Zhou Yan, known as "GAI", is a Chinese rapper, singer, and songwriter. His stage name GAI is a childhood nickname meaning "lid" that he was given because of his bowl cut. In early days as an underground rapper, GAI was leading his music label GO$H!, a local label in Chongqing, China. He is one of the few Chinese rappers actively producing trap and Gangsta rap and helped create a type of Trap music called "C-Trap". His famous songs includes "Gangsta", "Empty Fort Strategy", "Hot Pot Soup". In 2017, GAI's music career began to boom after attending iQiyi's Hip-Hop reality showThe Rap of China, and winning the contest. In 2018, he married his girlfriend Wang Siran.
Early life
GAI was born in Yibin. His father was an accountant at a coal mine. At 10 years old his family moved to Weiyuan so his older sister could attend a better school. He became a gangster at age 13 due to school bullying; and he was put into a youth detention center at the age of 16. Due to stabbing the son of the director of the Local Tax Department during a gang fight, Gai's parents moved him to Chongqing to avoid further conflicts. He attempted to join the army but failed the health exam and instead attended Chongqing Water Resources and Electric Engineering College. After graduating college in Chongqing, Gai began to make a living by performing as a club singer, DJ or MC. Then he resigned from these positions to focus on his rap career.
Career
Underground Career As an underground rapper, GAI joined a Chongqing native gangsta rap group, "Brass Knuckle Gang". At this time, his song "Gangsta" , became a major hit in Chinese underground hip hop circle. The lyrics contain a great deal of controversy in terms of social values because of the description of the true gangster life in China. And the music video was removed by the Chinese government within days after the initial release. Although this music video was banned by Chinese government people still can watch it on youtube and the mv playtimes over 4 million times on Zhong TV GAI also participated in Sing! China, a music reality show on Zhejiang Television, by his real name, but was eliminated in the first round.
The Rap Of China
GAI participated The Rap of China in summer 2017. He was chosen by producer MC HotDog and Chang Chen-yue by singing his song Hot Pot Soup, and later joined their team. By collaborating with Jackson Wang, GAI reached the final stage, competing against other famous rappers such as AfterJourney, PG One and Jony J. Gai eventually tied the vote with PG One and the two shared the championship.
Music style
C-Trap
GAI's music is deeply influenced by his early life, Chinese history and Wuxia stories. He combined trap, Chinese Style Music and his dialect rapping forming the genre, which is widely known as "C-Trap". In his early rap life, his lyrics often describe the violence, sex, drugs and lives at the bottom part of Chinese society. When he started to transform from underground rapper to a mainstream rapper during The Rap of China in 2017, his choice of lyrics began to shift more into Chinese philosophy and Chinese culture. He was credited as an innovator and trailblazer of Chinese Hip-Hop music.
Local Cultural Influences
GAI often references Chongqing, and with Bridge has popularized the catchphrase "This is Fog City!" . For example, he has a song named "Chongqing Soul" . His music is notable for extensive use of his native Neijiang dialect, which is actually closer to Zigong dialect than Chongqing dialect. For example, his song "Itinerant Monk" 苦行僧 converts some Standard Mandarin lyrics to Sichuanese influenced Standard Chinese: Standard Mandarin: 但不知道我是谁 Sichuanese: 但不晓得我是哪个
”Gangsta" “Daydreamer" ”Coin Robbery " “Zhanmadao " “Ironman " ”Supermacy " “Your daddy me got upset " ”Yan Ru Yu " "W.I.$.H" "Empty Fort Strategy" "Trash Talk" "Paper " "Wandering Monk", a rap version of "Fake Monk" by Cui Jian "Rainbow " "Hot Pot Soup" "Hot Pot Soup " "Beware of Fire" "Blue Sea Laughter", a rap version of "Blue Sea Laughter" by Sam Hui "The Long River" with Damnshine & Bridge "Firefly" "The Great Wall"
EPs
"GAIn"
Featured in
I Wrote A Song And Got High on a Car Lovely Girl Guan Que Lou The Flow Of Jiang-Hu Chongqing Cypher Under The Setting Sun
Promotional singles
Guess Do I Guess King Advents Call For Dream How To Live Without Money
