Hip Hop music, like everywhere else in the world is growing rapidly in Russia and Putin wants it controlled. Good luck with that Mr. Putin because that control will be temporary. The essence of rap music is ‘keeping it real.’ Therefore in its true essence rap can never be controlled, it is incapable of it. Russian president Vladimir Putin speaking on hip-hop censorship in his country says he wants his cultural leaders to devise strategies that will control the output and access to rap, rather than banning it in the country.
During a meeting with his cultural advisers in St. Petersburg over the weekend, Putin stated, “if it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it.” The Russian leader is reportedly responding to the rising trends of growing rap artist in Russia. He feels the music form is based on “sex, drugs and protest.” Putin reportedly feels those elements are a “path to the degradation of the nation.”
