Jianbo

Born and raised in South East London, Chinese-Vietnamese-British artist Jianbo is a standout voice emerging from the UK’s rap scene. Fusing grime and garage with post-punk, jazz, and orchestral music, Jianbo’s work is a reflection of the world that shaped him: a patchwork of underground energy, immigrant narratives, and raw storytelling.

Rooted in his Chinese-Vietnamese heritage and shaped by the cultural mosaic of London, Jianbo’s music explores identity, community, and the people who made him. His earliest exposure to music came through his older cousins, who immersed him in the worlds of garage, jungle, and grime. Through them, he heard his first pirate radio sets, and by the time he was in school, he was already imitating Wiley, D Double E, and Kano – before carving out a style entirely his own, where UK sound system culture meets Hong Kong cinema and underground rap collides with cinematic grandeur. He doesn’t just reference his heritage; he reclaims it, making it part of his artistic identity in a way that’s fresh, defiant, and deeply personal. 

Jianbo has earned a growing cult following through his breakout EPs Yellow Peril and Tears In My XO Sauce, as well as collaborations with Nix Northwest, Denham Audio, and BABii, carving out a distinct space in the UK underground with his intricate lyricism and versatile sound. His early singles, Mongkok Madness and Chinatown Alley, established his signature aesthetic, where the vivid cinematic textures of Wong Kar Wai and the boldness of classic martial arts films shape both his music and visuals. With each release, Jianbo continues to push the boundaries of UK rap, standing as a voice for a generation of East Asian and South-East Asian artists who grew up without seeing themselves reflected in the music they loved.

Releases