Cuban rapper: Fight the injustice

[Bacchus39]

Source: CNN

His group -- Los Aldeanos, or "The Villagers" -- is one of Cuba's best-known underground hip-hop acts. It's earned credibility with lyrics that condemn racism, police harassment, prostitution and inequality -- criticisms often heard in Cuba's streets, but controlled by the state in the media.


In an effort to exert its influence over rap, the Cuban government created the Cuban Rap Agency in 2002. The agency promotes about a dozen rappers and produces their albums, but you won't find government critics like Rodriguez on their roster. These underground rappers say they won't be silenced or co-opted by the government.


Rodolfo Rensoli organized the rap festival before the state stepped in. He says government limitations have made groups and their fans more rebellious.

"Since the state took over managing the festival, brothers are coming out carrying signs calling for 'social justice' and other demands," he says.




Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/04/11/cuba.rapper/index.html

[slackmaster]

1. But Cuba's racism, harassment, prostitution, and inequality are all the USA's fault

Just thought I'd be the first to get that in before the Castro Clones show up.

:hide:

[Bacchus39]

2. I just can't get over this

"Cuban Rap Agency" lol!!!!

[katsy]

5. Some of us understand that no type of government is perfect.

Sometimes I wonder how many homeless, families with hungry children, seniors choosing between medicine or food, the uninsured, the soon to be raped in bankruptcy court here in the U.S. would just like the comfort of basic social programs to alleviate their pain. Maybe that young boy who recently died because of a lack of dental care could have been helped in Cuba. Maybe Cuban children as young as 5 and 6 aren't hadcuffed and carted off to jail because they are... well, 5 and 6. Maybe Castro's government could have taught fema a thing or 2 about hurricane evacuation before Katrina struck.

And if basic human needs are taken care of, people can live to fight another day.

The Cuban government is not perfect. But it's also no better or worse than amerikka for our own disenfranchised citizens.

If this rapper gets "disappeared" I'll worry. Until then, feel free to browse the web for banned music right here in the usa:

http://ericnuzum.com/banned/incidents/80s.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_music

[rudeboy666]

7. ....including America!

Think about it: how many Cubans would risk everything to struggle in America? I am willing to bet that it would be millions (and I am not including the rest of the world!).

[katsy]

8. Most likely.

Funny thing about government and greener grass.

[billbuckhead]

9. Just like all the Mexicans, Indians and Dominicans coming over here

:wft:

[billbuckhead]

11. Yeah Cuba's so racist they fought in Africa to free Africans

and their black people live longer than American black people.

[Bacchus39]

14. why not send troops to Darfur then???

why doesn't Cuba take the lead on international affairs then?

[High Plains]

3. Hmmm, the Cuban government is promoting rap.

Not repressing rappers, even those who aren't on its A-list.

I'm shocked that the island contains alienated young men, shocked, I tell you.

[Bacchus39]

4. controling, not promoting more like it

and yes, repressing.

"but you won't find government critics like Rodriguez on their roster. These underground rappers say they won't be silenced or co-opted by the government."

[High Plains]

12. Repressing? Do tell.

Are they being jailed or arrested? Or are they just not getting the government gravy?

[Bacchus39]

13. oh that's right, the government needs to control everything

I keep forgetting that about Cuba. Lets organize a Rap Music Fest. No, better that the Cuban government take it over, that way we can control the content. did you read the article????

[rinsd]

6. More

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/14/news/havana.php

"Chosen to head the agency was Susana Garcia Amaros, 46, who studied Latin American literature at the University of Havana, specializing in the writings of Afro-Cubans. She acknowledged that she was no rap expert when the Ministry of Culture approached her for the job. But she said she appreciates the music and its underlying messages...

"We don't have songs on a record that speak badly of the revolution," she said. "That doesn't make sense."

[Bacchus39]

10. priceless

n/t