When it comes to Taiwanese hip-hop, MC HotDog stands heads and shoulders above the rest. The three-piece hp-hop group first came to the attention of Taiwan's predominantly teenage hip-hop crowd shortly after the release of its self-titled debut mini-album MC HotDog released last year.
A flurry of gigs at several of Taipei's underground music venues followed and MC HotDog was suddenly on of the hottest shows in town. HotDog's rough-and-ready localized lyrics were a far cry from the wishy-washy pop hip-hop that had dominated Taiwan's rap scene until then.
The group continued to build on the success of its self-titled debut CD when Dog (犬) hit the charts several months later.
When the group's latest album, MC HotDog Crew (哈狗幫) was released early last month, it too saw large numbers of Taiwan's hip-hop-starved youth rushing out to purchase a copy. Packed with powerful but dance-friendly hip-hop, the album showcases a sharper and much tighter MC HotDog.
While MC HotDog offer little in the way of Eminem-style stage antics, gigs by the band are non-stop, high-octane affairs with some of the finest rap in Asia.
MC HotDog (哈狗) will perform tonight at @live, located at 3F, 25 Hoping W. Rd., Sec. 1, (和平西路一段25號3樓) at 6pm. Tickets cost NT$350 and are available at the door.
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