WATCH: "Banned" Rap is Alive and Well in Police Safety Video

原创 Charles L. theBeijinger

Chinese police officers are among the select people in China allowed to wield firearms (alongside sports shooters and specified minority group hunters). And, now that rap music has been effectively banned from all media just a few weeks ago, Chinese public security forces have once again managed to do what others cannot.

The Lhasa train police recently released a 4-minute eight-second-long music video called "Return Home Safely" (平安回家 píng'ān huí jiā) that features three police officers using rap lyrics to share travel safety tips.

Coinciding with the oncoming Spring Festival holiday, the video depicts the police officers in full uniform including close-ups of their badges and guns.

True to the character of the genre, the "police rap" video contains numerous references in which the rappers are heard espousing their better qualities. The police officer says they offer a "year-round service" to which their "sincerity will never go out of style."

Upon taking into account the bulk of the lyrics, the song depicts the Spring Festival travel rush as being fraught with peril. The officers urge listeners to never let down their guard during their travels and bring up numerous references to thieves, swindlers, and safeguarding valuables.

Despite its part in a nationally-broadcast show and last year's top internet meme, rap music and hip-hop culture was banned from appearing in Chinese media by state censor State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television last month.

The ban followed a sensational scandal in which Rap of China winner PG One (Wang Hao) was implicated in having an affair with married celebrity Jacqueline Li, also known as Li Xiaolu from Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl. Besides accusations of adultery, PG One also came under fire for bawdy lyrics that had appeared in his earlier work.

The Chinese ban on rap music is conditional aimed to prevent "immoral" rap artists from receiving national attention. Sina reported that the ban "specifically requires that programs should not feature actors with tattoos, [or depict] hip-hop culture, sub-culture, and dispirited culture."

Chinese rap music has faced crackdowns before. In 2015, China banned some 120 rap songs from its internet for promoting "obscenity, violence, insubordination, or immorality" that included titles like "Fart" and "Don't Want to Go to School".

In turn, some Chinese rap artists have adopted nationalistic themes in their work to avoid a crackdown. Rap group CD Rev attacks foreign journalists in their song "This is China" while Xie Di rails against foreign interlopers in his song "Wack Laowai".

Want to rap like a Chinese police officer? Here are the lyrics to "Safe Return Home":

(chorus) The police are here to offer a year-round service, no matter the season

As it's nearing Spring Festival, we worry for you, and so, sound the alarm

Passengers hurrying about on a train platform

Valuables should always be in your possession

Seeing you travel home to your family's embrace with a wonderful disposition would put a rainbow in our heart

We'll put a smile on your face and an unburdened feeling

We'll light the night sky for you

Be emotionally moved by your returning home safely

When buying tickets, please don't corner yourself into an urgent situation

Purchasing tickets from approved channels is the safest method

Make a plan before departing

Avoid swindlers and delays, make your travels elegant uh

Don't reveal your valuables when purchasing tickets

Don't make it so you learn this after having lost money

Always protect your valuables

No need to rush before entering the station

No need to crowd or shout or worry

Don't be careless while waiting for the train

Safeguard your valuables

Don't despair if you encounter difficulties

The police will help you, aid you

This sincerity will never go out of style

Don't crowd at the inspection point

Keep your valuables inside your clothes

Don't give pickpockets any opportunities

No need to allow unnecessary worries

Don't let your guard down before the train departs

Avoid intentionally crowding with others

They just wouldn't understand

Keep your luggage within your line of sight

Keep your coat tightly fastened to avoid giving pickpockets any opportunity

Mid-way through the journey is a high-incident time for crimes

Guard your luggage, always keep in mind to never put your valuables upon the table

The slightest mistake may lead to thieves making off with your precious belongings

Try your best not to leave the train

Avoid close proximity with strangers

They will try to lure you with gambling games by attracting your attention

They will steal your money and information before silently leaving

Don't be greedy for cheap gains

Tickets on the floor may look beautiful

But those are all traps just waiting for you

When danger occurs, don't listen to rumors and falsehoods

Call 110 and alert the police

The people's police remind you to rest before setting out

Thieves are constantly watching you

It is a taboo to fall asleep in the train waiting room

Travellers and friends, please raise your vigilance

Photo: Miaopai.com

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