Chinese rap superstar VAVA has signed to Warner Music China. The artist, often dubbed ‘The Queen of Rap’ or the ‘Rihanna of China’, has shot to prominence over the last couple of years with hits such as ‘My New Swag’, which gained international attention when it featured in the movie Crazy Rich Asians.
VAVA is the stage name of rapper and hip-hop artist Mao Yanqi, who is originally from the province of Sichuan in southern China. She started performing as a singer locally aged just 16 to help her family financially and then moved to Beijing when she was 18 to pursue a professional career in music.
Her popularity soared after she appeared on the first season of hip-hop talent show The Rap of China, performing in both Mandarin and Sichuan dialects and becoming the only female contestant to make it through to the final four.
She went on to closely collaborate with Shanghai-based hip-hop producer Double G on tracks including ‘Know My Style’, ‘My New Swag’, ‘Rap Star’ and ‘Shady Wit Me’. VAVA released her debut album, 21, in 2018 and has become a familiar face of Chinese hip-hop, as well as landing several high-profile deals with fashion houses.
VAVA says: “Signing with Warner Music is a dream. Creating music that I love is a life-long business for me, and I’m so honored that Warner Music Greater China is giving me a greater chance to do what I enjoy. I can’t wait to partner with this industry-leading team!”
Andy Ma, CEO, Warner Music China and EVP, Commercial and Business Development, Greater China, says: “VAVA’s an incredible artist who has been instrumental in developing hip-hop in China. This is a landmark signing for Warner Music and we think that VAVA has the potential to become a truly global star. Seeing artists such as VAVA collaborate with her peers from around the world makes you feel the Chinese music scene is really coming of age.”
