As Chengdu prepares to host the 2025 World Games, its underground hip-hop culture is stepping into the global spotlight. Wang Yitai, a pioneer of the city's rap scene, sat down with CGTN to discuss how street cyphers evolved into a $150 million music industry – and why spicy hotpot remains the movement's unofficial fuel.
"In 2013, we'd gather under overpasses with portable speakers," recalls Wang, now 30, during an interview at Chengdu's A4 Art Museum. The venue's new exhibition traces hip-hop's journey from back-alley beats to chart-topping dominance, featuring graffiti-laden replicas of iconic local rap battle sites.
With Chengdu's creative economy projected to grow 12% annually through 2026, investors are tuning in. The city's 8,000+ registered music venues and 73% year-on-year increase in live event revenue present opportunities for cross-border collaborations. Wang notes: "Our dialect rap connects rural stories to global beats – that's why brands from Milan to Seoul want in."
As nightlife districts prepare for World Games visitors, Wang shares an insider tip: "Order the maocai hotpot with duck intestine and quail eggs. The spice level? Start at 50%." His final verse for aspiring artists: "Keep your flow faster than the Chengdu Metro Line 18."
