Putin moves to control Rap Music in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to control Rap music in Russia because he is worried about “the degradation of a nation”.

Putin is concerned that Rap inspires drug use. He is quoted as saying, “Rap and other modern [forms of art] are rested upon three pillars – sex, drugs and protest,” he said. “I am most worried about drugs. This is the way towards the degradation of a nation.”

The Russian President is also concerned by the “bad language” in rap and according to the BBC said, “we have all sorts of body parts, and it’s not like we put them on display all the time”.

Russia was where punk band Pussy Riot were jailed and then earlier this year band member Pyotr Verzilov poisoned. Another musician Dmitry Kuznetsov aka Husky was jailed for 12 months for performing on the roof of his car as a protest after his concerts were cancelled by the Russian government. Husky raps about “poverty, corruption and Police brutality”.

Other Russian acts including Monetochka and Friendzona have also had concerts cancelled by the Russian government this year.

Putin knows he can’t stop the music but thinks he can control its roll-out. He said, “However, what I really agree with is that if it is impossible to stop it, it should be taken over and navigated in a particular way.”

Putin doesn’t want to outright ban Rap because he knows that will only make it more popular with the youth.