Melo & Higher Brothers
Old Master
Album · Rap · 2020 · 88rising Music
Chengdu rapper Melo knows the grind doesn’t stop just because of a payday, language barrier, or time zone. Success with Chinese hip-hoppers Higher Brothers allowed him to quit his job at the zoo and pursue his rap dream full-time. Melo’s 88rising solo album Old Master confirms that he’s one of the country’s premier lyricists. “In Chinese, ‘master’ is pronounced sifu,” he tells Apple Music. “It’s a person who is more experienced, like an OG, a professional.” Throughout, Melo asserts his power, thanking haters for the motivation and digging into his past to inform his future. Old Master slathers his unique sinister flow over production that ranges from grimy trap (“Daili,” “Yes Sir”) to boom-bap (“Born Like This,” “That Kid”). There’s even an uptempo pop track (“Talk Less and Feel More”) with AUGUST 08 and Barney Bones. “I want people who listen to this album to believe in themselves,” Melo says. “I want to remind them that confidence is key to everything. Work hard and get closer to your dreams.” Melo walked Apple Music through Old Master track by track.
Welcome to My World (feat. Psy.P)
“I want the song to be an introduction to my world for listeners. It’s a place where only the strong survive. No mercy. My world is a lot like a jungle. It’s very competitive and you have to work hard to get to your goals.”
Born Like This
“It’s mainly a response to some haters’ comments online. It’s more like a self-mockery song. People are like, ‘You were born like this, with this voice, it’s a disadvantage.’ But I’m also born like this, born with advantages. So everything has double sides. I don’t really care about negative comments. They’re more like motivation that makes me want to work harder.”
Xiangbalao
“‘Xiangbalao’ means people from the countryside that come to the big cities. It’s a song mainly about my story. I came from a small city in China, far away from Chengdu. The song is about ‘I started from the bottom and now I’m here.’”
Talk Less and Feel More (feat. AUGUST 08, Barney Bones, and Psy.P)
“It’s about the first time I came to America to tour. It’s a love song. Right now, people only care about social media and live in this unrealistic world online and care less about the real world. People should talk less and feel more. When I feel excited, I make a boom-bap song. When I feel low, I make this kind of song.”
Daili (feat. KnowKnow)
“This was a collaboration with KnowKnow. We have separate fashion brands. He has Mr. Enjoy Da Money, and I have Orange Dragon. ‘Daili,’ in Chinese, means ‘agent.’ It’s a metaphor. We want to say that we have a lot of agents in China who sell our clothes for us. It’s also a metaphor about our music: that we have a lot of agents, meaning our fans, to spread our music all over the world.”
Yes Sir (feat. Lil Shin)
“The inspiration came from an old Chinese movie. The story is about the army. People were struggling because it was so hard to do the army work, but when the leaders say something, no matter how hard it is, they will say ‘Yes, sir’ and do it. That’s my attitude in terms of working and making music.”
That Kid (feat. Mengzi)
“It’s similar to ‘Xiangbalao.’ The original name of the song was 'Third Child in the Family.' The first one in the family usually works hard. The second one usually has good grades. The third one is usually the most neglected one. I made this song to say that you can start at the bottom and get to the top if you work hard. Growing up, I saw so many people are like the third kids in their family, so I wrote this song to tell that story.”
Offside
“‘Offside’ is mainly about breaking rules. There are so many haters’ comments in China talking about ‘Higher Brothers are rising so fast. They are breaking the rules.’ Even though we break rules, it’s because we run faster than them and make better music.”
Old Fashion (feat. Masiwei)
“’Old Fashion’ is named after the Old-Fashioned cocktail. My tour manager recommended it to me when I was touring in the US. ‘Old Fashion’ also represents the vibe of my album. Old fashion can still be a trend at the present. Classic never goes out of style.”
Remember (feat. Psy.P)
“It’s a song I made two years ago and remade for the album. I wanted to remind myself about my original intention and passion in music.”
Wish You Were Here
“It’s like a letter for my grandpa who passed away when I was just starting to make music. I want him to see where I am. I hope he is happy when he sees me on stage. This song is dedicated to him.”
