MV Weekly: Black Kirin, SMZB, L1STALLDO

Underground Chengdu hip hop collective has their story told, the Chinese take over the world in the Wuhan punk favorites’ latest, and an album tease from Changchun folk metal outfit – it’s time for our weekly music video roundup with fresh cuts from L1STALLDO, SMZB, and Black Kirin.

Underground rap trio, L1STALLDO, based out of Chengdu and made up of rappers D.John, Mao, and Killer Wang (who also provides many of the beats) has been tinkering on the edge of hiatus for some time. But looking at the group’s upcoming tour of China, it’s safe to say that won’t be happening any time soon. Which is good to hear, cause these cats are the real deal – genuine alternative hip hop. The collective has been keeping busy this summer shooting music video after music video – including the Guangzhou based ‘8:23’ spearheaded by D.John and ‘One Love’, where Killer Wang takes the reigns. However, it’s their 2015 tour promo video that seems to shed the most light on the group and their musical upbringing and their entry into the world of hip hop, using everything from interviews to archival footage. Really well done interview.

SMZB continue their 2016 tear – between massive tours both here and aboard and a killer new LP, the Wuhan based Celtic punk band has been having quite the year – especially considering it’s their 20^th year as a band. The MV for their title track, \’The Chinese Are Coming\’, further solidifies the band as one of greats – unafraid to poke the embers of racism, nationalism, and mass fear. Painting Chinese as bold monotone ‘bad seeds’ the band is commenting on the bigotry and treatment of Chinese are a massive terrorizing swarm, rather than on an individual basis. In a year as shitty as this one, it’s go to know someone is still fighting the good fight.

Folk metal outfit Black Kirin, who hail from Changchun, dialed it down on their latest, Xiao Shao, which some might consider a straight up acoustic folk album. Eliminating the band’s staple opera-style death metal, the instrumental album strips away the vocals and heavier aspects of band’s sound which they’ve cultivated since their incarnation in 2013. A teaser for that album (which you can snag here) is shown above, and it’s nothing more than that. Snippets from the album’s tracks, a look at the album design and packaging, which yes, does include Chinese tea. Nevertheless, it’s impressive – better yet, it’s professional and shows the kind of gung ho self promotion that sadly is lacking in most bands (or labels for that matter).