24Herbs (廿四味) is a Hong Kong Hip Hop, Rap group which started from 2006. Its member has DorYuk, Drunk, Ghost Style, JBS, Kit and Phat. In March 2011, 24 Herbs officially released their second album “Bring It On”. But before start talking about their album, I would like to tell you more about 24Herbs.
The name of 24Herbs is came from the most local Cantonese herbal tea in Hong Kong, 24 flavors (廿四味), which you cannot find it in other countries. This can represent 24Herbs’ localness. In addition, 24 flavors is bitter, but it is good for the body. This just like the music of 24Herbs, you may not able to accept their music when you first listen to it, but when you really taste it, you will get something from it. Therefore, they named 24Herbs.
In 24Herbs, most of their members are grown up in foreign counties, so their music is mainly in both English and Cantonese. Moreover, their music tends to discuss on easy topics, like parties, girls etc. On the other hand, they will also criticize and comment on some social issues, like Hong Kong commercialistic culture, anti-drugs etc. However, they are not as cynical and extreme as LMF (another Hip Hop group in Hong Kong), so although they will express their anger, their song will not have much foul language.
From the latest album “Bring It On” from 24Herbs, you can find that their music is very “Hong Kong”, and we can easily identified Hong Kong cultural elements from the songs.
For example, in “Hong Kong Kowloon”, the chorus of this song is referenced to a classic song “Kowloon Hong Kong” by The Reynettes.
“Hong Kong Kowloon Hong Kong
This is our Hong Kong
It's the place for you”
I think many of us will feel familiar with this lyrics when listen to this chorus, also it calls out and bring us back to the beautiful childhood period.
On the other hand, we can see pictures of Hong Kong through the lyrics. What 24Herns are rapping is the life that Hong Kong people were living.
就由阿肥代表幫九龍人講獅子山下
係住香港嗰班勞煩你哋細心聽下
廣華出世 橫頭磡廿六座
癮君子好多 所以細個最愛到摩士踢波
無辦法忘記荔園令人回味
無辦法忘記第一次入麗宮睇戲
無辦法忘記九龍城上空嘅飛機
我愛蒲鴨寮街
更愛蒲MK
[…]
我淨係知道聖誕係人都可以行出馬路
想身體健康黃大仙保你平安
This song reflects Hong Kong people’s lives by mention from Lion Rock (獅子山) to Kwong Wah Hospital (廣華醫院), Morse Park(摩士公園), to places which already closed such as, Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park(荔園), Paris Theatre (麗宮戲院), Kai Tak Airport (啟德機場) etc. These are the places that many Hong Kong people builds their memories, especially the group of boys that live in Kowloon, who are now around 20~30 years old.
Other than sings out the Hong Kong collective memories, 24Herbs also sings out Hong Kong spirit in the song “Bring It On”.
No pain, no gain is part of the game
We fight, we fall we get back up again
Fight your every fight like it's your last
Cause nothin's less than the best feeling of winning
[…]
They can't stop you, You unstoppable
They can't top you, You untoppable
[…]
面幾多衝擊仲使前面幾多困難
聽住呢一隻歌我哋一直繼續前行
鬥志幾咁強橫 跨過重重阻攔
爭取勝利步伐唔會放慢
幾多衝擊同攻擊 面對壓力充斥
就算遇到失敗唔會咁易放棄 dub break
要珍惜 每次機會一直向前
成功即將在望就會展現在你眼前
夢想實現 只要你肯去實踐
努力唔會白費要知道自己想點
再高嘅山峰都可以爬到頂尖
呢一場賽事睇下由邊個領先
This song sings out that although we may always face harsh and insurmountable difficulties, by our insistence and relentless, we can overcome those challenges and reach the success finally. This tough, hard work ahead, can-do attitude and positive thinking is the Hong Kong spirit. We strive to make our dreams come true, even there is a problem, we still “bring it on”, because Hong Kong people won’t scared by it.
Other than those songs, I also like “Fashionista”, which reflect the Hong Kong fashion phenomenon, which Hong Kong people only purchase the fashion icon blindly, what the magazine promote, they go to buy it. This shows Hong Kong people love to follow steps by others.
Overall, 24Herbs sticks with their aim and made great local Hip Hop songs for us in their latest album “Bring It On”. By singing and rapping with those local Hong Kong’s elements, collective memories and phenomenon, we exhibits emotional realism and create resonance. This attracts a group of middle class and bilingual urban Hong Kong youth and adult to notice their style of local Hong Kong Hip Hop music.
Once has 24Herbs and you, Hong Kong’s Hip Hop is not dead.
By Cheng Hoi Yan, Cindy 10348442
Thanks Cindy for bringing a new topic, rap music (and the album of 24herbs) here. To be frank, I am not that into the “alternative music”, and knows very little about 24herbs (except their performance in Sammi’s concert). The profile of 24herbs in the beginning is therefore very useful, which provide us (or only me?) with some brief ideas about the image and style of the band.
ReplyDeleteYou have conducted a simple textual analysis of a few selected songs, making reference to the concepts of “collective memories”, “Hong Kong Spirit” and “Consumerism”. The lyrics cited are quite illustrative. In your opinion, what are the possible readings offered for audiences? In particular, what kinds of feelings or messages can you derive from these songs?
Also, I am quite interested in knowing about other elements (e.g, melody of the songs, stylistic arrangement, packaging method) of the band. What kinds of roles do they play in delivering the messages inherited in the lyrics? Do you recognize its major difference from the so called “mainstream” music?