Jutoupi
| Jutoupi | |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 朱約信 |
| Pinyin | Zhū Yuēxìn (Mandarin) |
| Other name(s) | Zhu Yuexin, Jutopi |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Actor |
| Genre(s) | Mandopop, Cantopop |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Label(s) | Rock Records |
Jutoupi (sometimes Jutopi) is a Taiwanese pop artist who brought a new musical style to Asia in 1994.[1] Through his Funny Rap album series, Jutoupi focused on difficult topics, such as sex and political issues, through a mixture of Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English.[2] His subsequent switch to dance/aboriginal music mixes was not well received by his fan base.[2]
History
Jutoupi started his career as Zhu Yuexin.[2] Known as the "Bob Dylan of Taiwan," Jutoupi traveled around Taiwan to take part in social and political movements while accompanying himself on guitar.[2] In 1994, Jutoupi joined Rock Records,[2] a Taiwanese record label founded in 1980 by Sam and Johnny Duan. At Rock Records, Jutoupi changed his image by producing punk/rock style, fused with a range of Taiwanese and Western styles and adopting the confrontational name Jutoupi, a name that means pigheaded.[2]
Jutoupi's first record, Funny Rap I: You Sick Suck Nutz Psycho Mania Crazy taipei City (Rock Records/Mandala Works, Taiwan) (1994) was part of a set of three Funny Rap albums.[2] Jutoupi's Funny Rap focused on difficult topics, such as sex and political issues, through a mixture of Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English.[2] Funny Rap I was followed by Happy New Year (Mandala Works, Taiwan), ROC on Taiwan (Magic Stone, Taiwan), and Hexi de Yewan O A A (Rock Records/Magic Stone, Taiwan).[2] Hexi de Yewan represented a jump from rap music based on Taiwanese society to house music based on aborigines society.[2] Noted as the first mainstream album in Taiwan featuring aboriginal music, each song contains dance music mixed with music sampled from one tribe.[2] Jutoupi's subsequent switch to dance/aboriginal music mixes was not well received by his fan base.[2]