Mongolian Bling

Mongolian Bling is a fresh take on the power of hip-hop and a surprisingly candid portrait of a rarely seen contemporary culture still coming to terms with the 1990 revolution that caused the fall of socialism and gave a voice to the country’s youth.

In this ancient culture with a rich and turbulent history, the modern beats and rhymes of the street are breaking through and forging a new identity. Told through the passion of young rappers and the wisdom of traditional musicians, Mongolian Bling takes us from the bustling city streets to the snow-capped ‘hoods’, following the nation’s rap stars as they ‘keep it real’ with just a bit of bling.

In the capital, Ulaanbataar, there is a thriving music scene. But not everybody is happy. As his country rapidly develops, Bayarmagnai – one of Mongolia’s last epic singers (songs are sung over consecutive nights and can go on for weeks) – struggles to keep the art form he loves alive. And the ancient tradition of ‘throat singing’ is also losing fans to the western hip-hop beat.

Despite this, Bayarmagnai supports the new musicians, like Gee, a young rapper from the impoverished Ger District; Quiza, one of the country’s most popular rappers, famous for incorporating traditional instruments into his songs; and Gennie, an up-and-coming female artist intent on breaking down social and political boundaries.

Mongolian Bling is the new hip-hop revolution. It’s political, it’s powerful and, despite the elders’ objections, it might just salvage their country’s young democracy and keep on track the 1990 reforms that saw the birth of modern Mongolia.