One day, you opened TikTok as usual, and a cat started singing to you, "God bless you with mountains of gold and silver." You didn't understand what it meant, and when you opened the comments section, all you saw were repetitions of "God bless you with mountains of gold and silver. God teach you not interrupt dragon-tiger fight. (老天保佑金山银山前路有 老天教唆别管江湖龙虎斗)"
(Source: Internet)
You scrolled to the next video, where a beauty blogger was singing while doing her makeup, "I'm a 'bie lao zai' (a dialect term with a humorous connotation meaning non-local), I like to wear jade pendants around my neck." You wondered if you had accidentally followed the wrong account, but the next video was AI versions of Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and other top famous rappers, singing "Lai Cai" (which means "bring in wealth").
(Source: Internet)
How did these mysterious Eastern rap songs suddenly become a sensation overseas? In fact, these catchy lyrics come from two works by a Huizhou rapper named "揽佬 SKAI ISYOURGOD": "Ba Fang Lai Cai (八方来财 Wealth from all directions)" and "Ying Guo (因果 Karma)." These two songs feature simple and highly repetitive melodies, paired with a strong rhythm and layered with Korean song samples, which happen to align with the tastes of overseas listeners. New listeners who didn't understand the lyrics said the vibes were there, and they wanted to know the song titles.
SKAI ISYOURGOD's music videos are full of Guangdong folk culture elements. (Source: Internet)
From the lyrics, the two songs use humorous language to satirize those who seek divine help while taking chances to make money through illegal means, ultimately facing retribution. However, due to SKAI ISYOURGOD's distinctive Guangdong accent and references to folk customs like "wearing jade pendants," combined with the Memphis rap style familiar to overseas netizens, SKAI ISYOURGOD's works have spread widely on overseas short video platforms and sparked a wave of user-generated content creation. "Lai Cai" has also become an Internet meme.
"Lai Cai" is a common wish among global netizens amidst economic downturns
"Lai Cai" literally means "bring in wealth," symbolizing good luck and harvest. In the fast-paced modern life, netizens often face various pressures and challenges. The phrase "Lai Cai" is similar to auspicious sayings like "wish you prosperity and wealth" and has become a way to express desires for wealth. It is also a way for young people to seek self-comfort and adjustment in high-pressure lives.
(Source: Internet)
Although the word "Lai Cai" carries a certain tone of mockery, it also embodies a positive attitude towards life. By posting "Lai Cai," netizens convey a sense of hope and optimism. Through collectively posting "Lai Cai," they seek a sense of belonging in online communities, demonstrating the important role of social media in cultural dissemination.
In addition to posting "Lai Cai" in the comments section, many netizens have also joined in the adaptation, cover, and imitation trend, hoping to "bring in wealth from all directions." In a "cyber ritual" manner, they have further expanded the cultural influence of the "Lai Cai" meme.
Overseas netizens are amazed by the mysterious Eastern Jianghu (江湖) underworld philosophy
"God bless you with mountains of gold and silver. God teach you not to interrupt dragon-tiger fight."These two lines are from SKAI ISYOURGOD's song "Ying Guo," but what really made them go viral on both domestic and international online platforms was the creative idea of combining them with AI videos of cute pets, especially cats. When the song's introduction plays, the cats in the video seem possessed by SKAI ISYOURGOD and start "singing" these two lines full of jianghu atmosphere, accompanied by awkward Chinese-to-English subtitles, creating content with strong contrast and humor.
Famous K-pop group "aespa" member Giselle learned how to say "God bless you with mountains of gold and silver" in Chinese during a live broadcast. (Source: Internet)
From the perspective of folk slang, these two lines are a humorous or exaggerated folk expression that not only expresses a longing for a better life but also reflects a complex attitude of staying away from social conflicts. Especially when it comes to the concept of "Jianghu," as a parallel society that operates outside official structures in Eastern society, overseas netizens are obsessed with its mystery.
(Source: Internet)
In today's high-pressure and ever-changing global life, they highly resonate with young people's mindsets. Expressions like "mountains of gold and silver" and "dragon-tiger fight" are not only rich in Eastern cultural characteristics but also carry a sense of mystery and jianghu atmosphere. Overseas netizens marvel, "Even Chinese rap has wisdom in it."
The Internet has become a safe haven for young people both domestically and internationally. Under the common wish of obtaining wealth, "Lai Cai" is like a spell that quickly helps people find collective identity in online communities. Traditional folk culture has been innovatively interpreted through AI technology and the spread of Internet memes. This successful cultural export proves that Internet memes with Chinese cultural elements have unlimited potential to resonate widely and spread globally.
Author | Jiang Chang
Video | Jiang Chang
Poster | Jiang Chang
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, Wei Shen, James, Shen He
