HipHop in Palestine
Written by Bill G on December 29th, 2006 in Music, culture, internetz, politics.
CNN has an interesting video about DAM, a hiphop/rap group in Palestine. I couldn’t help but notice the 2Pac and Che Guevara posters on the wall of the one guy’s bedroom.
DAM (means “blood”) has an official web site and a Myspace page.
I am intrigued by the fact that (political) rap music has become synonomous with rebellion not just in America but throughout the world. It is perfectly suited to it, of course - coming from the ghetto you may not have the power of instruments but you have the power of words. Che Guevara’s image has taken on this representation of rebellion as well - I think his photo has practically become a brand, although I bet most people who would have his picture on their walls wouldn’t know a damn thing about him.
The other thing that intrigues me is the power of the internet to make the world smaller. Could these guys have found an international audience pre-90s? MySpace and YouTube are diversions for us but invaluable for a bunch of rap guys living in the slums of Lod.
