Casualties of Iran's Campaign against Hip-Hop

"Hip-hop, you don't stop!" goes the old refrain, but the mullahs have other ideas and rappers are going underground:

Soroush Lashkari is regarded by his fellow musicians as the godfather of Iranian rap, but he must meet his fans wherever he can: one day in a park, another day in a street and the next in a studio, if he is lucky enough to find one.

He performs under the nickname Hichkas – meaning “nobody” – and his conventional dress and black beard make him look more like a religious zealot than a counter-cultural icon...

But the 22-year-old singer has been forced to keep a low profile after the Islamic government launched an official campaign against rap music at the end of last year. Some members of his band spent a few days in jail last May and have received official warnings to stop their “decadent” music...

In one song called “The Law”, to the accompaniment of police sirens, he says: “It’s tough on the street ... The weak die, the strong remain aloof ... Open your eyes and let me explain the law ... We live in a police state where the constitution is trampled upon. Let me shout that I’m a victim of this jungle! ... Don’t handcuff me!”

"Don't handcuff me!" could be the "Don't tase me, 'bro!" of the Iranian struggle for hip-hop liberty.

Comments

[Dr dre beats headphones]

Gracias por el contenido interesante!