Research and Other Investigations from China

Iron Mic Competition: Beijing Kickoff Party

The opening party for the China-wide Iron Mic competition kicked off this past weekend at Yugongyishan. The festivities also joined hands with Section Six, the longest-standing freestyle hip hop party in Beijing. Overall it was a great night and included an appearance by Damon Dash who is supposedly trying to break into the China market with some new bands and supposedly even here to poach some talent to take back to the America – all hearsay for now. The highlight of the evening was definitely MC Davey. He came out early for a few numbers, but truly shined when the freestyle battles ensued. Although most of the old school Beijing MCs were taking a seat to make room for some of the young bucks, it was obvious that MC Davey’s rhyming skills were some of the best in the house. He easily took the opening competition and got the crowd riled up at the beginning of every set. It’s going to be interesting to see where MC Davey goes in the future, and whether or not he could be a new hope for Beijing’s street hip hop to break into the wider market currently dominated by studio-groomed, pop-flavored hip hop. The attached video highlights some of MC Davey’s skills.

The MCs line up at the end of the opening Iron Mic freestyle battleSpazzo lays down a track during the Iron Mic kickoff party

MCs do battle at the Iron Mic kickoff partyMC Davey gets the crowd riled up at the Iron Mic kickoff party

Stadium Architecture South Africa World Cup 2010

Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa

First of all, congratulations to South Africa for hosting such an amazing World Cup. I think they did an exemplary job in the face of many obstacles and managed to pull off one of the most successful World Cups of all time. One of the host nation’s greatest assets was definitely the stadiums. The exterior of Soccer City in Johannesburg and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town were incredible, but the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban with it’s giant arch extending over the field proved to be the clear winner. Attached are a few of my favorite architectural shots from World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Soccer City, Johannesburg, South AfricaHolland verse Brazil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Soccer City, Johannesburg, South AfricaGreen Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa

INTRO Electronic Festival at Dystopian Industrial Park

INTRO Electronic Musical Festival in Beijing

Although I might not be the biggest fan of electronic dance music, the INTRO 2010 Electronic Music Festival help in D-Park was an amazing visual fest that could not be resisted. Brought to Beijing by the infamous Acupuncture Records, it is the largest outdoor electronic music festival in China. Kids were running wild. Next year I plan on doing a more in-depth review.

China Name Brand Innovation for the Washington Post

Washington Post clipping from "Lack of innovation is costing China money, prestige"

I got prime access to a Lenovo manufacturing factory for a Washington Post article on China’s efforts to create name-brand innovation and recognition globally. Although not as big as other assembly centers in Shanghai and Shenzhen, it still pumped out thousands of desktop computers on a daily basis.

Lenovo mottos adorn the walls of the factory in BeijingVisitors are given an introduction to Lenovo's history before the factory tour

The Lenovo plant in Beijing sports a massive automated storage facilityTeams of assemblers work around the clock at the Lenovo factory in Beijing

Duck Fight Goose and Booji: Shanghai’s New Indie Hope

San San, Duck Fight Goose and Booji RockerHan Han, Lead Singer for Duck Fight Goose

Two of my favorite rocker outfits are now working out of Shanghai. Duck Fight Goose, led by Miniless Records founder Han Han, and Booji are playing amazing concerts of their self-styled Death Ray Rock. Let it be known: Duck Fight Goose and Booji are officially killing it. Check out Dan Shapiro’s post on CNNGo for more information and other interesting facts.