Taking Chinese state propaganda to a new level, a Chinese Communist Party-linked rap group has launched a bilingual rap song online, protesting the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.

The three-minute music video by a nationalistic group calling themselves CD Rev appeared earlier this month, and has since gotten nearly 70,000 views online.

CD Rev, a group based in the south-central province of Sichuan, was formed in October 2015. Described by The Guardian as "a gangsta rap group with a catalogue of expletive-ridden songs that glorify sexual violence and homophobia", the four-member group has emerged as the go-to pop entity to help amplify China's nationalistic stance to audiences overseas.

(a.k.a. the weirdest thing ever, just saying)

In case you're wondering what THAAD is, it's essentially an anti-missile system that uses radar to track when a ballistic missile is launched and then intercepts and destroys the missile before it descends onto its target.

The deployment of THAAD has sparked strong protests in China, who has viewed it as a threat to its own military operations.

In a tone that sounds both patronising and dismissive, the rap referred to South Korea as "my lovely little neighbour boy" and warned the country that "you don't really want that little toy" as "your big brother is annoyed".

Here is the video:

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In case you can't finish the video (and we predict we would be right), you can find the lyrics here.

The use of rap and music fits into wishful thinking a strategy by the Communist Party of China to soften its image amid overseas criticisms of its assertive foreign policy agenda and high-handed domestic human-rights policy.

And it is actively developing "Propaganda with a Millenial Twist", which has created a booming market for digital media enthusiasts with a nationalist bent.

Here are some other music videos from CD Rev, who claim to represent the youth of China:

"This is China" (Jun 2016)

Laden with state ideology and wooden lyrics that one wouldn't usually hear coming from a rapper, the nationalist track wants to change Westerners’ and foreign media's stereotypes of China.

Wang Zixin (aka CHUCKIE) told Time Magazine, “I would like to tell Westerners that young people in China are not foolish”. “We know the good and bad in China. It is just that some problems cannot be solved immediately.”

The video, which was produced with help from a studio run by the Communist Youth League of China, showcases the modern side of China — electronic payments by mobile phones, scientific achievements including KBBF crystals used in laser technology and the discovery of the malaria treatment aremisinin by Nobel Prize–winning scientist Tu Youyou, and also strict gun control that ensures social stability.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) it ran into a copyright infringement controversy, and some videos of it were removed from YouTube. However, there are still other versions available online.

"South China Sea" (undated)

[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2017/05/CD-Rev_SCS-1.mp4"][/video]

Source: Weibo

This bilingual track claims to represent the strength of the Post-90s generation in China and their views on the sovereignty of the South China Sea, proudly pronouncing "It's our time, so let my Great China shine!"

Between images of vibrant youths enjoying their lifes in clubs and malls, there are also scenes of fighter aircraft, tanks and navy ships showing off Chinese military power.

As if the video doesn't inspire enough thought and wonder, the song also comes with the following lyrics for you to chew on:

South China Sea

Why a China in the middle?

Cuz we own it

Young people in China

We are not extreme

We don't take it for granted

We stand by the country

for we are Chinese

We beat the enemies down

If they want to take our sea

Go to hell now

"The Force of Red" (Jan 2016)

The breakout track that garnered 7 million hits online, the rap song contained a vicious attack on Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female president, and also expletives denouncing foreign media (“media punk ass white trash”).

In a BBC interview last year, the lyricist Li Yijie (aka PISSY — yes, it's a real name) summed up their style this way: "If it rhymes, it's ok" and "to put the enemy down, I can use a lot of words to shame them."

Despite being painted as an ultra-nationalistic group, and often portrayed negatively in foreign media, it seems that the members have no intention to moderate their image.

Clearly enjoying their newfound fame, Wang told the Chinese magazine Global People (《环球人物》): "We must be the first domestic pop idol group to get the attention of BBC, Time magazine and the UK Guardian newspaper."

Oh-kayyyy.

Top photo adapted from YouTube video

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