Novel Fergus’ relaxed demeanor and focused stare belie the complex layering of sounds and fresh approach that he brings to Cantonese rap.
Clad in a black t-shirt and durag in his studio, the rapper recently sat down with RADII ahead of a major milestone — his upcoming performance at AsiaWorld-Expo, one of Hong Kong’s major music venues. Representing a big moment not only for Fergus, but also for the local Hong Kong music scene, he took the time to tell us about his story and wide range of influences.
Growing up in the working-class neighborhood of Sham Shui Po, where there is a strong sense of belonging to the community, Fergus initially did not think of making music himself. That is until one day, when a colleague at the tattoo parlor he was working at introduced him to the world of hip hop, inviting him back to his flat to freestyle and experiment with beats. Captivated by the music’s energetic flow, Fergus quickly saw its enormous potential as a way to tell his own story.
So, where does his inspiration come from?
Once Fergus got involved in rap, he wanted to forge his own path and unique identity, whilst defying stereotypes and adding to the local hip hop scene.
“You know hip hop rappers, they might try to emulate Western rappers and focus on ‘naughty’ things or be with many women. But this simply isn’t my culture and this behavior would be heavily criticized here. Everything that you do has its own consequences — namely developing a sense of value even when it comes to music,” said Fergus.
Instead, he wants to make international audiences recognize that hip hop in the city is truly special.
“If I rapped in English or tried to emulate American rappers, then why don’t fans just listen to them instead? So, if I want to ‘gain’ something from this situation, then I need to play to my own strengths really well so that the audience knows this is very special Hong Kong hip hop,” the rapper explained.
He explained that rapping in English means a focus on the overall feel and vibe, whereas with Cantonese it’s more about delivery in terms of choice of lyrics and singing skills.
Through discussion with different MCs, Fergus was also introduced to the art form of 南音 (naam4 jam1, traditional Cantonese narrative song and performance art), which let him experiment with his delivery through various sounds and themes.
Hong Kong cinema, from mainstream comedies to more arthouse fare, has also had a major impact on his music.
For example, one of his first hits, “至尊寶” (Supreme Treasure) was inspired by the 1990 two-part film series, A Chinese Odyssey, which starred comedian Stephen Chow Sing-chi and recounts the tragic love story between Joker, one of the Monkey King’s 72 reincarnations, and the fairy Zixia. Fergus even ended up using scenes from the movie for the song’s music video.
For his more recent song “胭脂扣,” the rapper was inspired by the 1987 romantic movie of the same Chinese title, Rouge, which has a plot similar to Romeo and Juliet. The film follows courtesan Fleur (Anita Mui Yin-fong) and rich playboy Chan (Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing), who are kept apart by their family backgrounds and decide to commit suicide to be reunited in the afterlife. Assimilating his humble personal background into the film’s storyline, Fergus’ song tells the similar tragic tale of an ordinary actor longing for love with a socialite.
“Honestly, I don’t understand the mindset of the wealthy because I’m personally not one of them. So, I wrote a song using my identity as a performer and as an ordinary person like myself,” added Fergus, nodding thoughtfully.
This inventive approach has resonated with fans, particularly those who share Fergus’ passion for lyrical storytelling and the aesthetics of Chinese culture. As he continues to make waves in the local music scene, the rising rapper remains focused on using his platform to champion a new vision for hip hop — one that blends the East and West in harmonious, transcendent ways.
Novel Fergus’ next concert will be held on Saturday, August 17 at AsiaWorld-Expo Hong Kong.
Banner image by Haedi Yue.
