Young Russians react to Putin desire to 'control' rap music
562 views · Published 21 December 2018 · 1:48 · Indexed 26 September 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · Entertainment
(16 Dec 2018) YOUNG RUSSIANS REACT TO PUTIN DESIRE TO 'CONTROL' RAP MUSIC Alarmed by the growing popularity of rap among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin has said he wants cultural leaders to devise a means of controlling, rather than banning, the popular music. Speaking at a St. Petersburg meeting with cultural advisers Saturday, Putin said that "if it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it." However, he added that attempts to ban artists from performing will have an adverse effect and bolster their popularity. Reactions to Putin's idea were mixed among young people living in Russia's capital. "They (rap musicians) sing and rap about things that influence people's thoughts about the government," Moscow resident Anna Ten told the Associated Press. She added, "so this stresses that our authorities are worried about, 'what if they speak the truth?'" Another resident, Yulia, said she was not against the idea of Russian authorities controlling what the musicians are rapping about. Putin's comments - being particularly concerned with drug themes prevalent in rap - came amid a crackdown on contemporary music that evoked Soviet-era censorship of the arts. Last month, a rapper known as Husky, whose videos have garnered more than 6 million views on YouTube, was arrested after he staged an impromptu performance when his show was shut down in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. Other artists have been affected as well - pop sensation Monetochka and punk band Friendzona were among those who had their concerts shut down by the authorities last month. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/2db7882ff5c542fe07ce3e0f3125fd91
