In the opening of the "CS/KM" music video, Sandee Chan transforms into a ghostly nun, her icy voice blending with hazy, psychedelic tones as she raps: "You've always worked so hard / forgot the purpose / turns out moving forward / means being renewed." This isn't her usual image — but it's arguably the most intriguing moment of this hip-hop gathering: an artist known for refined pop being pulled into rap's bewitched underworld, delivering the well-worn mantra of "keep pushing forward" through an eerie, ghostly lens that somehow makes it feel more honest than ever.
THAT'S MY SHHH and Mandopop Workbook are joining forces again for "TM Guo 2," marking their first collaboration in eight years. Both brands were just two years old when they first teamed up back then — now, this single day on August 16th condenses the hundreds of events' worth of experience they've accumulated since. The venue is Legacy TERA, running from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM — nearly six hours straight. The lineup includes Nick Chou, Lu Shih-Hsuan, Chen Sianjing, someshiit Sam, wannasleep, plus ABAO ft. Natsuo LKDR, The Crane, Lazy Habits, and more. Most of these pairings are one-night-only — once it's over, there won't be a repeat.
At the heart of the party are two official Cypher theme songs. "ALIVE" stitches together three distinct beats, with each hook circling back to the word "ALIVE" — unfolding into three layers of questioning: Feel Alive, Stay Alive, Still Alive — letting rappers from different generations take turns answering through their own lived experiences. "CS/KM" stands for "Can't Stop / Keep Moving," carrying a heavier weight than "ALIVE." Blending gospel and jazz, it captures the struggle Taiwanese musicians face trying to break into the international scene, no matter how uphill that battle feels. The hook repeats the line: Can't stop. Keep moving. Both music videos draw inspiration from that full-body chill you get during a live performance, pushing the artists involved into a collective "possessed" state — channeling raw stage energy through ghostly, otherworldly visuals.
It's not just about the music, either. Four crews — IP LOCKERS, LitNPosh, GameSTARt, and HRC — will take the stage back-to-back, each bringing their own distinct street dance style. Mandopop Workbook's signature segment, the "AUTOTUNE Singing Contest," will also be brought to the stage in full, unfiltered form. On the decks, DJs DINDIN, GTER, and Lai Pi DJ MR SKIN will trade off throughout the night, tying the whole evening's rhythm together.
