The role of Dutch Moroccan rap music in the process of identity formation among Dutch Moroccan youth in the Netherlands

Over the last 30 years, the Moroccan migration waves in the Netherlands contributed to a change of ''the Dutch culture’’. The arrival of this group has influenced this dynamic process. The integration policies of the government changed as well over time. Since 9/11 and the murder of politician Pim Fortuyn and director Theo van Gogh, the political debate in the Netherlands seems to be entirely focused on how the ‘national identity’ is threatened by Muslim fundamentalism and the alleged failure of the ethnic integration policy of a multicultural society. In the current Dutch political climate, Dutch-Moroccan youth are often labelled as a root problem, paired with a lot of negative (media) attention. The (mostly) negative appearance of Dutch-Moroccan youth in the public sphere also affects the formation of their identity. Aside from being subjected to many negative stereotypes, this group received little academic nor media attention within the Dutch society. Trying to break from the...Show moreOver the last 30 years, the Moroccan migration waves in the Netherlands contributed to a change of ''the Dutch culture’’. The arrival of this group has influenced this dynamic process. The integration policies of the government changed as well over time. Since 9/11 and the murder of politician Pim Fortuyn and director Theo van Gogh, the political debate in the Netherlands seems to be entirely focused on how the ‘national identity’ is threatened by Muslim fundamentalism and the alleged failure of the ethnic integration policy of a multicultural society. In the current Dutch political climate, Dutch-Moroccan youth are often labelled as a root problem, paired with a lot of negative (media) attention. The (mostly) negative appearance of Dutch-Moroccan youth in the public sphere also affects the formation of their identity. Aside from being subjected to many negative stereotypes, this group received little academic nor media attention within the Dutch society. Trying to break from the negative stereotypes, Dutch-Moroccan rappers use hip-hop music as a tool to resist. This research analysed Dutch-Moroccan rap music to understand the process of identity formation. Through this research, the main question is answered of what the role is of Dutch Moroccan rap music in the process of identity formation among Dutch Moroccan youth in the Netherlands. This provided a deeper understanding of how the analysed Dutch Moroccan rappers present themselves, and represent others. The analysis of the lyrics provided an insight into the individual story of the analysed Dutch Moroccan artists: Appa and Salah Edin.Show less

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The role of Dutch Moroccan rap music in the process of identity formation among Dutch Moroccan youth in the Netherlands