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SKAI ISYOURGOD
Chinese rapper (born 1998) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chen Xukai (born 1998; Chinese: 陈序垲), known professionally as 揽佬SKAI ISYOURGOD, is a Chinese rapper. His works combine Memphis rap and Cantonese culture.
In August 2024, SKAI released his second album Stack from All Sides (八方来财). Songs such as "Stack from All Sides", "Karma Code" (因果), and "Blueprint Supreme" (大展鸿图) in the album went viral on Western and Chinese social media. On July 7, 2025, he exceeded 3 million active monthly listeners on Spotify, becoming the Chinese artist with the most monthly listeners.[2]
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Early life and education
SKAI was born in the city of Huizhou, Guangdong, China, in 1998. His father is from Leshan, Sichuan. He attended the private Sichuan Media College (四川传媒学院) in Chengdu, Sichuan, for undergraduate studies in performing arts.[3][4][5]
SKAI did not initially disclose his real name to the public, but in July 2025, the Bilibili video creator "慢慢升空-" released several videos of SKAI from before he rose to fame, allowing more people to learn about him. In the latest video by "慢慢升空-", a clip showing SKAI participating in a campus singing competition received an official response from him, indirectly confirming that his real name is Chen Xukai (陈序垲).[6] Furthermore, when SKAI uploaded his latest extended play "Stacks from All Sides: Fresh Off the Boat" on YouTube, he listed the copyright holder of the tracks in the video description as Shenzhen Shengjiashun Culture Media Co., Ltd. (深圳市晟佳顺文化传媒有限责任公司). The Chinese government's companies registry information shows that the legal representative of this company is also Chen Xukai, further confirming his identity.[7]
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Career
Summarize
Perspective
On 20 December 2020, SKAI released his first single "KNOW that" on NetEase Cloud Music, and then released several singles in succession, experimenting with several styles, including R&B. On 14 April 2023, he released the single "LAN LAO KING". According to SKAI in an interview with the Chinese hip-hop platform SoulSense TWH, it was the beginning of the creation of his signature Memphis rap style, his most recent experimental style.[8]
On 10 September 2023, SKAI's released his first album, Shun Feng Shun Shui Shun Cai Shen (顺风顺水顺财神).[9][10]
On 20 August 2024, SKAI's release his second album, Stacks from All Sides (八方来财). The album continued to use Memphis rap music as the creative basis, integrating Cantonese folk elements and ridicule of the workplace environment and human relationships in mainland China. The album went viral across social media, and Internet secondary creations, such as the Douyin broadcaster Xiao Cao Animation,[11] brought SKAI a lot of fame.[12] In April 2025, SKAI announced that he would go to Taiwan to hold a special concert on 27 July.[13]
On 10 July 2025, SKAI released his first Extended play album Stack from All Sides: Fresh Off the Boat (八方来财之江船入海) on Music Streaming Services, which includes 9 new songs which had never been officially released before. He marks it as a part of Stacks from All Sides. Chinese Hip-Hop producer "Jacking" joins as Executive Producer. Nearly all tracks were produced by Jacking, excluding Track 8. Track 8 was produced by Jacking and another producer which artist named "Phantom".
Album Stack from All Sides
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2025) |
In the album Stack from All Sides[a], three songs went viral: "Stack from All Sides" (八方来财), "Karma Code" (因果), and "Blueprint Supreme" (大展鸿图). SKAI's southeast Chinese coastal roots are noticeable through his Cantonese accent and numerous allusions and literary devices.
In the first half of the album, SKAI explores the ambitions of people in contemporary Chinese society to expand their material desires. In the second half of the album, SKAI incorporates his own life into the album, exploring the contradictions during early adulthood, societal temptations, and cherishing loved ones.[15]
Summary
The three viral songs come from the first half of the album.
The namesake song, "Stack from All Sides"(八方来财), describes a life full of hustle. It opens with folk imagery, in which the protagonist dreams of social climbs, whether it be acquiring a better scooter, buying new fancy clothes, showing off his wealth, or upgrading to a white or yellow motorcycle license plate; white and yellow license plates in Guangdong and Hong Kong are a sign of success, and therefore, are a local status symbol. Wearing jade pendants for luck, keeping a home altar with incense and offerings, regularly bowing and praying, and seeking wealth from the divine, he is constantly chasing money and status, but not through glorified business. The man gambles, plays mahjong, and has side hustles in order to achieve this. He knows the methodology of his social ascension is bad, but he does it anyways, alluding to cultural elements, such as yin-yang from Taoism, and karma from Buddhism.
In the next song, "Karma Code"(因果), the protagonist is confronted by the divine about his unethical social rise by traditional Chinese deities, who seek to address the consequences of his deeds. Initially, the protagonist tries to appease the gods, then shift the blame, but is ultimately forced to reflect on and acknowledge his actions.
The lyrics of "Blueprint Supreme"(大展鸿图) paint exaggerated, humorous portraits of a nouveau riche lifestyle, describing absurdly lavish yet strangely familiar scenes of showy wealth in modern China, such as the scene of "singing karaoke in the villa and silver arowana in the pool" (Chinese: 别墅里面唱k，水池里面银龙鱼), which is a unique way of "showing off wealth" for Guangdong's wealthy, rather than luxury cars and watches in the traditional sense. In addition, the plot of "the master writes the words himself" (Chinese: 大师亲手题笔字) in the lyrics comes from his parents' obsession with Yi Tou (Chinese: 意头) and belief in Feng Shui during his childhood, as well as people's memory of using "qiu zi" (Chinese: 求字, lit. 'asking for a character')—the practice of asking a master calligrapher or fortune-teller to write a character, typically for symbolic or auspicious purposes—as a special way of socializing at that time.[16]
Reactions
The three songs have gone viral in Western social media, such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, being used as background for clips or memes, with countless spin-offs and remixes. One popular meme referred to as "Dog Singing In Chinese" or "Dog Rapping Skai Isyourgod" begins with the lyrics, "May god bless you with mountains of silver and gold" from his song "Cause and Effect" ("因果"), and has received over 10 million views.[17] Apart from the Orientalism, users noted the perceived wisdom in the album that Western discography seems to lack.[18]
The song "Stack from All Sides" sparked debates due to the term “憋佬仔”, meaning "bastard (The correct character for '憋佬仔' is '鳖佬仔', which means 'Son of a turtle')",[19] which some interpreted as a derogatory slur. However, the artist clarified that it's a colloquial term for "brother" in certain southern dialects, aiming to convey camaraderie rather than insult, similar to the comparable American slur nigga, which can also imply camaraderie in certain contexts.[20]
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Discography
Studio Albums
Extended play
Singles
- "KNOW that"（2020）
- "味儿正Cypher"（2021）
- "Bad Boy Doing Good Things pt2."（featuring. BroFA）(2021)
- "效应BT细胞"（2021）
- "BAD BOY and Goodthing Pt3."（featuring. BroFA）（2021）
- "孟菲斯130"（2022）
- "LAN LAO KING"(2023)
- "BAY GUY Pt.4"（featuring. BroFA）[b]（2023）
- "吹大水"（2023）
- "彝粤"（featuring. 13FlowMic）（2023）
- "生可乐"（2023）
- "天顶揽粒星"（2023）
- "Bad Boy Doing Good Things pt5."（featuring. BroFA）（2024）
- "求签"（2024）
- "江湖规矩AA制"（2024）
- "绿化带"（2024）
- "念财病"（featuring. Duke Deuce）(2025)
Mixtapes
- SKAI IS YOUR GOD NO.1（2022)
References
Notes
Further reading
External links
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