Rapping for freedom and democracy in Azerbaijan

Alternative music in the former Soviet Union has always been synonymous with change and freedom, but in recent years in the South Caucasus — particularly in Armenia and Azerbaijan — few musicians have spoken out against the regimes in place. In fact, music has more often than not taken on a nationalist agenda as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia all illustrated quite clearly this year during the nearly always controversial Eurovision Song Contest.

However, if some musicians in Georgia have used their public profiles to ridicule both government and opposition politicians alike while there is at least one musician in Armenia who has taken a stand following last year’s disputed presidential election, nothing could have prepared anyone for the emergence of at least two rap bands in Azerbaijan who are using their music to openly campaign for democracy and human rights in the country. For the third anniversary of the OL! Azerbaijani Youth Movement founded by detained video blogger Adnan Hajizade, for example, Shirband wrote a rap anthem. […]

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Since then, other songs include Fuck (download), a song against corruption and authoritarianism in Azerbaijan, while their latest, Davam edir 37 (download), is dedicated to Hajizade and Emin Milli currently held in detention and due to be tried for “hooliganism” next week.

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The full post, where comments can be left and which is accompanied by embedded video tracks as well as downloadable audio is available on The Frontline Club.