Chaoyang Drops the Greatest Rap About Being Civilized in Hip Hop History
What a week for hip hop! First, Kanye drops his long-awaited Donda, followed quickly by Drake’s release of Certified Lover Boy. But while you were watching the superstars, you may have forgotten to keep an eye on the newcomers – namely Xiao Chao, Chaoyang district’s latest animated rapper who sports a yellow cap that matches his t-shirt.
As a Chaoyang-based artist, Xiao Chao’s premier single is all about how Chaoyangers can stay civilized. The song appears to be yet another response to the question, If there’s an official awareness campaign in China and it doesn’t produce a cheesy rap, did it even happen?
Even though, the song is written for Chaoyang, it’s advice for civilized behavior is universally applicable. You can watch the full video of the rap in all its civilized glory here.
If we have any constructive for Xiao Chao, it’s that his verses lack a cohesive narrative and are more of a series of various pieces of advice hastily strung-together – almost as if someone took a list of civilized behaviors that local officials are pressing for and read them to a beat, pretending it’s a rap verse. But hey, nobody’s perfect when they first get in on the game.
For your amusement, we took the liberty of translating Xiao Chao’s masterpiece below. Sorry we couldn’t make it rhyme in English – not that it really rhymes in Chinese, either.
小朝 昌文明
Xiǎo cháo chāng wénmíng
Xiaochao – Song of the Civilized
我的名字叫小朝
Wǒ de míngzì jiào Xiǎo Cháo
My name is Xiao Chao
跟你聊一聊
gēn nǐ liáo yī liáo
And I’d like to talk to you
文明的道德准则
wénmíng de dàodé zhǔnzé
About civilized morals,
一定要记牢
yīdìng yào jì láo
You had better remember:
站得直行得正
zhàn dé zhí xíng dé zhèng
Stand upright and behave correctly
理想信念要坚定
lǐxiǎng xìnniàn yào jiāndìng
Keep firm ideals and beliefs
培养良好的家风
péiyǎng liánghǎo de jiā fēng
And cultivate a good family lifestyle
做人必须讲诚信
zuòrén bìxū jiǎng chéngxìn
Civilized people always speak honestly
公共场所不要抽烟有害健康
gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ bùyào chōuyān yǒuhài jiànkāng
go
Do not smoke in public places, as it is harmful to health
言谈举止要文明落落大方
yántán jǔzhǐ yào wénmíng luòluò dàfāng
When you speak, do so in a civilized manner
乘坐公交不要拥挤 抢着占座
chéngzuò gōngjiāo bùyào yǒngjǐ qiǎngzhe zhàn zuò
Do not crowd together on public transit, grab your seat,
外出旅游不要乱扔垃圾乱写乱刻
wài chū lǚyóu yóu bù yào luàn rēng lā jī luàn xiě luàn kè
And do not throw trash on the ground when you go out, nor write or carve on things
优良的传统要发扬光大
yōuliáng de chuántǒng yào fāyángguāngdà
Good traditions should be passed on
破坏环境的行为真不像话
pòhuài huánjìng de xíngwéi zhēn bù xiànghuà
It’s unreasonable to destroy the environment
外出遛狗不要惊扰路人
wàichū liú gǒu bùyào jīngrǎo lùrén
Don’t let your dogs disturb others when you go out
做一个文明北京潮阳人
zuò yīgè wénmíng běijīng cháoyáng rén
Be a good Beijinger and Chaoyanger!
开车不要争道抢行
kāichē bùyào zhēng dào qiǎng xíng
Don’t have road rage when driving
注意前方的路
zhùyì qiánfāng de lù
And pay attention to the road ahead of you
更不能打开车窗随意抛物
gèng bùnéng dǎkāi chē chuāng suíyì pāowù
But don’t throw things out of your car window!
积极参与志愿服务
jījí cānyù zhìyuàn fúwù
Actively participate in volunteer service
公共资源要维护
gōnggòng zīyuán yào wéihù
And protect public resources
严格遵守法律法规
yángé zūnshǒu fǎlǜ fǎguī
Strictly abide by laws and regulations
千万要记住
qiān wàn yào jì zhù
And always remember:
上网不要传谣造谣
shàngwǎng bùyào chuán yáo zàoyáo
Never spread or create rumors online!
远离低俗图文
yuǎnlí dīsú tú wén
Stay away from vulgar images
看电视注意调小小音量
kàn diànshì zhùyì diào xiǎo xiǎo yīnliàng
Turn the volume down when watching TV
不要打扰他人
bùyào dǎrǎo tārén
So as not to disturb others
吃饭别眼大肚子小
chīfàn bié yǎn dà dùzi xiǎo
When eating, do not have eyes bigger than your stomach
杜绝铺张浪费
dùjué pūzhāng làngfèi
But put an end to extravagance and waste
文明与否明辨是非
wénmíng yǔ fǒu míngbiànshìfēi
Beijing civilized means distinguishing
分清错与对
fēnqīng cuò yǔ duì
Between right and wrong
优良的传统要发扬光大
yōuliáng de chuántǒng yào fāyángguāngdà
Good traditions should be passed on
破坏环境的行为真不像话
pòhuài huánjìng de xíngwéi zhēn bù xiànghuà
It’s unreasonable to destroy the environment
外出遛狗不要惊扰路人
wàichū liú gǒu bùyào jīngrǎo lùrén
Don’t let your dogs disturb others when you go out
做一个文明北京潮阳人
zuò yīgè wénmíng běijīng cháoyáng rén
Be a good Beijinger and Chaoyanger!
READ: "Banned" Rap Music Finds New Life in a Two Sessions Expat-Endorsed Propaganda Video
Images courtesy of Chaoyang Education
