Catching a bad Rap?!

The killing of popular Punjabi rapper, Siddhu Moosewala, has sent shockwaves through the rap community worldwide. Some say it was politically motivated, others say it was the result of an old rivalry. Be it as may, his death has also brought hitherto unknown facts about Punjabi rap scene.

Now the connection between Canada and Punjab is pretty well known. However, with the death of Siddhu Moosewala, it has come to light that many young Punjabi men emigrated to Canada at first for education and then several of them ventured into rapping. The small little town of Brampton, in Canada, is home to these young Punjabi rappers and keeps churning out more of them every other year!

Rap music began as an outlet for the oppressed black youth – so that they could express their despair, anger, helplessness and dissent to the world. It has come a long way from there to the present day. Present-day rap is about the material trappings of the world. It is about gang affiliations and violence.

The use of rap to make known dissent and oppression has all but ceased. Efforts to get back to the roots of the rap music form should be encouraged especially by the Music Industry – record labels, movie studios and the artists combine. There are groups of oppressed people around the world, there are issues that need to be discussed and brought to the mainstream, and there is so much more that Rap can address! Recognizing and doing this would certainly lead to the resurrection of the Rap music as a genre.