#SHOWBIZ: Chinese rapper Lan Lao topples Jay Chou as most-streamed Mandarin singer
The Straits Times of Singapore reported yesterday that the 27-year-old, also known as Skai IsYourGod, released his second album, 'Ba Fang Lai Cai' (or 'Stacks From All Sides'), last year, which quickly went viral on mainland China's TikTok-like platform, Douyin.
Today, his fame has extended to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia.
Born in Huizhou, in China's southern Guangdong province, the rapper has said in interviews that he was significantly influenced by Cantonese culture while growing up.
After graduating from the Sichuan University of Media and Communications, he took on various odd jobs while pursuing music in his spare time.
His first notable creative appearance was a Douyin video promoting Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce.
His passion for rap stems from influences such as Chinese rapper Wang Yitai and global hip-hop stars Drake and Young Thug.
Lan Lao's songs resonate with those who are fed up with the daily grind and harbour dreams of striking it rich quickly.
'Da Zhan Hong Tu' (or 'Blueprint Supreme'), the biggest hit from his second album, is a prime example of his signature fusion of Cantonese folk music with American rap.
The track, which opens with a famous Cantonese opera duet by Hong Kong divas Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin, is currently trending in Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong, partly thanks to its music video being filmed in the city.
For a long time, rap was not viewed favourably in mainland China.
However, the rise of reality television has led to the genre's explosive popularity across the country.
In 2017, the Chinese rap competition show The Rap of China became a massive hit, garnering over 2.7 billion online views.
Lan Lao's songs have also proven popular with Taiwanese-American rapper OZI and K-pop star Jay Park, who have collaborated on a rendition of 'Blueprint Supreme'.
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