A Star is Born! Meet the Gen-Z Rapper from Xinjiang Who's Passing the Torch of Chinese Rap

“From eastside or westside, y' all better step aside!” The runaway hit Shuffle from rapper SHarK is gaining traction among audiences both at home and abroad with its clever lyrics and catchy beats. After sweeping to victory on the show The Rap of China 2025, the rising star from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is now embarking on his first national tour. In an interview with us, the 23-year-old rapper shared many lesser-known stories behind his iconic works and revealed aspects of Xinjiang you may not know about.