This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Yi-Ling Liu about Chinese hip hop and how the music breaks through the infamous "fire wall" to connect to listeners. They'll highlight some key artists and tracks, as well as put the music into the larger context.
Yi-Ling Liu wrote about Chinese hip hop in her book “The Wall Dancers,” invoking both The Great Wall of China and the internet firewall that keeps Chinese music culture isolated from the rest of the world.
Featured Songs:
Kafe.Hu, "Be Free," Kafreeman, Modern Sky, 2017
The Beatles, "With a Little Help from My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
Higher Brothers and Famous Dex, "Made In China (Prod. Richie Souf)," Black Cab, 88rising, 2017
Skai Isyourgod, "Stacks from All Sides," Stacks from All Sides, Showstart Release, 2024
Bohan Phoenix, "3 DAYS IN CHENGDU," JALA, loveloveNYC, 2017
VAVA, "My New Swag (feat. Ty. & Nina Wang)," Crazy Rich Asians (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Warner Bros., 2017
Bohan Phoenix, "NO HOOK (feat. Higher Brothers)," JALA, loveloveNYC, 2017
Kafe.Hu, "Fire," Kafreeman, Modern Sky, 2017
Jack White, "G.O.D. And The Broken Ribs," Frozen Charlotte, Third Man, 2026
Dear Listeners,
For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!
Please consider becoming a Sound Opinions member by giving whatever you can via Patreon or with a one-time donation through PayPal. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support!
