"Xie Di, Xie Di, I want to Diss your ......" Recently, the MV song "Thank God Xie Di" created by Sichuan Liangshan rapper Nomi became popular on the Internet. Because of the lyrics "I want to Diss you" homonym "I want Disney", as well as Nomi's own hip-hop costume and exaggerated expressions form a strong contrast with the old courtyard and fitness riding machine, the magical and abstract painting style soon triggered an online and offline carnival.
In Yulin Lane 7, Wuhou District, Chengdu City, where the MV was filmed, thousands of people go to the place every day to check in, and the local government has to organize personnel to maintain order and prevent disturbance to the people; As of April 10, Nomi's Douyin account @Nomi lodmemo has skyrocketed from 80,000 before the release of the MV to 2.01 million.
Why did you create this song? What was the filming process like? How did it develop after it became popular? How to catch the traffic? On the afternoon of April 10, the upstream news reporter interviewed Nomi about it.
Talking about the creative process: Diss is to show attitude, and the reason for riding a healthy machine is that Xie Di is also fit
Upstream News: Why do you want Diss Xie Di? Is it because he was eliminated by him for participating in "China's New Rap"?
Nomi: It's not about anger, I think it's better for everyone to be at peace. The main reason for writing this song is to show an attitude, to respond to him, this is a song for my grandfather, not a song for my grandmother. Because we rappers (rappers) say that attitude matters. (Note: On March 20 this year, Nomi was eliminated when she participated in the audition of "China's New Rap 2024", and judge Xie Di commented that Nomi "wants to take rap as a hobby.") Xie Di also said that he had swiped Nomi's "song for grandma" on Douyin, which made Nomi very angry, because the song "Apu's Thoughts" that Xie Di said was written by him to his grandfather. ）
Upstream News: What was the creative process like? Why did you choose to sit in the small park in Yulin Lane 7 and sit on a fitness riding machine?
Nomi: When I went back to the hotel after I was eliminated, I felt unwilling. Because I feel that I have something and talent, the more I think about it, the more angry I become, and I must write a song to express my attitude. So I found an accompanist, spent two or three days writing the lyrics, and a few days later found a friend to shoot the MV.
Looking for a place is actually a random one, and the rapper who saw Chengdu before said that he was on Yulin Road, so he chose to look for it on Yulin Road. Because Xie Di likes fitness, there was no fitness equipment around at that time, so I sat on the fitness equipment you said, Diss Xie Di means that I am also working out, and my muscles are more ruthless than yours.
Upstream News: Then why did you climb onto the shelf and make a hideous expression? Watch the video and there is a security guard next to you.
Nomi: I climbed up to that shelf because I thought it was cool, and I made that expression to show that I was fierce and serious. At that time, the security guards had been guarding there, probably because they were worried that it would be too high and too dangerous, and I told him that they would come down after a few minutes, but they were still very thoughtful. The shooting should have been around March 25, and it was sent out on March 26 after the editing.
Upstream News: Have you ever thought that this song would be so popular? Why do you think it will be popular?
Nomi: No, I didn't know it was going to be this hot at first. Later, I went to the comments, and they said that I was real, and my songs were very top-notch...... I think it's a kind of recognition that people have for me.
There are a lot of people who go to the filming location to check in, which I didn't expect, and everyone may think it's fun, but I don't think it's good to have a bad impact, so when I was at the airport on April 5, I posted a video "I hope you don't disturb the people".
Talking about the process of growing up: I have worked in electronics factories and construction sites, and I like to rap
Upstream News: After you became popular on the Internet, are the photos of you being punished for school, working at the construction site, plowing the land in the field, and asking for money from your mother who plays cards? Can you tell us about your upbringing?
Nomi: The photos are real. I was born in 1999 in Meigu County, Liangshan Prefecture, and I have two younger brothers and a younger sister at home. My parents are farmers, and my mother occasionally works in a supermarket in the county seat. But the part where my mother asks for money is actually my mother playing cards with her friends, and I watched from the side.
In 2017, after finishing high school, I went out to work in an electronics factory in Guangdong, and I went home in November and December every year. Find a new place to go at the beginning of the year. In 2021, I worked on a construction site in Wuhan.
Upstream News: When did you get into rap?
Nomi: In 2018, when "Hip Hop in China" came out, I learned what rap was and was very interested. At first, I watched the music videos of foreign black people, learned their movements and the way they spoke, and I thought it was cool and stylish.
Foreign words are better at saying what they want to say, but the disadvantage is that there are a lot of swear words and a little bit more violent. Compared with peace, domestic rap expresses friendship, love, and family affection more, and my personal understanding is this.
I didn't learn about their bad side, and in general it was "to get rid of the dross and take the essence".
Upstream News: Why did you choose to come to Chengdu for development?
Nomi: I came to Chengdu in July and August 2023, because Chengdu is a hip-hop town, and the rap culture is a little better, and many rap OGs (rap OG is the abbreviation of original gangster, which refers to a person who is a veteran, godfather, and other very influential figures in the rap circle, describing a rapper as very powerful and powerful) are all in this place, and I want to learn more from them.
Upstream News: I heard that you have slept on the street in Chengdu and have been taken in by other rappers?
Nomi: Yes, I couldn't find a place to sleep when I first came to Chengdu, so I slept in the park for one night and found a house later. I was also taken care of by a lot of friends when I came here, and I am very grateful to them.
Talking about creation: I will always write songs, and I am honored to contribute to the promotion of my hometown
Upstream News: When was "Apu's Missing" written?
Nomi: "Apu's Thoughts" was released on November 4 last year, the lyrics were written by me, and the accompaniment was mainly found online.
My grandfather passed away when I was in the fourth grade of elementary school, and when I came home from school, I heard firecrackers and music outside, and when I got home, I found him dead in bed. Grandpa was in his 70s when he died, and his health may have been a little poor.
My grandmother died when I was three or four years old, so I don't have much of an impression. When I was a child, my parents worked at home farming, planting corn and potatoes, and they were busy getting up early and staying up late. At this time, my grandfather would take me to herd sheep and go to his house to fry eggs for me. At that time, there was no trouble, just follow him, very happy!
Upstream news: Like "Apu's Thoughts" and "Dead Wood in Spring" were reprinted by CCTV Cultural Tourism and Liangshan Cultural Tourism to promote the beautiful scenery, what do you think?
Nomi: I'm still very happy to be reposted and reposted, because my songs can be heard by more people, and they have also been recognized by CCTV and Sichuan Media.
I don't know if I'm qualified enough, because Ding Zhen is very handsome, and I'm a songwriter. But I'm also very happy to be able to contribute a little bit to the promotion of my hometown. Over the years, Liangshan Prefecture and Meigu County have really changed a lot, thanks to the national policy, now our village is a newly built building, no longer the earthen house we lived in when I was a child.
Moreover, there is a high-speed direct road to Xichang in Meigu County recently, which makes it more convenient for villagers to go to the city, and they can also directly pull our vegetables and grains over and sell them.
Upstream News: You still have a lot of announcements recently, do you have any plans for the future?
Nomi: Recently, I went to Xi'an and Dalian to participate in performances, and this weekend I will go to Yangzhou to participate in the music festival. To be honest, although I was famous before, I never received so many invitations.
As for myself, I will continue to write songs, make my own works, and go a little further on the road of music. For the family, I think they could have a better life.
Upstream news reporter Li Wentao