Why Turkey's rappers can no longer stay silent
In a 15-minute-long song aptly titled "#ICannotBeSilent," Turkish rappers take turns expressing their woes on issues such as justice, freedom, environment, abuse and exile.
At midnight on Sept. 6, two rap songs sent shock waves through Turkey.
The nearly 15-minute-long "#Susamam" (“#ICannotBeSilent”) is the brainchild of Sarp Palaur, known by the stage name Saniser, and a product of collaboration between 20 prominent rappers and musicians.
In the song and accompanying music video, Server Uraz, Kamufle, Tahribad-i Isyan and Aga B and others take turns raising awareness about issues that face Turkey and the world, including justice, freedom, education, animal abuse, exile, suicide and urbanization.
In a parallel development, controversial rapper Ezhel’s song "Olay" ("Incident") takes a more historical approach to many of the same issues. In the music video Ezhel, born Sercan Ipekcioglu, raps using auto-tune in the "trap style” while news footage flits rapidly across the screen. This often disturbing footage shows political scandals, trials, protests, police violence, terrorist attacks, the Syrian civil war and the refugee crisis.
