Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
In an old teahouse in Tsuen Wan, one wall has an unusual “menu” of kung fu moves. This is the setting of “Hoi Lin Teahouse”, a song from Hong Kong rapper Billy Choi released earlier this year. He named the song after his family’s dim sum restaurant.
The 27-year-old transformed his family’s teahouse into a kung fu studio in the song’s music video.
Just like how kung fu masters teach their trainees, Choi’s family has been passing down the craft of running a traditional teahouse.
“The [song’s] inspiration comes from my desire to preserve traditions – whether it’s martial arts, handmade dim sum or teahouses,” the rapper said.
Since debuting in 2019, Choi has been releasing tracks related to Hong Kong’s culture and social issues.
His songs tell stories that young people can relate to. “I’ve written songs about places I grew up ... The main idea is to never forget where you come from,” he said.
Hoi Lin Teahouse
At 15 years old, Choi began helping out at his family’s dim sum restaurant during the summer. There, he learned a lot from how his parents dedicated themselves to the teahouse.
“Some customers would say things to my dad like, ‘Your siu mai isn’t very good,’” Choi recalled.
“But instead of arguing, he’d just nod, saying, ‘Not everyone will like your food.’ That really stuck with me. It’s the same with music.”
He explained: “Not everyone will like my songs, and that’s OK. We don’t need to argue.”
Over the years, he saw the challenges that teahouses face. Many of them do not have enough workers because most of them are getting old.
Even though his family’s restaurant is a big part of his life, Choi knew he had to leave his comfort zone to pursue his dream of music.
“I decided I wouldn’t take over the business even though I’d come back to help sometimes,” he shared. “When you’re chasing a dream, you can’t leave yourself an easy way out.”
Hong Kong’s hip-hop scene
Choi’s most famous song, “Sorry, This is Hong Kong”, is about the shared experiences of living in a very high-pressure city.
It is also his most personal track as it discusses his childhood struggles. “Even though my family seemed supportive on the surface, every family has their share of challenges,” he said.
Looking ahead, his bigger goal is to help the hip-hop scene grow in Hong Kong. “It’s not mainstream yet,” Choi said.
“I hope that by building my career and showing others it’s possible to make a living through rap, I can inspire young people to pursue this art.”
