As the cover character of the second issue of Hypebeast China’s digital cover, Ma Siwei, who considers himself a “special weirdo”, is regarded by everyone as one of the leaders who lead Chinese Hip Hop from the local to overseas. From a series of early underground mixtape releases to a larger overseas stage with the Higher Brothers team, Ma Siwei’s initial hobby of “protecting” him has passed all the way. Since then, from the solo album “Humble Swag” to the latest mixtape “Special Weird” produced with his old and new friends, Ma Siwei began to tell his own story with ease. 16 new singles including “Eating Hot Pot” and “Papa is a Legend” in “Special Weird”, bringing the “Humble Swag” series the final chapter from “Instinct” – as Ma Siwei himself said: ” Talk regarding the things around me, talk regarding my current state. I think being able to reach this step is the state of making music that I have always wanted, without pressure, it is a kind of emotional release.”
Hypebeast
In the story of the second issue of the digital cover of Hypebeast China, Ma Siwei talked regarding his own creative process and the changes in the Chinese rap scene under the influence of the background of the times around the theme of “creation of the times”. He bluntly said that Hip Hop music has a profound influence on him: “I think Hip Hop made me see a bigger world.” This time, he also shared with readers of Hypebeast several Essentials must-have items that are of great significance in his music creation career, discussing his own backtracking on his growth background, his original intention and Topics such as persistence in love.
custom ear return
Hypebeast
Ma Siwei:This is one of my earphones. As a rapper, this is a must-have for me.
There is an “M” written on it, which is the beginning of the “M” of me – Ma Siwei. Speaking of why you choose green? It was when I was just regarding to release “Humble Swag”, which echoed the concept of “Green Horse”. My tour manager Peter helped me to do this back-to-ear. In the past, we used to perform wildly as rappers. We just “made it up” on the stage, and then listened to the monitor on the floor. If I mightn’t hear clearly, I would It will be very difficult. After learning some professional knowledge, I learned how important ear-back is to a singer.
This ear return is custom-made according to my cochlea, and it can fit on my ear completely, so that I can hear the music and accompaniment clearly. I will definitely bring this thing when I go out to perform.
Gerald Alston self-titled vinyl record
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Ma Siwei:The vinyl I share with you is from Gerald Alston. There is a song called “Stay A Little While” in it. We sampled this song and made the one of “7-11” in the album “Black Cab”. Version.
At that time, I loved to collect a lot of these old songs suitable for sampling on the Internet, and I liked listening to them myself. This (vinyl) was accidentally seen in a record store when we were out on tour, and I thought it was a coincidence, because I was very impressed with the cover, so I bought it back as a souvenir.
Ragdoll gifts from fans
Hypebeast
Ma Siwei:This doll was a gift from a fan when we Higher Brothers first officially toured in 2017. I remember that day was in Kunming, following the show we had dinner at a hotpot restaurant, and then my tour manager Peter came following me and brought me a doll, saying it was a gift from a fan. But I don’t know who gave it to me now, if you see it, you can claim it.
At that time, I thought it was very strange, and I wanted to say: “Why did you give me a doll?” But I still brought it back to Chengdu, because there were very few opportunities to receive such things before. After I got it, I put it in the house of a buddy of mine. He is nicknamed “Eye Gum”, and he is engaged in artistic creation. I used his pen to draw the hair of the doll, added a beard, and painted it. face, to make it appear more in line with our musical tonality. It may not look so cute, but it still feels cute to me.
Before I filmed the MV for “Daddy Is Legend” in “Extremely Weird”, I also took it out. If you love watching my funny videos before, you may also remember that once I took it to shoot a video, I said that my father was leaving, and then kicked him away, but it didn’t really kick him away. It has stayed with me to this day.
“Five Stars” tour peripheral flag
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Ma Siwei:This flag is a promotional accessory for our tour following we just released “Five Stars”. Probably none of the other three brothers, and I don’t know where I got this thing, but I keep it in my suitcase. Later, when I went home to clean up, I found that there was still such a thing in the corner, and now I think it is particularly commemorative.
Popular Jewelry Custom 88rising Necklace
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Ma Siwei:This is a necklace from 88rising, it was given to me by our boss Sean, it is very commemorative. The “88” above is a logo modified in the shape of a dragon, and it is also a memory and experience in my life.
It should be that a tour went to New York. There is a jewelry store in New York called Popular Jewelry. The owner is also a Chinese. He went to do business and started making jewelry very early. Then Sean ordered a chain for me there.
Shu embroidery
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Ma Siwei:This thing is called Shu embroidery, and there are two giant pandas on it. It should be that two years ago in my hometown——Pixian County, that is, the government of Pidu wanted to hold a literary and artistic creation competition, so they invited me to call everyone to participate in this activity, and then gave me this Shu embroidery. I think it is a very happy and proud thing to be recognized by my hometown.
Shu embroidery is a very traditional, ancient and powerful technique in Sichuan. Its special point lies in the embroidery process-generally, following you embroider a picture, there are broken lines left on the back, but this (Shu embroidery) has a complete picture on both sides, I think this is very interesting .
I put this Shu embroidery in the most conspicuous place in my studio. This thing can also tell everyone that Bashu and Chengdu people have always had the spirit of craftsmanship, just like we make music, we also have the spirit of craftsmanship.
3D printed dolls
Hypebeast
Ma Siwei:This is a 3D printed doll modeled in my image, given to me by a good friend of mine who is now working on 3D printing.
You will see that if I do not move it, it is like a piece of paper, because the light at that time was scanned during production, and it will have “self-light” following completion, which is equivalent to taking a picture Make a three-dimensional form.
In 2020, we put three green statues in a POP-UP of our AFGK in Chengdu, which was made of this doll model. At that time, we just started making AFGK clothes. When I saw this doll, I felt that it made the picture and me at that time more three-dimensional, and it was also “specially weird”.
WBJ Custom Dragon Warrior Necklace
Hypebeast
Ma Siwei:This is the Dragon Warrior necklace that custom jewelry company WBJ (warren b jewelry) helped me make. I chose this to share with you because “Dragon Fighter” is really the earliest one in my memory, and I still remember it very much. Favorite cartoon.
When I was still in kindergarten, I would watch “Dragon Fighter” on TV every day when I came home from school. I still remember very clearly that the first episode of it was regarding the main character—now named Xiao Du, but the previous version was called Watano, who made a clay figurine of “Dragon Fighter” by himself in class, and then the clay figurine suddenly He was “resurrected” and brought him to another world, allowing him to go through levels.
I think the cartoon “Dragon Fighter” is actually the same as some of my beliefs and feelings on the road of rap. “Dragon Fighter” will always protect Xiao Du, and I also feel that these things I believe in and the music I like can always protect me.