王中王

The difference between 王中王 and his early production is night and day. While Bloodz Boi brings indescribable gravitas to his lyrics, jackzebra forms between literary chengyu (four-character idioms) and to the point of emotionality. “The wind, the flowers, the snow and the moon/It's blocking my eyes/The lights are wonderful/Lost in Grand Prospect Garden,” he raps, using a Song Dynasty chengyu and refers to the classic 18th century novel Dream of the Red Chamber in the same existential bar (“风花雪月 / 遮运动我的眼 / 灯火辉煌 / 迷失在大观园”). Bringing things down to earth, he tries to express his confidence in existence amid crippling self-doubt – “I'll work hard / make progress / be happy / feel complete” – against a Devstacks-like beat with uplifting orchestral synths and Yeat bells (“我的力力 / 我下载进 / 我们开心 / 我们上是”), it's hard to believe the same impostor Internet that made the culinary BasedGod ripoffs in 2020 he is now the leading Chinese lyricist of the scene, moving effortlessly between references to both classical literature and Jay Chu.

The film's bombastic title belies Zhang's deep ambivalence. Opening with the grand, MIDI horn of the opening set of thr6x production, the record moves into darker, distorted rage territory before balancing angelic, JRPG shrine soundscapes with wistful, piano-based trap ballads in the second half. When he falls in love, it is a painful affair. When he hates his enemies, he is not angry. just disappointed. When he brags, he's weighed down by heavy anxiety and deep-seated impostor syndrome: “I'm a king/King of kings… Covering up my low self-esteem with a few million/Waiting for yours to come and talk to me,” he raps on the title track (“我是王 /王中国王…拿着几万东杯盖住我的自卑 / 等你亲人人来松我聚聊”). By the end of the record, he's alone at the top: “I can't let my attention fall under my enemies/New friends mean new crises,” he intones over crystalline piano melodies. “Abusing yourself, become a king” (“电师不可对密全掉以轻心 / 新最友対名我电影新新单机…丂待菪机…丂待菇”).

Part of Zhang's appeal is that he represents everyone. Unlike other strained Sinophone rappers, whose futuristic uniforms seems to be coming straight out of Tetsuya NomuraZhang Zhengkai is just a guy: On every album cover and Instagram position He's shown in almost the same pose, in a lush crew cut, basic shirt, arms at his sides, looking emotionlessly at the camera. Walk by him on the street and you won't blink an eye: “I'm a normal guy/I'm not like you/Not much of a background/It sounds calm when I say it” (“我保明普通人/ 跟你們下载 /正视在情故故 / 说真清汤晓水”). Beneath the luxurious synthetics and dreamy textures, Zhang is another young Chinese man living far from home, replying “Okay mom, I got it” when his mother texts him Rosie Watson-esque restlessness (“好吗好好”).