Wang Linkai (Chinese: 王琳凯; born 20 May 1999), commonly known by his stage name Xiao Gui (Chinese: 小鬼; pinyin: Xiǎo Guǐ; Lil Ghost in English) is a Chinese rapper and singer-songwriter. In 2017, participated in the iQIYI Hip-Hop music audition show "The Rap of China", won the top 70 in the country, and officially entered the entertainment industry. He was a member of the Chinese boy group Nine Percent[1] from the 2018 Chinese survival talent show Idol Producer.[2] On 29 August 2018, he won the "Best New Musician" award at the 2018 Chinese Music Festival held at Beijing National Stadium and the song "Good Night" won the Golden Melody of the Year Award.[3] On November 20, 2018, the group's first music album "TO THE NINES" was released with Nine Percent[4] On October 6, 2019, Nine Percent officially graduated[5] Unlock the identity of the producer in 2020 and join the Mango TV Rap music variety show "Listen Up"[6] He creates rap as his main form of musical expression.
Personal life
Wang Linkai was born in Haiyang City, Yantai, Shandong Province on May 20, 1999, and grew up in Xiamen City, Fujian Province[7] Currently studying at Beijing Contemporary Music Academy.[8]
His father was a military officer,[9] and his mother was a member of the art corps of the army,[10] so Wang Linkai grew up in the army when he was young. He became interested in hip-hop at the age of 12 or 13, and later went to school in Beijing.[8] Because of his passion for dance, Wang Linkai once went over the wall to learn dancing at 12 o'clock in the morning.
In 2017, Wang Linkai participated in iQiyi’s self-made hip-hop reality show "The Rap of China".[11] In the same year, signing a contract with iQiyi's brokerage company was Guoran Sky.[12] In January 2018, he participated in the reality show "Idol Producer" on iQiyi development, and debuted as a member of Nine Percent in eighth place.[13] On August 29, 2019, he won the Newcomer of the Year Award at the Chinese Songs And Music Festival, and his original song "Good Night" won the 2018 Golden Melody Award.[14]
Career
2016–2017: Rap of China and first single
Wang signed with Gramarie Entertainment as a trainee.[7] He started his career by joining The Rap of China in 2016. In 2017, he starred in a music video of Will Pan, a judge on the show. Wang released his first single with Zhu Xingjie (朱星傑) titled "Bingo!Ca$h".[7]
2018: Idol Producer and debut with Nine Percent
He rose to fame after joining the reality survival show Idol Producer, finished 8th place on the show with a total of 7,856,601 votes and debuted as a member of Chinese boy band Nine Percent.[2]
2019: Solo Career
Xiao Gui participated as a regular cast on an iQiyi RV reality show, "青春的花路".[15] On May 11, he attended The Music Pioneer Chart's 30th Year Three Class Grand Award Ceremony,[16] where he won the Best Newcomer Artist of 2018 as well as the Most Popular Artist of 2018.[17] Xiao Gui released his first personal EP "Lil Ghost 2.0" on May 20.[18] On October 6, Nine Percent officially disbanded.[19] Xiao Gui performed alongside Nine Percent in Guangzhou for Nine Percent's final concert on October 12.[20] Since then, personal forms have appeared in the entertainment circle.
2020
March 2020, Zhejiang Satellite TV Music Program "Sound from Heaven". In June, he participated in the fifth season of "Rap [21] and Listen to Me" and "The King of Cross-Boundary Songs".[22] Aug. 13 - Novice Arrives on a reality show based on a driver's test. October 17, participated in the Aichi Arts show "Cross-Dimensional Rising Star" as an expansionist.[23][24]
November 8 - Joins Oriental TV's Intergenerational Tidal Performance Variety Show "China Dream Voice Our Song Season 2".
2021
In 2021, he released a number of new works, including Don't Call Me Da Vinci (Punk Version) and Mood (Lil Ghost Remix Explicit) (original 24KGoldn & Iann Dior), which received wide acclaim, and immediately started his first national tour.
