Kris Wu determined to set his own agenda
LONDON: Singer-actor Kris Wu has voiced his determination to set his own agenda for fame and recognition.
Said Kris during an interview in London: “I don’t want to follow in anyone’s footsteps. I want to follow my own path and do something unique.”
Kris, 27, is a huge lifestyle influencer in China, with over 27 million Weibo followers and another 5.6 million Instagram fans.
During Fashion Week in London, he was dressed in Burberry’s new interpretation of its classic chequered trench coat.
Many Asian celebrities have made their global breakthroughs with kung fu/action films, but Kris is definitely not confined to this category. He already has an impressive portfolio of box-office hits, chart-topping EPs and ambassador deals with luxury brands the likes of Burberry and Bulgari.
Said Kris: “I want people to look at me in the future and feel that there’s this Asian hip-hop artist who’s fresh and hot.”
Last month, Kris was the first Chinese artist to top the chart on US iTunes with the EP Deserve. He first found fame with The Rap of China – a reality show produced by and aired on Chinese streaming site iQiyi. Alongside other celebrity judges, such as A-Yue Zhang, MC Hotdog and Wilber Pan, Kris’ hip-hop status was at first challenged. However, it didn’t stop fans from following his every move, from his distinctive fashion wardrobe to his hairstyle. Even his catchphrase “Can you freestyle” made headlines and internet memes. “Although a lot of people doubted the show and me as the producer (at the beginning) – whether it’s going to be legit because hip hop is all about keeping it real,” he said. “But I’ve always had faith and I knew that it was going to work and it did. We managed to capture the audiences by showing something they’ve never seen before in China.”