China’s hip-hop grannies

GUANG NIU/Getty Images In the November/December issue of FP, Jeff Chang’s article, “It’s a Hip-Hop World,” described the social, political, and even economic implications of hip-hop’s appeal to young people around the globe. It appears, however, that age is no longer a factor in hip-hop’s growing popularity. In China, the “hip-hop grannies,” a 30-member group ...

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597705_071207_grannies_05.jpg

GUANG NIU/Getty Images

GUANG NIU/Getty Images

In the November/December issue of FP, Jeff Chang’s article, “It’s a Hip-Hop World,” described the social, political, and even economic implications of hip-hop’s appeal to young people around the globe. It appears, however, that age is no longer a factor in hip-hop’s growing popularity. In China, the “hip-hop grannies,” a 30-member group of retirees, perform hip-hop dance routines for both entertainment and high-energy exercise. Most of the members are over 60, but that hasn’t slowed them down. The group is now performing on tour and taking China by storm.

I know the saying “you’re only as old as you feel,” but I don’t think I can imagine Grandma Lewis taking part in this particular international trend.

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