Delivering on the promise of their full-length debut, Chinese rap crew
Higher Brothers made a critical breakthrough with their sophomore effort,
Five Stars. Whether referencing the perceived quality of this release or the number of stars on their homeland's flag, the album built a barrier-busting bridge between China and the West with its thrilling, cross-cultural hype music. Spitting speedy rhymes in Sichuanese, Mandarin, and their steadily improving English, the quartet -- MaSiWei, Psy.P, Melo, and DZKnow -- combined their lyrical skills with their explosive personalities, putting China first without pandering to a Western audience with diluted material. Here,
Higher Brothers offer fans a crash course in cultural exposure on their own uncompromised terms -- all while absorbing U.S. culture and relating their experiences -- whipping from China-centric references to Internet restrictions, chopsticks, and tofu to shout-outs to American exports like
Rihanna,
Tupac, and the NBA. Single "Gong Xi Fa Cai" is a prime example, a Chinese New Year anthem for the ages that ties traditional red packet money to the modern hustle, while "Flexing So Hard" presses pause on the typical hip-hop bragging to drop a distinctly cultural reminder that saving money, finding a girlfriend, and getting a job are the ultimate success. Of course, listeners who understand Mandarin will get more from these songs -- at one point they jab, "Excuse me can you speak English?/Turn into can you speak Chinese?" -- but with production this inspired and a gang of high-profile guests,
Five Stars breaks new ground by simply existing as-is for anyone willing to expand their horizons. Throwbacks to Golden Era production -- "16 Hours," "Open It Up," "Sunshine" -- imbue
Five Stars with warmth and familiarity, while late-2010s trap beats on menacing highlights "Flexing So Hard" and "Won't Believe" amplify the tension. Guests
JID,
Soulja Boy,
ScHoolboy Q, and
88Rising labelmates
NIKI and
Rich Brian all offer star turns, but it's
Ski Mask the Slump God and an inimitable
Denzel Curry on "One Punch Man" that take the crown. This abundance of players on
Five Stars creates a celebratory atmosphere that doesn't die down, a reflection of the triumphant energy bursting from this quartet on the rise. Having fun and enjoying life,
Higher Brothers take another big step as crossover pioneers, importing Chinese cultural pride with their dizzying skills while honoring the traditions of the land where hip-hop was born. ~ Neil Z. Yeung