{{short description|Chinese-American rapper}} [[File:BohanPhoenixInThePark.jpg|alt=Rapper Bohan Phoenix stands in a park in Chinatown, Manhattan.|thumb|Bohan Phoenix in 2021 in Chinatown, Manhattan.]] {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} '''Leng Bohan''' (born 1991 or 1992), better known by his stage name '''Bohan Phoenix''', is a Chinese-American rapper.
==Early life== Leng was born in Hubei, China, in 1991 or 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deng |first=Jireh |date=9 May 2022 |title=Bohan Phoenix, 'New York Made Me' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2022/05/09/1097562176/bohan-phoenix-new-york-made-me |access-date=2022-10-22 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> His mother worked in Shenzhen, and his grandparents took care of him.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31">{{Cite web |last=Siu |first=Joyce |date=2018-03-31 |title=The Chinese-American hip-hop star who won’t go on The Rap of China |url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/music/article/2139489/chinese-american-rapper-and-hip-hop-star-his-rise-and-why-he-turned |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Leng at the age of 11 immigrated with his mother to Newton, Massachusetts, where he heard hip hop for the first time.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31"/> In high school, he joined the choir, where the director encouraged him to rap.<ref name="Guanzon2021-11-25">{{Cite web |last=Guanzon |first=Sofia |date=25 November 2021 |title=How Chinese-American Rapper Bohan Phoenix Makes Homecoming An Art With His Music |url=https://hiphopdx.com/en_asia/news/id.66087/title.how-chinese-american-rapper-bohan-phoenix-makes-homecoming-an-art-with-his-music-exclusive-interview |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=HipHopDX}}</ref> Leng studied at New York University.
==Career== In 2017, having lived in New York for seven years, he moved back to China after learning there was a strong desire for live hip hop music while going on tour.<ref name="Wycech2020-09-14">{{Cite web |last=Wycech |first=Olivia |date=14 September 2020 |title=Why rapper Bohan Phoenix left the birthplace of hip hop for China |url=https://mixmag.asia/feature/why-rapper-bohan-phoenix-left-america-for-china |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221013180725/https://mixmag.asia/feature/why-rapper-bohan-phoenix-left-america-for-china |archive-date=13 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=Mixmag |publisher=}}</ref> He released a short film detailing his reasons for returning to Chengdu in China called ''3 Days in Chengdu'' produced by Roni Shao.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Billboard Radio China |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2019-03-15 |title=Rapper Bohan Phoenix Releases Short Film, ‘3 Days in Chengdu’: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/china-rapper-bohan-phoenix-short-film-3-days-in-chengdu-watch-video-8502757/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Billboard}}</ref> After the Chinese rap competition show ''The Rap of China'' popularized hip hop in China, Leng experienced a huge increase in performance invitations, earning him enough funds to remain financially secure living in China.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31"/> The show's producers asked him to compete on its first two seasons.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31"/> Wary of how the show would edit his appearances, he declined to join the competition.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31"/> A November 2021 article said that he was based in New York and had spent the last half decade traveling between New York and China to do shows.<ref name="Guanzon2021-11-25"/>
To show his support for Black Lives Matter, he published the song "Unconditional" in September 2021 as part of ''EMPIRE Presents: Voices For Change: Vol. 1''.<ref name="Guanzon2021-11-25"/> Around 2021, he signed with Warner Music China's hip hop label JUUICE and planned to publish an album in 2022 that he had begun creating in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Rebecca |date=2021-06-03 |title=Warner Music China Signs Rapper Bohan Phoenix, Expands JUUICE Hip-Hop Imprint |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/warner-music-china-bohan-phoenix-rap-1234987500/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Variety}}</ref> The 2022 Pirelli Calendar included Leng, making him the "first Chinese musician" showcased in the trade calendar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lanigan |first=Roisin |date=2021-08-06 |title=These are the stars of the 2022 Pirelli calendar |url=https://i-d.co/article/pirelli-calendar-2022-cast/ |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=i-D}}</ref>
==Artistry== Leng's music fuses together Chinese and Western elements through singing in Mandarin and English as well as combining hip hop rhythms with Asian instruments.<ref name="Siu2018-03-31"/> Olivia Wycech of ''MixMag'' said, Leng's work demonstrates a "syncopated harmony of the two transnational cultures he grew up in: rapid fire lyrics riffing in English and Mandarin with stories centred around his cultural identity and experiences as an immigrant — altogether challenging western stereotypes about hip hop".<ref name="Wycech2020-09-14"/>
He cites American rapper Eminem as his inspiration. Leng was captivated by Eminem's film debut ''8 Mile'', saying in an interview, he was "impressed by how Eminem was able to stand out, especially in an all-black environment back then. He is the gateway for so many people."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Billboard Radio China |date=20 December 2018 |title=Chinese-American Rapper Bohan Phoenix Talks Balancing East and West Hip-Hop |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/chinese-american-rapper-bohan-phoenix-hip-hop-interview-8491182/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Billboard |publisher= |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221013180549/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/chinese-american-rapper-bohan-phoenix-hip-hop-interview-8491182/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.bohanphoenix.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bohan Phoenix}} Category:1990s births Category:Living people Category:Chinese emigrants to the United States Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:American rappers of Asian descent Category:Chinese male rappers Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Musicians from Newton, Massachusetts Category:Singers from Hubei Category:21st-century American rappers