Dong Baoshi,[1] stage name Gem, is a Chinese rapper from Changchun City, Jilin Province, currently residing in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. He gained popularity in 2019 with his song "Wild Wolf Disco".[2][3]
Biography
editOn July 20, 1986, Dong Baoshi was born in Changchun City, Jilin Province, China. During high school, he formed a rap group called "Chan" with his classmate Gao Yuran (Lianhua). While studying at university in Xi'an, he teamed up with Mai and Captain Yenan from the Red Flower Club to form the rap group X.A.E.R (Xi'an Rap Elite Regiment).[4]
In 2005, "Chan" joined forces with "Diamond Park" by Huan and Noodle, and "Light Dance" by Fly in Dog to create the rap group "Us Tribe". In 2007, they won the first "Sword and Tongue Freestyle Battle" in Changchun.
In 2008, as part of "Us Tribe", Dong Baoshi appeared on Hunan TV's variety show "Day Day Up" for a special segment on "Five City Rap Youths".[5] After graduating from university in 2010, he returned to Changchun and founded "Us Culture", the largest rap music label in Northeast China. In 2011, they released the album "Us Returns".
Later, Dong Baoshi worked as a manager at a local mall. In 2014, after his son was born, the family moved to his wife's hometown of Chengdu,[6] Sichuan Province. He tried various jobs like sales and driving before his wife supported him to pursue music full-time in 2017. He was also one of the 100 rappers who competed in the final of the music talent show "Rap of China".
In 2018, Dong Baoshi auditioned as a contestant for the music talent show "Rap of China" but didn't make it past the preliminary rounds. In 2019, he tried again and after performing "Wild Wolf Disco" in the revival round, he became an internet sensation. Different versions of "Wild Wolf Disco" spread widely on platforms like Douyin (TikTok).
In October, he released a new version of "Wild Wolf Disco" in collaboration with actor William Chan. On December 31, he was invited as a guest performer for the Jiangsu TV New Year's Eve concert.
In January 2020, Dong Baoshi performed for the first time on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala stage. Together with William Chan and Zhang Yixing, they performed a modified version of "Wild Wolf Disco" called "Chinese New Year Disco". He also announced that all earnings from "Wild Wolf Disco" would be donated to the families of medical workers in Wuhan affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.[7]
Analysis
editGem gave up all the fashionable ways and chose to use rap to express the role of "Old Uncle". The image he created is not only a loser in the post-industrial era, but also shows the typical humor and "cowardly" style of Northeastern people. Although he is rustic, he is very real. At the same time, as a musician, he has experienced the challenges of life and had to make compromises in order to pursue his ideals. The "Old Uncle" he created represents the people at the bottom of society who have experienced setbacks in places like Northeast China and Guangzhou.[8][9]
When he sang the song "Xiaobao", he showed his little-known warm side. He incorporated his personal experience and emotions into the creation of this song, and sang the unique charm of this song with his unique voice.
Personal life
editIn 2014, Gem's son was born. In 2015, because his wife was in poor health after giving birth, Gem and his family returned to his wife's hometown of Chengdu. After that, he drove an online taxi and sold faucets. He gradually adapted to life there and even learned the Chengdu dialect.[4]
References
edit- ^ "China News Service | Dong Baozhi: The "Elevator God" from Northeast China is a hard-working person". yule.sohu.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "NetEase Cloud Music". 网易云音乐. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Uncle and his "Wild Wolf Disco"". www.jiemian.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b "The middle-aged rebellion of "Uncle" Dong Baozhi in "Wild Wolf Disco"_Beijing News Electronic News". epaper.bjnews.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ 界面 (2019-09-25). ""Wild Wolf Disco" Uncle: Is it funny to chew a big pork elbow in front of the camera?". ent.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ "Wild Wolf Disco is popular, "Uncle" Dong Baozhi: Put my rhythm on my big kang - China News Weekly". www.inewsweek.cn. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ "Gem: Donate all copyright proceeds of "Wild Wolf Disco" to the families of medical staff in Wuhan". wappass.baidu.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ ""Wild Wolf Disco": The popularity of this "earthy and hilarious" hit song means the public's aesthetic taste has declined?". sd.ifeng.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ ""The Peak Showdown of Chinese Rap" is scheduled to be released on June 25th. Watch the top rappers reshape the rules of the rap industry!". ent.ifeng.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2024-06-23.