RAP in Mongolia
Hip hop is a subculture and art movement developed in New York City during the late 1970s, and there are four essential pillars in hip hop -- rapping, breaking, DJ-ing, and graffiti art. Nowadays, rap or hip hop music is becoming more and more popular through mass media around the world. The components of rap include “content” (what is being said), “flow” (rhythm and rhyme), and “delivery” (cadence and tone). After the rappers learn to be able to control these four elements, they challenge themselves with “freestyling”, ”Cypher” (mic pass) and “battle”; those are different forms of performance in rapping.
In addition to some basic knowledge, rappers themselves are the focus of rapping. There are many famous rappers in Mongolia, one the most popular being Big Gee. Big Gee, better known as Rapper GEE, established Click Click Boom crew in 2006 when he was 23 years old, and released his first album in 2008. More than 2,000 people came to his first solo concert, and his music is also famous in the US and other western countries. However, he’s also a notorious rapper with aggressive attitude and vulgar lyrics. Believing himself to be the best rapper in Mongolia, GEE doesn’t care about others’ evaluation. Many people imagine the lyrics of his songs would be mainly about sex, women or wealth like American rappers, but what he really cares about is corruption in the government, environmental degradation, the ger district (where he grew up), and his anti-Chinese stance. After hearing his song, you can see his appeal for the everyman. The aggressive attitude and lyrics are ways for him to keep “real”. His aim is to awaken the conscience of the next generation and help them appreciate the country’s proud history through rapping.
Another famous rapper in Mongolia is Gennie, a 31-year-old woman called the “queen of Mongolian hip hop”. She dreamed of becoming the country’s first female rapper since the early days of Mongolian hip hop. Her dream finally came true when she teamed up with hip hop “godfather” Enkhtaivan, who believes in her skills. Gennie soon went beyond the studio, and to France where she performed with local rappers to an embracing audience. She also raps about how the rural land is being destroyed by mining, the plights of domestic violence, and the lack of support single mothers get from the government. She also wrote a song titled “Woman” which describes the difficulties that women encounter in Ulaanbaatar. In the song, Gennie presents three stories: a middle-aged woman in an abusive relationship, a teenager who is eager to grow up and is taken advantage of by older men, and a young human trafficking victim. These kinds of issues are seldom discussed in Ulaanbaatar, but Gennie wants to speak out about the problems and raise awareness through her music.
Rap music not only helps young Mongolians express the stresses of dealing with an increasingly urban society and all its woes, but also provides a chance where rappers can share their thought on issues they care through rap. But in the meanwhile, if the contents include political or social issues, then some disputes may occur.
At the same time, K-pop, indie and western pop music occupy teenagers’ mind. Rap music seems to be a niche in Mongolia, and rappers are searching for a solution to their social problem.
Meanwhile in neighboring China, rapping returned to the mainstream because of the online reality show “The Rap of China”. Receiving over 100 million views an hour after the first episode was released online, the show attracts audiences with dramatic plots, famous judges and the interaction between rappers. The reality show provides a chance for rappers to step into the public view, and their success after the show released.
Every country has its own take on rap music and hip hop culture, and Mongolian rappers have to find their own way to conquer the hearts and minds of the people. Some rappers in Mongolia insist on using their ways to change the world, using their songs to “heal” society. Just like GEE and Gennie, many other young rappers are doing the same things. For example, up and coming rappers such as Ganbold raps to try and humanize alcoholism, which is one of Mongolia’s worst social problems, and others like Quiza want to make life better for the next generation. They will keep posting new songs and holding performances, and waiting for the opportunity to grow.