The Material Dimension of Chinese Hip-Hop: From Tangible Forms to Online Consumption

Despite the importance of the material extensions of culture, the role of materiality in the study of contemporary subcultures, youth affiliations and practices has been largely overlooked. This article explores how materiality can shape identities and foster subcultural communities using Chinese hip-hop as a prime case study that combines classical subcultural traits with ongoing online popularity. Drawing from online participant observation and 31 semi-structured interviews, this study identifies two aspects of materiality revolving around three key themes as an analytical backbone: the emotional impact of music artefacts, the dynamics of material exchanges within the community, and recurring motifs of materialism. By integrating insights from music sociology and contemporary youth studies, this article underscores the enduring relevance of tangible artefacts and physical engagement with individuals and technology, even within today’s increasingly digitised environments. This enhanced focus on materiality enables moving beyond binary classifications of subcultures and post subcultures by emphasising instead the centrality of observable cultural practices and the participants’ life experiences that revolve around them.