The Glocalization of Hip Hop in Russia: The Difference Between Mass Taste and Mass Culture

Both the Russian and Soviet youths demonstrated an attraction for Western music. With the collapse of the USSR, American popular music has had the opportunity to increment its leverage on the cultural and political developments of the country. Nowadays, rap is a genre that is playing a major role in Russia society. Even Putin is aware of the magnitude and the influence that rap has on local youth. Indeed, a major control over the development of this genre has been recently brought up to debate by the president. Taking into account the strong censorship which characterized the freedom of music expression during Soviet Union and the importance of the relation between culture and politics in this region; an analysis of the lyrics of contemporary Russian artists can be regarded as an opportunity to better comprehend Russia’s culture and its political stances within today’s globalized reality. Therefore, the concept of glocalization will be adopted in order to pinpoint the adaptation of...Show moreBoth the Russian and Soviet youths demonstrated an attraction for Western music. With the collapse of the USSR, American popular music has had the opportunity to increment its leverage on the cultural and political developments of the country. Nowadays, rap is a genre that is playing a major role in Russia society. Even Putin is aware of the magnitude and the influence that rap has on local youth. Indeed, a major control over the development of this genre has been recently brought up to debate by the president. Taking into account the strong censorship which characterized the freedom of music expression during Soviet Union and the importance of the relation between culture and politics in this region; an analysis of the lyrics of contemporary Russian artists can be regarded as an opportunity to better comprehend Russia’s culture and its political stances within today’s globalized reality. Therefore, the concept of glocalization will be adopted in order to pinpoint the adaptation of Hip hop subculture in Russia and its political and cultural impacts on the society of the country.Show less

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The Glocalization of Hip Hop in Russia: The Difference Between Mass Taste and Mass Culture