游牧Hip-Hop走向国际(Nomadic Hip-Hop goes international)

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Nomadic Hip-Hop goes international

By Anna Butler With the world premier of “Mongolian Bling: Adventures in Nomadic Hip-Hop” due next month on July 13, the international community is in for a surprise. The international release of a documentary about Mongolian culture and Mongolian hip-hop; yes, Mongolian hip-hop, is kicking off in Perth, Australia. “Mongolian Bling: Adventures in Nomadic Hip-Hop” reflects on youth, culture, community and the role of music in the struggle to accept modern lifestyles in a still very traditional country. The world knows Mongolia for its blue skies, rolling hills, camels and herdsmen and Chingis Khan (that’s Gengis Khan to those of you who are recently arrived in Mongolia). There are niches of the international community who know that Mongolian culture is vastly more than this; who have experienced Mongolia; who have seen the rich mix of traditional and modern. But the wider international community is in for a bit of a surprise. Not only does Mongolia have a thriving hip-hop scene but also a respect for traditional heritage and culture. Mongolia is becoming more visible and well known on a global level. Not just in business and economics as a rising resource rich star of Asia, but as a cultural rarity, where the traditional and modern are able to thrive together. Mongolian culture fascinates people. It is very different from sedentary cultures that many western countries developed from. But what will the international community think of Mongolian youth culture and Hip-hop? This is by no means a new phenomenon in Mongolian youth. Hip-hop has been in the blood of young Mongolians, and sometimes not-so-young Mongolians for over a decade. There is a strong connection with hip-hop music and culture in Ulaanbaatar. Outside Central Tower you can witness street dancing to hip-hop rhythms. Another visual expression of hip-hop, graffiti is also common in Ulaanbaatar. Witticism such as “Charlie says relax”, ugly tags and beautiful murals alike can be found not only in Ulaanbaatar, but also in Erdenet and even on seemingly randomly placed walls in the countryside. Hip-hop originates in America with roots in Hispanic and African American culture and oral tradition. It appeared in reaction to dance music in the 1970s and 80s and reflected a cross-cultural integration. There are some similarities between America and Mongolia. The frontier environment contrasted with the urban poverty; the widespread inequality. This specific social environment allows a genre like Hip-Hop to grow and flourish. Hip-hop has acted as a platform for the poor and underprivileged, especially in inner city areas, to voice their frustrations and passions. At the same time, hip-hop can represent the darker side of society, reflecting materialism, sexism and homophobia. What does this say about Mongolian youth culture? That it is similar to those across the world. The unique aspect of Mongolia Hip-Hop though, is the integration of Mongolian history, culture, traditional music, and Mongolian identity into the genre. The cultural phenomenon of hip-hop in Mongolia developed from the American styles of hip-hop into a very distinctively Mongolian style. The contrast and similarities between the melodious harmonies of traditional folk music and the harsh urban rhythms of hip-hop have been worked together by many artists. It is not only the adopted music style that has been influenced by youth Mongolian identity. In artist Gee’s videos we are presented with a contract of Modern hip-hop and the steppe, a very traditional image. Then an image of him against a back-drop of the urban sprawl of Ulaanbaatar, complete with power stations and ger areas. It is said that Mongolians are able to embrace other cultures, to adapt and be flexible; a skill taken from the days of being nomads where the rules of adapt or die were harsh realities. This cultural exchange can work both ways. Mongolian traditions and Mongolian culture are becoming better known across the world. From international exhibitions of Mongolian artists, such as J.Munkhtsetseg and N.Adiyabazar, to Mongolian gers that are used as accommodation in some of the world’s most well known music festivals; GlobalGathering and the Edinburgh Festival to name but two. Mongolia has a long way to go before it can share its own unique identity with the world and be accepted and understood. But the directors of “Mongolian Bling” are showing the way. http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php/community/88888940-community-top/7388-nomadic-hip-hop-goes-international-