular shows currently in China, invited them.

I still wonder why the government is still so keen on censoring everything. HunanTV puts his most "problematic" stuff just on Youku/Bilibili/YouTube etc.

Basically old men yell at clouds.

Many Chinese parents are the same - I don't like this, so they ban their children from it. Same shit but on a national scale.

Chairmanchuck (另一个我) · Jan 23, 2018

arbok26 said:
Basically old men yell at clouds.

Many Chinese parents are the same - I don't like this, so they ban their children from it. Same shit but on a national scale.

I think so too. A friend of my wife was working for CCTV and they wanted to bring One Piece (officially) to CCTV. They signed the contracts for 100 episodes, everything was ready till some old-ass manager went into a meeting and said "I dont like it. We wont air it!"

Its just that I dont understand why censoring is still there. Even without VPNs Chinese know where to watch porn, read western news, consume stuff like BBT, 2BrokeGirls etc.
Thats also why HunanTV and other channels can have shows with a lot of sex jokes on the internet.

The censorship is imo failing all the time, because young people know where to get their stuff without VPNs. To me it always feels like slaying a Hydra. Chop off one head, 10 new heads spawn. At least for the young generation.

lordlad · Jan 23, 2018

Shugga said:
He's objectively right

are there any studies to prove it is...as you puts it, objectively right...or is it based on American's 'justice and freedom for all' mentality?

I am not standing on any side. But i am always curious on how the west likes to judge on Asia's regime when compared their own and deemed it 'objectively wrong' while the Asia (and Russia) likes to judge the regime of the west like a bunch of academics too addicted on their own 'high moral ideals' to even bother to implement a pragmatic solution.

From what i see..

Western's perspective: Freedom > Food, Security

Asian's perspective: Food, Security > Freedom

This is a forum predominantly western so i will not be surprised what stance this forums stands on...but please...for the sake of yourselves, please don't say things like 'objectively right'. Because it isn't.

massoluk · Jan 23, 2018

I'm still salty over no reincarnation rule.

Jimrpg · Jan 23, 2018

Chairmanchuck said:
I think so too. A friend of my wife was working for CCTV and they wanted to bring One Piece (officially) to CCTV. They signed the contracts for 100 episodes, everything was ready till some old-ass manager went into a meeting and said "I dont like it. We wont air it!"

Its just that I dont understand why censoring is still there. Even without VPNs Chinese know where to watch porn, read western news, consume stuff like BBT, 2BrokeGirls etc.
Thats also why HunanTV and other channels can have shows with a lot of sex jokes on the internet.

The censorship is imo failing all the time, because young people know where to get their stuff without VPNs. To me it always feels like slaying a Hydra. Chop off one head, 10 new heads spawn. At least for the young generation.

Well its kind of improving, if you look at say 20 years ago versus now. If you just look at this moment in time, of course China is far less liberal than western countries. There was a time when wearing bikinis were offensive in the west! Shock! (well about 200 years ago I suppose). But I guess it takes time to change and I think they are heading in the right direction. That said it is frustrating as westerners knowing what we know.

KonradLaw · Jan 23, 2018

China regularly gives me new reasons to worry about their growing power and influence in the world.

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