Trapped in the City of a Thousand Mountains FINAL.mp4

[00:00]

00:29
Deep in the Chinese heartland, along the Yangtze River
Lies a metropolis by the name of Chongqing
For centuries an inspiration for poets and artists
Now, the winds have brought new voices
Every weekend auntie Su used to read poetry to little Xu and me.
It’s long ago but I still remember back then this city was referred to as ‘the mountain city’.
We have rebranded the mountain city. Chongqing is now our city.
This is TRAP city.

01:52
(Title)

02:15
Last year this wave of music took the internet by storm.
The biggest rise in popularity came from a program called The Rap of China which was spread online.
I remember at first many people found hip hop annoying, but then it suddenly spread quickly.
At the end of the day, I think good things just can't be stopped.
When something is good, it’s there to stay.

03:02
Attention comrades, today the Party announces the following new broadcasting regulations:
1) Persons who have disaffected themselves from the Party will not be allowed to appear in public.
2) Vulgar and distasteful performers will be scrutinized.
3) Improvisational performances will be suspended.
4) Persons rumored to have bad moral character should not speak in public.
5) No more promotion of hip hop and tattoo subculture.

03:55
120 songs were put on the blacklist.
Now rappers need to be more careful what they sing about.

04:40
It’s been two years since we formed this rap gang.
The reason I’ve never doubted us being together is because we treat each other like family.
They treat me like a little sister. Which I feel gives me warmth and happiness.

05:07
They disrespect the poor.
Wherever there is repression there will be rebellion.
In fact, wherever there is repression there is obedience.
like pops ‘n mom ‘r tryin’ to tell me I was born in a good generation but after paying the rent can't even afford a freaking microphone.
I don’t hold my microphone the way I hold my ping pong bat
People hide in the corner, wait’n for me to become a joke
But I do my shit the right way and never go cheap
The new ‘n old world order getting’ intertwined
As I battle my brothers with my mouth and tongue
My weapon is as natural as the air you breathe in daily
While you're wanderin’ around wait’n for a god to appear
Dress up nicely---

05:46
What’s wrong with me today?

06:35
In China you never know exactly what is forbidden.
That’s actually a very clever tactic; It makes everyone more careful.
Without a clear boundary, people will be more prone to self-censor.

07:01
We have tens of thousands of surveillance camera’s in the downtown area alone.
I have to say; security has improved.
But I do feel that civilians are always monitored and even controlled.
I can just feel it…

08:00
Alright look, what these young rappers are facing right now is really nothing new at all.
I was famous ten years ago doing hip hop and in the end I was also censored.
Finally I decided to quit rap and become a business man instead. My mom and I have our own green tea brand now.
But I’ve never stopped writing lyrics…

08:38
When I looked at her I was like a crazy fool
bewitched like a bitch, my skill was on chill
everything I saw from her was like a great landscape
You would think my thought is dirty but that’s only because I was full of passion
I talk with you with my heart
you walk me around just for fun
I fulfill your vanity, you think I’m your toy
It’s a trap!

09:07
…distasteful performers will be scrutinized.
3) Improvisational performances will be suspended.
4) Persons rumored to have bad moral character should not speak in public.
5) No more promotion of hip hop and…

09:33
There is a lot of confusion in the hip hop scene.
We don’t know what we are still allowed to do.
Because of these new regulations many rappers have quit.

09:51
Ghost, how are you?
Shooting, shooting, shooting as always, getting’ a small little music video done.

10:24
My rapping is with anger.
Chongqing rap will always be spicy.

11:00
Maybe we won’t be able to organize a real concert anymore, to hold the mike in our hands in front of our audience.
But hey, whatever!
We lose the chance of expressing ourselves face to face. But there are other ways of passing on your thoughts and sounds.

11:30
The hatred from common people made us numb, imprisoned
As if written in a script
I tear myself into pieces
offer my body as a sacrifice
implode my lungs, replace my stomach
absorb my drunkenness
fragments of my soul are reborn in this icy land with the intent of murder!

12:36
I’m just worried more people will be affected.
If anyone does anything to our gang, I’ll be the first to fight for it.
That’s just really how I feel.

14:33
Let him walk in shame.
And you? Can you write trap? You can't.
I’m working on it.
- It’s crap, you know it.
China doesn’t have freedom.
That’s real-talk.
China doesn’t have freedom!
- But hip hop can change this game.
You better stop talking now.

15:16
I believe hip hop music is important and can empower people.
That’s why I’m working on a comeback.
I’ve lost 25 kilo already. I used to be a fat gangster rapper, now I’m coming back a new man.
Most people like Chongqing with all the pretty lights on.
I prefer the deepest of the night, when the lights are off.
People think we built the city but I see it differently. We didn’t build the city, the city built us.

16:10
When I was young three cities were turned into one.
Many farmers suddenly found themselves living in one of the biggest cities on the planet.
I don’t remember the rural times, I was too young.
But even for my generation, we all feel the city is changing so fast.
So fast…

18:19
As long as we keep a low profile, limit the number of participants…
…our event won’t have any problems with the police.
The struggle that our hip hop community is facing today is in fact very typical for Chinese society.
We can think of it as waves… waves of change.
Like the water level of the Yangtze River has its high and low tides.
There will be floods. The water will rise, and sink again.
As a people, we can only hope each high tide will leave its mark.
That some trace of our voice remains for others to hear.

19:33
After all, the people living along the river have always been adjusting their lives…
…to the temperament of the river.

20:18
For me, I just want to sing about my own feelings. I think that’s already enough for me.

21:08
(Closing titles)

21:20
We’ll make the entire society free of poverty. We will bring socialism with Chinese characteristics to a great success in this new era.
We are determined to follow the road of eco civilisation based on production and prosperity.
The Chinese people have faith. The Chinese country has strength. The Chinese folk has hope.

21:42
(Titles)

21:48
We are determined to persistently implement “innovation, adjustment, sustainability, transparency & sharing”.
We will create the perfect eco-society. In accordance with the thousand year strategy of the Chinese nation.
We are determined to follow the regulation system of the socialist Chinese characteristics.
The communist party is determined to rule a country of which the top priority is development and prosperity.

22:53
(Rolling titles)

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