JACKZEBRA AND EVILGIANE SHARE NEW SINGLE “GIVENCHY”
jackzebra, the Chinese artist underground rap fans in the West have been flocking to, has collaborated with alternative super producer evilgiane for their new single “Givenchy” — out now. The track marks jackzebra’s debut for SURF GANG Records, the NYC-based artist collective and record label helmed by evilgiane. With a gritty music video was shot by SURF GANG’s Harrison in NYC, the Chengdu rapper delivers his signature airy auto-tune over atmospheric cloud-plugg production courtesy of evilgiane, Elipropperr and FleaDiamonds. It embodies his rise as an everyman voice of post-industrial alienation sweeping through disaffected youth in his hometown and around the world. As described by DAZED, jackzebra has spent years quietly building momentum on both sides of China’s internet firewall through his unprecedented merging of Mandarin lyrics with progressive Western sounds. Equal parts poet and performer, he synthesizes abstract references to traditional Chinese literature with vivid anecdotes of social ambivalence and economic anxiety. Having risen to the top of the booming 实感音乐 scene (also called shígǎn or experi-motional music), joining SURF GANG is a natural evolution for his innovative style. “I was just stunned,” evilgiane told The FADER of hearing Jackzebra’s music for the first time. “One minute, it’s rap music, but then there’s also indie-sounding stuff, and a bit of electronic stuff in there. He’s always keeping people on the edge with what he’s gonna release.”
Born Zhang Zeng Kai in Shanghai, China, jackzebra has been described by Pitchfork as the ever-relatable, young voice “speaking to the ennui of China’s urban youth.” After stumbling upon M.I.A’s “Paper Planes” he began using a black iPod nano 7 and social networks Bilibili and weibo to became an avid follower and collector of Western music. The subversive styles of artists like Lil B, Yung Lean, Drain Gang, and Black Kray pushed him to experiment with his own music, freestyling over beat tapes from producers Clams Casino and Horse Head. During the COVID lockdowns, jack began dropping singles on Bandcamp and SoundCloud back to back with fellow Chinese artists such as Miriamdola, Billionhappy, User116, and BloodzBoi. In 2021, he released the project 我和你的水晶之恋 (My Crystal Love with You), a deeply personal work that was written while he spent time in a mental hospital: “I was working so hard every day, I was depressed, and I just put all of this pressure and pain I was experiencing into my music.” In 2023, jack1888 mixtape and jackprblmtape garnered attention from mainstream music outlets like Bandcamp, and a steady stream of tapes 弓长张 (The bow is stretched), Young Powerful Run Mixtape, Mainland Characters, Never Give Up, and 拾 (Pickup) in 2024 showcased consistency and a deepening of jack’s commitment to pushing boundaries. That same year, jack cemented his upward trajectory after he dropped 王中王 (King of Kings)featuring Acid Souljah, Yung Frendi, and Harto Falión, and his song “你怎么知道” went viral. With the recent release of Above & Beyond, a 34-track tape written during a visit to the states, jackzebra is ready for the global stage this year.
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