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Review

Masiwei of Higher Brothers drops second studio album Dark Horse

The Chinese Hip Hop icon is back in the game...and this time it’s personal

LiFTED | Leah Liu + Roger Yiu | 26 Feb 2021


Masiwei, a Chinese hip-hop icon and the leader of Hip Hop supergroup Higher Brothers, dropped his second solo album Dark Horse on February 14 via his label, 88rising, a leading global Asian artist collective. The album includes a total of 15 tracks with collaborations of various artists and producers such as W8VES’s Adawa and Dragon Pig, a contestant of the popular Hip Hop reality show The Rap of China.

After the great success of his first solo album, Prince Charming, last year, Masiwei pushed forth for his second solo challenge. The album continues in the style of the previous one, but the lyrics are more personal, realistic, intricate, and profound than ever before.

“It is about patience, passion, and enthusiasm,” Masiwei said in a press release. “The name Dark Horse comes from the fact that I want to be a strong and resilient person who can break through in different areas.”

Masiwei compares himself to the dark horse because he was not a rich or privileged boy from Chengdu, China but he was able to make a name for himself around the world using Hip Hop music. He uses his own life as an example to inspire people to be brave and overcome any difficulties they meet.

Underneath the camouflage of the macho and robust presentation, Dark Horse is also a modest love story as Masiwei generously unveils his love for his significant other with the heart-throbbing and intricate lyrical flow in ‘Little Match Girl.’ Masiwei has love on his mind on the final track, too, but this is a different kind of love. ‘Hip-Hop Saved My Life’ is an authentic and passionate statement by the Chengdu-based rapper broadcasting his love for Hip Hop and the paradisiacal life that is only granted by virtue of his perseverance and dedication to the music and lifestyle.

Masiwei’s album Dark Horse is now available on all streaming platforms.