Rap of China’s Overseas Top Six Rattles the Stage in New York
On March 2, iQIYI’s hip-hop variety show, Rap of China, hit Queens, New York for the final stop of their overseas auditions. Since the start of the auditions back in August 2023, “a total of 24 talented semi-finalists were selected from over 500 candidates across eight regions,” according to iQIYI. Over a series of battles that had occurred over the past five months, six finalists had been chosen for the last competition before the main stage.
For the show’s first live audience taping of the season, the night consisted of performances from not only the Top Six, but from talented guests Michelson, Max Aiden, AK Liu Zhang, and many more. It was a night of intense passion that EnVi was able to witness.
The Calm Before the Storm
At the start of the night, finalists Rapeter, ChillsenOne, Jinzy, Majin, Castle$, and Bill Niu filed in front of the stage for pre-competition photos, introductions, and questions. Each with their own charm, they all exuded confidence when answering questions from EnVi.
Jinzy compared the Rap of China final to school finals, placing emphasis on how much better it was to be there. Her witty remark affirmed the anticipation that everyone was feeling. The long-awaited night had finally arrived.
Even with some of the contestants having prior engagements right before the show, they all arrived to the stage with excitement, drive, and eagerness for competition.
“I spent a lot of time preparing for the show. I wrote a new song, I practiced with my friends,” said Chillsen One.
EnVi caught judge Jojo Brim outside before the official taping began. Brim is currently Senior Vice President of Artist and Fan Experiences at Warner Music Group, where he first learned about the Rap of China overseas competition. Having started out his career in hip-hop, which completely changed his life, he was elated to be part of a program where hip-hop has transcended beyond its origins.
“I’m looking forward to the passion,” Brim emphasized. “I used to be an artist, so I know what it’s like to wake up with that fire in my belly, to want to do something.”
The rest of the judges were also acclaimed hip-hop icons: actor and rapper Jeffry Kung, Sbazzo and Young Kin from Chinese hip-hop group YIN TS’ANG, and iQIYI Senior Vice President Leo Geng.
Majin
Setting the tone as the first performer of the night, Majin walked on stage, her confidence never wavering. Like day and night, her bubbly personality was quickly offset by her fierce rap style. Majin’s unique background of growing up in Indonesia with Chinese and German heritage has greatly influenced her artistry. She takes much inspiration from Reggae, Rock, and R&B which can be heard in her rap. Blending English and Mandarin wordplay with beats inspired by these genres, Majin creates her distinctive style that is one of a kind.
Throughout the night, not only were her performances filled with charm, but notably refreshing. Majin’s pure enjoyment and playful nature radiated through her interactions with the crowd and guest singer Michelson, whom she had a duet with.
ChillsenOne
The youngest contestant of the group, ChillsenOne, is freshly new to the space of live rap competitions. He sees himself as a “dark horse,” being the least known out of all the Top Six, he revealed in episode 7 of the series.
ChillsenOne emulated this dark horse energy with his first solo performance. With sirens playing at the start of the beat, red lights flashed along with a dark lyric video in the background. Riding the killer beat with focus and decisive intonation, ChillsenOne affirmed his rap skills despite being the youngest.
Castle$
Philadelphia native Castle$ popped off as the third to perform, bringing force onto the stage.
He is assured in his abilities. “I’ve always had my own style which is Chinese American flow,” Castle$ mentioned to EnVi before the start of the competition. “I put two and two together so I feel like that makes me different.”
He further proved this, presenting a half-English and half-Chinese fusion of words during his solo stage. Feeling the flow and vibe through all his acts, Castle$ made the stage his own.
Jinzy
Vibrant and bright, Jinzy brought a different vibe to the stage. Much of her inspiration comes from Chinese rap group Straight Fire Gang who, like her, were studying abroad in America. As a self-taught music producer, Jinzy aims to promote love and happiness through her music.
Her performance mixed more lyrical singing with rap, along with a colorful lyric video playing in the background. Jinzy graced the audience with a vivacious presence.
Bill Niu (Lil Slower)
Further proving the amount of talent among contestants, Bill Niu, also known as Lil Slower, came in with a chill attitude. Although he has been rapping since 2018, he is also new to the rap competition scene. Niu hit the crowd with lightning speed. Never missing a beat, his fast-spitting flow energized the live audience.
His delivery throughout all his performances was clean and charismatic, all while keeping a “go with the flow” attitude.
Rapeter
Rapeter walked on stage carrying a strong aura. The beginning of his beat put a spin on “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” by Alicia Keys, before diving into his lines: “Welcome to New York.” His rap flowed seamlessly with the tempo of the beat. Rapeter executed a chill-inducing and crisp performance. Staying present and interacting with the crowd all while having fun, he soon became a crowd favorite.
Victors of the Night
To solidify and add onto the ranking, the Top Six had to perform in duet battles with guest singers Michelson, Max Aiden, and CSY. Two contestants were each paired with a singer and had to add their own verses to the guest singers’ songs. At the end of each set, the audience voted for their favorite performance.
When it was time to hear feedback from the judges, pressure loomed over the Top Six. Castle$ and Majin’s notable performances stood out, securing them a straight pass to the Top Three. With the third spot remaining open, the rest of the four contestants would have a round of freestyle battles to claim it.
By the end, Rapeter rose to claim the open spot. With one more round of performances from the chosen Top Three, their final placements locked in. Coming out in first place was Rapeter, second place with Majin, and with Castle$ at third place.
With the overseas auditions complete, the Top Three are now preparing for the main stage battles that will be held in China. To catch up and follow the rest of the journey with the Rap of China contestants, tune into iQIYI via website and app.
Interested in keeping up with Chinese culture? Read about six Chinese fashion designers that should be on your radar here.
