Hip-hop and rap has a rich history in Western society – bridging genres of blues, rock and roll, gospel, and jazz, modern rappers and artists have become larger-than-life icons that have defined musical success and the canon of contemporary music. However, up until the 1980s, China had lagged behind on the musical bandwagon. This could be due to the communist party's control of media outlets or just a general disconnect between Western musical trends. Regardless, the Chinese rap scene is in a formative state reminiscent of America's rap scene; much of Chinese hip-hop and rap is an outlet for individual struggles and is used to express differences in culture that would otherwise go unheard. For a culture of youth that have been systematically suppressed for generations, the expressive nature of hip-hop has quickly assimilated into contemporary Chinese society.
