"Word! My flow's bizarre like Japan, my raps be tight like Saran. Your flow be wicked sleep-inducing like turkey tryptophan." Now, we would never be able to come up with such a lyrical lashing given mere seconds of preparation in a freestyle battle, but the MC's who showed up to the Freestyle Battle at Paramount last Sunday night made it their business to do exactly that. more ›

Yo, check it: are you capable of spitting mad freestylin' profilin' flavor/game/lyrical cream on the micka-micka-microphone? Do your rhymes make the ladies say OH and the fellas say AWW? Then head down to Paramount this Sunday to prove your mettle, where an MC Battle to the Death will take place in front of a live paying audience (er, we mean that figuratively). more ›

Alcohol companies (especially in Shanghai) are known for their lemming like approach to parties (maybe it is the incestuous nature of their cliques). The latest trend is in throwing expensive "invite only" parties like the Hennessy Artistry series and this weekend’s upcoming Smirnoff party featuring Hard-Fi and DJ Sasha (gag). Just like at the Hennessey party, we loser expats aren't overly welcome (at more than one of these parties we have been told that our extra invite shouldn't be given to a laowai). About the only way in is to be Chinese and register or be part of that trendster socialite clique who relies on being invited to these things to help keep their massive egos inflated. Don't think too much about it though, because this weekend there are plenty of other great shows where everyone is welcome ... and not a bottle of Smirnoff or Hennessy in sight. more ›

So the movie did finally get made after all. Last Thursday evening at the Paramount was the premiere of Milk & Fashion, touted as the first film to feature "non-Asian actors speaking Chinese in lead roles of a feature film for the first time ever". The crowd gathered as early as 7 pm to feast on the buffet. The room was packed with a diverse population of foreigners, Shanghainese ladies and numerous dubious characters. The seats were all taken. The sound system was too loud, and at 8.30, they began with a series of pop singers who performed for a crowd who couldn't seem to care less. The hosts were unconvincing and their cues badly rehearsed, ‘milking’ the applause conspicuously. more ›

The yuan broke the 7.4 mark against the US dollar for the first time yesterday largely fueled by expectations that China is seeking a quicker appreciation of the currency to fight inflation. more ›

Two days ago, we received this email from a local event promoter: more ›

But they only get RMB 25,000 in damages. The movie companies involved in the suit were New Line Productions, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures. The defendant was listed as Shanghai Leying Audio Visual Co. Ltd, but this story tells us the company also went by the name "Kadi" and was " well-known to many expatriates in Shanghai for selling pirated products." We think it might be safe to assume that they are talking about Ka De Club, the chain (?) of DVD shops that has been fleecing foreigners for years (OK, perhaps fleecing is a little strong — their prices were around 3 or 4 kuai higher than other shops selling the same thing). Evidently, the name change occurred after charges were filed, so the shop could continue to operate. We've lost track of Ka De — it moved around quite a bit over the years, trying to avoid Johnny Law, we assume (the raid that led to this lawsuit was in Changning) — and then there were Ka De clones, we think, trying to cash in on the "good" name. We have a feeling they'll be back. more ›

For us in Shanghai, the keynote speach of Steve Jobs at Macworld came at around 1 am. It marked an important event in the gadget world — the unveiling of the much-anticipated iPhone. You can find A LOT OF details here, here, here, and here. more ›

Guangdong-born, Hong Kong-raised and New York-based fashion designer Vivienne Tam has been visiting Shanghai twice a year "to find inspiration" for more than 20 years. Tam recently gave Travel and Leisure a look at her "hidden Shanghai." We'll let Shanghaiist readers determine just how "hidden" it really is. Here are the places mentioned in the story: more ›

The video clip about Tong's case was "useful in helping us protect state secrets,'' the Sichuan Population and Family Planning Commission said in a July 31 statement on its Web site. more ›

At least they don't lag behind in anything important!

Remember what we told you about Mission: Impossible III holding its world premier in Shanghai next month? Um, yeah -- that's not happening anymore. So all you people camped out in front of the Grand Theater can go home now. The Shanghai Morning Post reports: more ›

The Shanghai Evening Post tells us that Mission: Impossible III (or M : I : III, as the cool kids are calling it) will make its world premier in Shanghai. Yes, Shanghai! The red carpet event is slated for April 22 at the Shanghai Grand Theater. But leave your camcorders at home: more ›