I Did
“It’s a song, again, for my haters. That I will prove myself by working hard. Whatever I want, I’ll get it. My inspiration comes from both haters and fans. My fans support me with their actions, and haters will hate by commenting. They both motivate me. Overseas, we have more positive comments, but in China, there are a lot of haters’ comments saying that we are ‘fake bananas’ because we signed with an overseas label. They think we are kissing ass for speaking English and making money, or that we make music just to attract foreign views. But to us, we just want to make good music.”
Welcome to My World (feat. Psy.P)
“I want the song to be an introduction to my world for listeners. It’s a place where only the strong survive. No mercy. My world is a lot like a jungle. It’s very competitive and you have to work hard to get to your goals.”
Born Like This
“It’s mainly a response to some haters’ comments online. It’s more like a self-mockery song. People are like, ‘You were born like this, with this voice, it’s a disadvantage.’ But I’m also born like this, born with advantages. So everything has double sides. I don’t really care about negative comments. They’re more like motivation that makes me want to work harder.”
Xiangbalao
“‘Xiangbalao’ means people from the countryside that come to the big cities. It’s a song mainly about my story. I came from a small city in China, far away from Chengdu. The song is about ‘I started from the bottom and now I’m here.’”
Talk Less and Feel More (feat. AUGUST 08, Barney Bones, and Psy.P)
“It’s about the first time I came to America to tour. It’s a love song. Right now, people only care about social media and live in this unrealistic world online and care less about the real world. People should talk less and feel more. When I feel excited, I make a boom-bap song. When I feel low, I make this kind of song.”
Daili (feat. KnowKnow)
“This was a collaboration with KnowKnow. We have separate fashion brands. He has Mr. Enjoy Da Money, and I have Orange Dragon. ‘Daili,’ in Chinese, means ‘agent.’ It’s a metaphor. We want to say that we have a lot of agents in China who sell our clothes for us. It’s also a metaphor about our music: that we have a lot of agents, meaning our fans, to spread our music all over the world.”
Yes Sir (feat. Lil Shin)
“The inspiration came from an old Chinese movie. The story is about the army. People were struggling because it was so hard to do the army work, but when the leaders say something, no matter how hard it is, they will say ‘Yes, sir’ and do it. That’s my attitude in terms of working and making music.”
That Kid (feat. Mengzi)
“It’s similar to ‘Xiangbalao.’ The original name of the song was 'Third Child in the Family.' The first one in the family usually works hard. The second one usually has good grades. The third one is usually the most neglected one. I made this song to say that you can start at the bottom and get to the top if you work hard. Growing up, I saw so many people are like the third kids in their family, so I wrote this song to tell that story.”
Offside
“‘Offside’ is mainly about breaking rules. There are so many haters’ comments in China talking about ‘Higher Brothers are rising so fast. They are breaking the rules.’ Even though we break rules, it’s because we run faster than them and make better music.”
Old Fashion (feat. Masiwei)
“’Old Fashion’ is named after the Old-Fashioned cocktail. My tour manager recommended it to me when I was touring in the US. ‘Old Fashion’ also represents the vibe of my album. Old fashion can still be a trend at the present. Classic never goes out of style.”
Remember (feat. Psy.P)
“It’s a song I made two years ago and remade for the album. I wanted to remind myself about my original intention and passion in music.”
Wish You Were Here
“It’s like a letter for my grandpa who passed away when I was just starting to make music. I want him to see where I am. I hope he is happy when he sees me on stage. This song is dedicated to him.”
I Did
“It’s a song, again, for my haters. That I will prove myself by working hard. Whatever I want, I’ll get it. My inspiration comes from both haters and fans. My fans support me with their actions, and haters will hate by commenting. They both motivate me. Overseas, we have more positive comments, but in China, there are a lot of haters’ comments saying that we are ‘fake bananas’ because we signed with an overseas label. They think we are kissing ass for speaking English and making money, or that we make music just to attract foreign views. But to us, we just want to make good music.”
