“你有freestyle吗?” (Do you freestyle?) The Roots of Censorship in Chinese Hip-hop

CHU, Yiu-Wai. 2023. Hong Kong Pop Culture in the 1980s: A Decade of Splendour. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Yiu-Wai Chu, Hong Kong Cantopop: A Concise History

Editorial - Including Music in the Sinophone, Provincializing Chinese Music

Sonic Plurality in Multicultural Taiwan

Contesting and Appropriating Chineseness in Sinophone Music

Navigating and Circumventing (Self)censorship in the Chinese Music Scene

Although the case of “censorship” of Chinese hip-hop in January 2018 has led to extensive news coverage in the international press, it does not account for the multiple forms of musical censorship that exist in contemporary China. This article draws on observations from within the punk rock community to outline how censorship works in practice and which institutions are responsible for overseeing musical productions, from the release of albums to the management of concerts and festivals. This overview of censorship mechanisms in the Chinese music scene – including self-censorship required to release albums domestically – will highlight how to circumvent censorship, as well as the extent to which it is possible for artists to negotiate with the authorities.