CD Rev

Did You Know?

• CD Rev claims to have formed on 1 October 2015, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
• The group's diss track 'F Lil Pump' was a response to Lil Pump's song containing anti-Asian lyrics like 'ching chong'.
• The song 'Mr. Virus', released on 15 April 2020, was jointly praised by People's Daily, Ziguang Pavilion, and the Communist Youth League.

Background

CD Rev is a four-piece rap group from Chengdu, a city in southwestern China known for its growing American-style hip-hop scene. The members—Wang "Chuckie" Zixin, Li "Pissy" Yijie, Tan "N.O.G." Yunwen, and Luo "Roy" Jinhui—say they formed on 1 October 2015, China's National Day. The group is part of a series of nationalist media projects funded by tech entrepreneur Rao Jin, who also runs April Media, a site that produces Chinese-themed talks similar to TED. CD Rev cites American artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre as influences, but their lyrics show far more support for law enforcement than typical gangsta rap. The members see their music as a modern take on traditional Chinese patriotic education.

Music

CD Rev has released several singles, often with music videos, covering topics from China's disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea to the legacy of Mao Zedong. Their first single, 'The Force of Red', appeared in January 2016. Performed in English, it espouses pro-One China sentiments, attacks Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen, describes Western journalists as 'media punk ass white trash fuckers', and declares that 'the red king's coming back'. Group member Wang Zixin later called these lyrics 'a little extreme'. In June 2016, CD Rev released a single sponsored by the Communist Youth League, a government-backed Communist youth movement. The song, 'This is China', was also performed in English, aimed at Westerners to change their perceptions of China. Its lyrics trumpet Chinese achievements such as the work of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Tu Youyou and the ancient philosopher Confucius, and acknowledge problems like air pollution and political corruption while suggesting these have been exaggerated by foreign media. The song was characterized as 'cringe-worthy' and 'wooden'. Social media users noted the music video's similarity to an earlier video from South Korean rapper San E, and the video was removed due to copyright claims from San E's production company, Brand New Music. In May 2017, CD Rev released 'No THAAD', again sponsored by the Communist Youth League. Performed in a mix of English and Chinese, it criticizes the South Korean government of Park Geun-hye for authorizing the American THAAD missile defense system, which China had objected to. The lyrics refer to South Korea as China's 'little brother' and warn that 'things you're doing now are gonna rip you apart'. In December 2018, CD Rev released 'F Lil Pump', a diss track against American rapper Lil Pump, who had previewed a song containing anti-Asian lyrics such as 'ching chong' and 'they call me Yao Ming cause my eyes real low'. On 15 April 2020, CD Rev released a single named 'Mr. Virus', sponsored by the Communist Youth League. The song expresses support for Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, laughs at and insults Taiwan, and laughs at Western politicians and the media.