Old Master
Melo & Higher Brothers
Chengdu rapper Melo knows the grind doesn’t stop just because of a payday, language barrier, or time zone. Success with Chinese hip-hoppers Higher Brothers allowed him to quit his job at the zoo and pursue his rap dream full-time. Melo’s 88rising solo album Old Master confirms that he’s one of the country’s premier lyricists. “In Chinese, ‘master’ is pronounced sifu,” he tells Apple Music. “It’s a person who is more experienced, like an OG, a professional.” Throughout, Melo asserts his power, thanking haters for the motivation and digging into his past to inform his future. Old Master slathers his unique sinister flow over production that ranges from grimy trap (“Daili,” “Yes Sir”) to boom-bap (“Born Like This,” “That Kid”). There’s even an uptempo pop track (“Talk Less and Feel More”) with AUGUST 08 and Barney Bones. “I want people who listen to this album to believe in themselves,” Melo says. “I want to remind them that confidence is key to everything. Work hard and get closer to your dreams.” Melo walked Apple Music through Old Master track by track.
Welcome to My World (feat. Psy.P)
“I want the song to be an introduction to my world for listeners. It’s a place where only the strong survive. No mercy. My world is a lot like a jungle. It’s very competitive and you have to work hard to get to your goals.”
Born Like This
“It’s mainly a response to some haters’ comments online. It’s more like a self-mockery song. People are like, ‘You were born like this, with this voice, it’s a disadvantage.’ But I’m also born like this, born with advantages. So everything has double sides. I don’t really care about negative comments. They’re more like motivation that makes me want to work harder.”
Xiangbalao
“‘Xiangbalao’ means people from the countryside that come to the big cities. It’s a song mainly about my story. I came from a small city in China, far away from Chengdu. The song is about ‘I started from the bottom and now I’m here.’”
Talk Less and Feel More (feat. AUGUST 08, Barney Bones, and Psy.P)
“It’s about the first time I came to America to tour. It’s a love song. Right now, people only care about social media and live in this unrealistic world online and care less about the real world. People should talk less and feel more. When I feel excited, I make a boom-bap song. When I feel low, I make this kind of song.”
Daili (feat. KnowKnow)
“This was a collaboration with KnowKnow. We have separate fashion brands. He has Mr. Enjoy Da Money, and I have Orange Dragon. ‘Daili,’ in Chinese, means ‘agent.’ It’s a metaphor. We want to say that we have a lot of agents in China who sell our clothes for us. It’s also a metaphor about our music: that we have a lot of agents, meaning our fans, to spread our music all over the world.”
Yes Sir (feat. Lil Shin)
“The inspiration came from an old Chinese movie. The story is about the army. People were struggling because it was so hard to do the army work, but when the leaders say something, no matter how hard it is, they will say ‘Yes, sir’ and do it. That’s my attitude in terms of working and making music.”
That Kid (feat. Mengzi)
“It’s similar to ‘Xiangbalao.’ The original name of the song was 'Third Child in the Family.' The first one in the family usually works hard. The second one usually has good grades. The third one is usually the most neglected one. I made this song to say that you can start at the bottom and get to the top if you work hard. Growing up, I saw so many people are like the third kids in their family, so I wrote this song to tell that story.”
Offside
“‘Offside’ is mainly about breaking rules. There are so many haters’ comments in China talking about ‘Higher Brothers are rising so fast. They are breaking the rules.’ Even though we break rules, it’s because we run faster than them and make better music.”
Old Fashion (feat. Masiwei)
“’Old Fashion’ is named after the Old-Fashioned cocktail. My tour manager recommended it to me when I was touring in the US. ‘Old Fashion’ also represents the vibe of my album. Old fashion can still be a trend at the present. Classic never goes out of style.”
Remember (feat. Psy.P)
“It’s a song I made two years ago and remade for the album. I wanted to remind myself about my original intention and passion in music.”
Wish You Were Here
“It’s like a letter for my grandpa who passed away when I was just starting to make music. I want him to see where I am. I hope he is happy when he sees me on stage. This song is dedicated to him.”
