The distinction between 王中王 and his early output is night time and day. Whereas Bloodz Boi wields plainspoken poignancy in his lyrics, jackzebra modulates between literary chengyu (four-character idioms) and to-the-point emotionality. “The wind, flowers, snow, and moon/Block my eyes/The lights are splendid/Misplaced within the Grand Prospect Backyard,” he raps, utilizing a Tune Dynasty chengyu and referencing the basic 18th-century novel Dream of the Purple Chamber in the identical existential bar (“风花雪月 / 遮住了我的眼 / 灯火辉煌 / 迷失在大观园”). Bringing issues again right down to earth, he tries to talk confidence into existence amid crippling self-doubt—“I’ll work onerous/I’ll make progress/I might be blissful/I really feel fulfilled”—in opposition to a Devstacks-like beat with uplifting orchestral synths and Yeat bells (“我会努力 / 我会上进 / 我很开心 / 我很满意”). It’s onerous to imagine the identical web trickster that made culinary BasedGod ripoffs in 2020 is now the scene’s foremost Chinese language lyricist, shifting effortlessly between references to each basic literature and Jay Chou.
The tape’s bombastic title belies Zhang’s deep ambivalence. Starting with the grandiose, MIDI-horn regalia of the thr6x-produced opening run, the report strikes into darker, distorted rage territory earlier than balancing angelic, JRPG sanctuary soundscapes with unhappy, piano-based entice ballads via the second half. When he falls in love, it’s a painful affair. When he disses his haters, he’s not indignant; simply disenchanted. When he boasts, it’s weighted by heavy-is-the-crown angst and deep-seated impostor syndrome: “I’m king/King of kings… Protecting up my low vanity with a number of million/Ready to your people to return and discuss to me,” he raps on the title observe (“我是王 / 王中的王…拿着几百万掩盖住我的自卑 / 等你的亲人们来找我聊聊”). By the top of the report, he’s alone on the prime: “Can’t let my guard down round my enemies/New pals imply new crises,” he intones above crystalline piano melodies. “Abuse your self, change into a king” (“永远不能对敌人掉以轻心 / 新的朋友对于我等于新的危机…虐待自己变成王”).
A part of Zhang’s attraction is that he represents the everyman. In contrast to different drain-minded Sinophone rappers, whose futuristic outfits appear to return straight out of Tetsuya Nomura’s sketchbook, Zhang Zheng Kai is just a few man: On every album cowl and Instagram submit he seems in almost the identical pose, with an overgrown crew minimize, a fundamental shirt, fingers at his facet, staring emotionlessly into the digicam. Stroll by him on the road and also you wouldn’t blink an eye fixed: “I’m a daily man/I’m not such as you guys/Not a lot of a backstory/Sounds bland once I say it” (“我是个普通人 / 跟你们不一样 / 没什么背景故事 / 说出来清汤寡水”). Beneath the luxuriant synths and dreamy textures, Zhang is one other younger Chinese language man residing removed from residence, replying “Okay ma, acquired it” when his mom texts with Rosie Watson-esque concern (“好吗好的”).