On April 28, 2018, Nine Percent directed a donation of RMB 2 million to "Beijing Hanhong Love Charity Foundation"[25]
On February 9, 2020, during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Wang Linkai directed a donation of RMB 200,000 to Xianfeng County People's Hospital and Badong County People's Hospital[26]
On July 21, 2021, Wang Linkai donated 200,000 yuan to the Red Cross Society of Zhengzhou when many people were trapped by heavy rain in Henan Province.
Prizes
In September 2017, he was awarded the "Ruili Sunshine Fund" Vitality Charity Role Model Award by the Model Women Charity Night.[27]
On August 29, 2018, he won the All-Media Recommended New Artist of the Year award and his original work "Good Night" won the Golden Song of the Year award at the Chinese Songs and Music Festival.[28]
On May 11, 2019, he won the 2018 Pioneer Creative Newcomer Award, 2018 Most Popular Singer Award, 2018 Most appealing Fan Group Award, and the song "Shang" won the Pioneer Golden Melody Award.[29]
On June 30, 2019, he won the Best Popular Idol Award at the 2019 China Fashion Awards.[30]
December 6, 2019, iQiyi Scream Night live Expressive Singer of the Year.[31]
On November 28, 2020, he won the most popular male rapper in QQ Music.[32]
On December 10, 2020, he was awarded the MAHB Esquire Awards Music Icon of the Year.[33]
On January 23, 2021, won QQ Music - Rap Musician of the Year.[34]
Notes
^The Billboard China Top 100 was launched in January 2019 by Billboard China but hasn't been updated since September 6, 2019. QQ Music has been used to list charted songs after September
^Billboard China Top 100 hasn't been updated since September 2019
^"《说唱听我的》选手阵容官宣 实力选手强强对抗" ["Rap and Listen to Me" player lineup officer, strong players against each other.]. 腾讯•大湘网 (in Chinese). 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
^懒猫小影视 (26 July 2020). "《跨界歌王》：年度最差综艺诞生，小鬼王琳凯都救不回来" [Wang Lin-kai can't save the worst variety show of the year]. 新浪网 (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
^雪, 冯 (16 October 2020). "《跨次元新星》定档10.17 Angelababy、小鬼、虞书欣开启抢人大战" ["Cross-Dimensional Nova" files 10.17 Angelababy, Kid, Yu Shu-yan to start a competition]. 国际在线文娱 (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
^"《跨次元新星》公开首批虚拟选手 虞书欣助力扩列出圈" ["Cross-dimensional Rising Stars" to showcase first batch of virtual athletes]. 网易娱乐 (in Chinese). 11 September 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
^"AKA.imp小鬼获活力慈善榜样奖 爱心彰显人生态度" [AKA.imp IMP won the Vitality Charity Model Award. Love shows attitude towards life]. 新浪娱乐. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
^"2018年华人音乐盛典举行 众星云集呈现最佳现场" [The 2018 Chinese Music Festival was held with a star-studded cast presenting the best scene]. 凤凰网. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^"恭喜@小鬼-王琳凯 荣获#音乐先锋榜# 2018年度先锋创作新人" [Congratulations @Imp - Wang Linkai won the # Music Vanguard List # 2018 Pioneer Creative Newcomer of the Year]. Music FM 993. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^"小鬼王琳凯嗨唱尖叫之夜 获LIVE表现力歌手认证" [Lin Kai, the Devil King, has been awarded the LIVE Performance Singer certification]. 网易娱乐. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^"恭喜@小鬼-王琳凯 荣获【QQ音乐最受欢迎说唱男歌手】" [Congratulations @Imp - Wang Linkai won the Most Popular Male Rapper in QQ Music.]. QQ音乐. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^"#MAHB时尚先生盛典#" [#MAHB Esquire Gala #]. @时尚先生. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
^"恭喜@小鬼-王琳凯 获得QQ音乐-年度说唱音乐人" [Congratulations @Imp - Wang Linkai won QQ Music - Rap Artist of the Year]. 腾讯音乐娱乐盛典官博. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
