By Go Takayama

Go is a photographer, or to me, more of an adventurer and researcher. After adventures in various countries, he now wants to dive into the life and dreams of young people in China. We are fascinated by one of his current projects, ‘Go J-Fever’, a documentary photography of J-Fever’s life. This post is a start. We expect to see more in-depth and vivid stories (of course with pictures) from Go. Trust his stories can provide a good angle for our readers to understand what does it mean to pursue a dream as a youth in China. (Lisa Li)

J-Fever, or also known as 小老虎, is no different from any other growing number of youth in Beijing, who pursues his or her dream with a struggle in where the population and the cost of living are skyrocketing.  J-Fever possesses two previous titles from the Beijing’s freestyle rap contest. He has been invited to England for his performance as well as has produced an music album.

However, with the tiny size of hip-hop music industry in China, his dream to be succeeded as a freestyle hip-hop artist has never been smooth. Last year, because of the unpopular environment of hip-hop music in China, he thought he had to give it up.

Nevertheless, as he refers, Hu (tiger), one of his three Chinese characters in his artist’s name, to this Tiger year for “good luck,” he is up to something. To produce two music albums within this year is his New Year’s Resolution. He uses his spare time actively days and weekends to archive this goal while working as a full timer at SEEC, a Beijing-based publisher, and as a part-timer at Beijing local TV shows.

Like how J-Fever struggles to pursue his dream, countless youth in Beijing, face the harsh reality of sustaining their living in Beijing. Nevertheless, as J-Fever says, “I can do this (pursing his dream while working for not-ideal-job) because I love music.” For his six years of passion, J-Fever serves as an example of young Beijing-ers who stand to fight for their dream, and don’t give it up no matter what they face.

(You may click on the photos for high resolution.)

During his performance for 非常静距离, a TV program, J-Fever, (小老虎) , is shown on the monitors. Working as a part-timer, he performs four to five shows per month beside his full time job at a publisher in Beijing.

Including J-Fever, full-time and part-time employees for the TV show, 非常静距离, gather in a room to get ready for the show. J-Fever said that he hopes to gain his fame by performing for as many as TV shows.

J-Fever works on his new song in his friend house in Beijing. J-Fever encountered the culture and joy of Hip-Hop about six years ago. Now, it becomes his life-time goal.

“I respect my boss,” said J-Fever, whom he works under and share the office. J-Fever said that his boss has done so much for the country and society, but never too proud of himself. Working as a full-timer at SEEC, his pursue of the music business never been easy. He said, it’s time consuming. He works days and weekends.

J-Fever, right, and Stars Lee (李星宇), second from right, share their brotherhood as Stars Lee’s wife, 张萱, and other friends celebrate Stars Lee’s birthday in a restaurant. As a sound engineer and J-Fever’s college mate, Stars Lee helps him to produce his music.

J-Fever, left, and his fellow DJ, Tattoo, center, cheer up the scene as the guests ask them during the show.

The audiences practice their routine during the rehearsal for the TV show, 非常静距离. J-Fever’s freestyle rap performance begins at the show, and concludes at the end.

J-Fever and Timon from Germany exchange their ideas for their new song at Timon’s apartment in Beijing.  Only over a year J-Fever has known Timon, but “we are the best friend,” said he. With one another crew currently in France, the three plan to produce new album this year.

As their first part of the performance ends, J-Fever, right, DJ Tattoo, center, and Tattoo’s wife, take a break.

Guest bloger Go Takayama: Go pursues towards his own ethnic passion and lifetime goal of promoting the understanding of issues challenging Asian countries, by creating a Pan-Asian bridge between them and the U.S., and developing relationships among the people of China, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. His feeling is that we can achieve greater progress by tackling this as a multinational concern, or more effectively as “one nation.” Currently based in Beijing, China, he pursues his personal project. He is one of the participants for the last year’s Missouri Photo Workshop 61, and has received the Spirit of the Workshop Award. He has completed his internships with Patuxent Publishing Company in Columbia, Maryland (January - May, 09) and Evansville Courier and Press in Evansville, Ind., (August - December, 08). He possesses dual bachelor’s degrees in photojournalism and political science from Ohio University (2008).

Filed under: China Youthology News, Creative culture, Music, What's Up?, China youth culture, Creative culture, dream, Go Takayama, hip-hop, J-FEVER, MC