8.2.11
Hip-hop for revolution
The poetic tradition in North Africa has also woven its way into more modern forms of expression. Rappers and hip-hop artists from Algiers to Cairo have been casting critical eyes on governments and dictators for years now. In the wake of unrest across the region, their rhymes have become a kind of soundtrack for revolution.
Now, one group of Libyan exiles has assembled some of the best tracks into a compilation.
Abdulla Darrat has spent the past weeks glued to his computer and his phone. The 28 year old Libyan-American watched as Tunisians rose up in protest. And he listened as Tunisian rapper El General wondered aloud — in a track called “Long Live Tunis” — if that protest might spread.
“This is a message to other rulers,” El General raps.
“Those who have been betrayed,” he continues, “Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco…all must be liberated.”
Abdulla Darrat shares that sentiment... continue reading
