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The latest cleanup started when PG One was forced to apologize for lewd lyrics, which critics said were insulting to women and encouraged the use of recreational drugs.
The official Xinhua news agency wrote that PG One “does not deserve the stage,” and that “we should say ‘no’ to whoever provides a platform for low-taste content.” Other official media and companies quickly followed suit; the rapper’s tracks were soon pulled from most online sites.
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GAI, who had been in third place on The Singer, broadcast by Hunan TV, was cut from the program last week with no reason given. Rapper Vava was hastily edited out of the same station’s flagship variety show “Happy Camp” because of her association with hip-hop culture.
Rapper Vava
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Last summer, a reality show called The Rap of China took the country by storm.
The show brought hip-hop music from the underground into the limelight and made it a multi-million dollar business. Several of the top contestants shot to stardom.
In the past few weeks, however, things took a surprising turn and the buzzing hip-hop scene was quickly muzzled.
It all started with PG One, one of the two rappers who won The Rap of China. He was accused of having an affair with a married celebrity.
The accusation, which was never substantiated, snowballed into a case not only against PG One, but against hip-hop music in general.