I Did
“It’s a song, again, for my haters. That I will prove myself by working hard. Whatever I want, I’ll get it. My inspiration comes from both haters and fans. My fans support me with their actions, and haters will hate by commenting. They both motivate me. Overseas, we have more positive comments, but in China, there are a lot of haters’ comments saying that we are ‘fake bananas’ because we signed with an overseas label. They think we are kissing ass for speaking English and making money, or that we make music just to attract foreign views. But to us, we just want to make good music.”
Welcome to My World (feat. Psy.P)
“I want the song to be an introduction to my world for listeners. It’s a place where only the strong survive. No mercy. My world is a lot like a jungle. It’s very competitive and you have to work hard to get to your goals.”
Born Like This
“It’s mainly a response to some haters’ comments online. It’s more like a self-mockery song. People are like, ‘You were born like this, with this voice, it’s a disadvantage.’ But I’m also born like this, born with advantages. So everything has double sides. I don’t really care about negative comments. They’re more like motivation that makes me want to work harder.”
Xiangbalao
“‘Xiangbalao’ means people from the countryside that come to the big cities. It’s a song mainly about my story. I came from a small city in China, far away from Chengdu. The song is about ‘I started from the bottom and now I’m here.’”
Talk Less and Feel More (feat. AUGUST 08, Barney Bones, and Psy.P)
“It’s about the first time I came to America to tour. It’s a love song. Right now, people only care about social media and live in this unrealistic world online and care less about the real world. People should talk less and feel more. When I feel excited, I make a boom-bap song. When I feel low, I make this kind of song.”
Daili (feat. KnowKnow)
“This was a collaboration with KnowKnow. We have separate fashion brands. He has Mr. Enjoy Da Money, and I have Orange Dragon. ‘Daili,’ in Chinese, means ‘agent.’ It’s a metaphor. We want to say that we have a lot of agents in China who sell our clothes for us. It’s also a metaphor about our music: that we have a lot of agents, meaning our fans, to spread our music all over the world.”
Yes Sir (feat. Lil Shin)
“The inspiration came from an old Chinese movie. The story is about the army. People were struggling because it was so hard to do the army work, but when the leaders say something, no matter how hard it is, they will say ‘Yes, sir’ and do it. That’s my attitude in terms of working and making music.”
That Kid (feat. Mengzi)
“It’s similar to ‘Xiangbalao.’ The original name of the song was 'Third Child in the Family.' The first one in the family usually works hard. The second one usually has good grades. The third one is usually the most neglected one. I made this song to say that you can start at the bottom and get to the top if you work hard. Growing up, I saw so many people are like the third kids in their family, so I wrote this song to tell that story.”
Offside
“‘Offside’ is mainly about breaking rules. There are so many haters’ comments in China talking about ‘Higher Brothers are rising so fast. They are breaking the rules.’ Even though we break rules, it’s because we run faster than them and make better music.”
Old Fashion (feat. Masiwei)
“’Old Fashion’ is named after the Old-Fashioned cocktail. My tour manager recommended it to me when I was touring in the US. ‘Old Fashion’ also represents the vibe of my album. Old fashion can still be a trend at the present. Classic never goes out of style.”
Remember (feat. Psy.P)
“It’s a song I made two years ago and remade for the album. I wanted to remind myself about my original intention and passion in music.”
Wish You Were Here
“It’s like a letter for my grandpa who passed away when I was just starting to make music. I want him to see where I am. I hope he is happy when he sees me on stage. This song is dedicated to him.”
I Did
“It’s a song, again, for my haters. That I will prove myself by working hard. Whatever I want, I’ll get it. My inspiration comes from both haters and fans. My fans support me with their actions, and haters will hate by commenting. They both motivate me. Overseas, we have more positive comments, but in China, there are a lot of haters’ comments saying that we are ‘fake bananas’ because we signed with an overseas label. They think we are kissing ass for speaking English and making money, or that we make music just to attract foreign views. But to us, we just want to make good music.”
