I was relieved it wasn't MC Solaar! Apparently this French rap artist OrelSan has been publicly called out by Segolene Royal and other politicians for recording rap music that bashes women. Royal ran for president against Sarkozy and is one of the highest ranking female politicians in France. Some of you may be familiar with the usual excuses made when defending depravity.
Amongst them are:
- Claiming it's free speech
- That it's a quirky artistic expression
- Comparing modern crap to classic works of art/music
- That it's a joke, satire, not meant to be taken seriously
OrelSan's new album, Perdu d'Avance, has been removed from public libraries in Paris because of concern over what feminist and women's groups say are his sexist, homophobic and violent lyrics. Ms. Royal and other critics were particularly outraged over a song by the 26-year-old called Sale Pute, roughly translated as "Dirty Bitch", which is about a man who wants to break the bones of his unfaithful girlfriend. - - BBC News
The above-referenced article goes on to detail how certain male politicians want to make excuses for this music artist and how some kids think it's a generational difference - yet they don't want their younger siblings to listen to violent lyrics in music. Hello! It's great to read about someone with clout stepping up to address this before it becomes commonplace.
The only difference with this scenario is the rap artist is white and not specifically targeting black women. I still lay this squarely at the feet of the instigators from this country who started down this path a decade ago. We all know rap/hip-hop originated here in the US and still casts a long shadow. Wouldn't it be something if a powerful female politician like Hillary Clinton or Maxine Waters publicly denounced the depravity? Misogyny knows no color.
Faith,
ReplyDeleteOther people WON'T put up with that mess without a knock-down, drag-out fight. Good for them.
Vive La France!
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
Good for them. This kind of music is not art and it certainly does not deserve coverage under free speech. What it does do is uphold a culture of violence wherein it is permissible to hurt women. Misogyny has no place in a civilized world.
ReplyDeleteFrance would merely have to look to the US & see the carnage and destruction left in it's wake...
ReplyDeleteKhadija: If only we had managed to stem that tide of filth but with the so-called prominent AA scholar supporting it no wonder it took hold.
ReplyDeleteRenee:I concur. Misogyny shouldn't be allowed to gain a toehold without a fight.
CW: Yes France has its own issues but I'm glad to see prominent women take a stand.