How a tough young guy conquered rap

When Nawukere, 28, first took to the stage for the internet talent show The Rap of China in July, this contest dark horse wasted no time in throwing down the gauntlet to his rivals, immediately giving a full-frontal, full-throated presentation of his credentials.

"I'm from Xinjiang, and you can call me er-zi-wa-wa," he sang, using the local word meaning tough guy. "I am from Urumqi (and I) represent balangzi," he continued, the last word meaning young guy, in a heady mishmash of Mandarin, English and local dialect.

As Nawukere continued to belt out the song its refrain became ever more insistent, the beat picked up and viewers in the hundreds of thousands began to warm to him - as did five celebrities on the show who act as kind of judges. Over the coming days it became clear just how deep an impression Nawukere had made as people around the country jokingly parroted him by using the dialect words erziwawa and balangzi.