International hip-hop dancers, DJs, rappers and graffiti artists will gather in Shenzhen in March for the Fifth International Hip-hop Culture Festival.

    A series of events including a rap contest and a DJ contest will be held. The Listen Up Rap Performance Contest will be held in five cities: Beijing, Taipei, Kunming, Shanghai and Shenzhen before the final competition scheduled for March 26 in Shenzhen. Winners of the regionals will get a 4,000 yuan cash prize and the winner of the final will get a 30,000 yuan cash award.

    The festival is being organized by Hip-Hop Fusion, a Shenzhen-based company founded by Li Haiqin, a veteran Chinese hip-hop culture promoter. In his mid-30s, Li, a Shenzhen native, once worked at a State-owned company. But his life changed after traveling to more than 10 cities － from Shenzhen to Beijing － in 2006.

    “During my eight-month journey, I made lots of friends, who were passionate about hip-hop and were determined to achieve their dreams.”

    After returning to Shenzhen, Li quit his job and devoted himself to promoting hip-hop in China. “The good thing is that even without record deals and profits, Chinese rappers are passionate about music.”

    Hip-hop award ceremony

    Time: 8 p.m., March 25

    Venue: Gymnasium in Shenzhen Futian Sports Park, intersection of Fuqiang Road and Binhe Boulevard, Futian District (福田区滨河大道与福强路交汇处福田体育公园体育馆)

    Metro: Line 7, Shangsha Station (上沙站), Exit E

    Listen Up Rap Performance Contest

    SZ regional: March 24

    Venue: A8 Live, 2/F, A8 Music Building, intersection of Binhai Boulevard and Keyuan Road (滨海大道与科园路交汇处A8音乐大厦二楼A8 Live)

    Metro: Shekou Line, Keyuan Station (科苑站), Exit A

    SZ final: March 26

    Venue: Gymnasium in Shenzhen Futian Sports Park, intersection of Fuqiang Road and Binhe Boulevard, Futian District (福田区滨河大道与福强路交汇处福田体育公园体育馆)

    Metro: Line 7, Shangsha Station (上沙站), Exit E

    Scratch Master

    Championship

    Date: March 23

    Venue: Dream Work Theater, Futian Cultural Hall, Futian Cultural Plaza, 8 Jingtian Road, Futian District (福田区景田路8号福田文化广场福田文化馆梦工场剧场)

    Metro: Line 2, Lianhua West Station (莲花西站), Exit A

    Ticketing information and more events will be released by the organizer later.(Cao Zhen)