One person trying to nurture Chinese hip-hop is DJ V-Nutz also known as Gary Wang, a Chinese DJ who recently opened The Lab, a nonprofit music studio meant to help Shanghai develop its own hip-hop style.

NPR: Made in China: Hip-Hop Moves East

As hard as the struggle to create authentically Chinese hip-hop is, Johnston, like other committed producers and rappers in China, wouldn't have it any other way.

NPR: Made in China: Hip-Hop Moves East

The recently opened Ministry of Sound plays music ranging from hip-hop to Chinese pop.

FORBES: Just the ticket

And, as in other parts of the world, certain aspects of hip-hop culture have made their way onto Chinese billboards and pop charts, as well as into Chinese theme songs and television advertising.

NPR: Made in China: Hip-Hop Moves East