{"id":3357,"date":"2010-11-19T13:34:39","date_gmt":"2010-11-19T17:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/2010\/11\/10\/"},"modified":"2010-11-19T13:34:39","modified_gmt":"2010-11-19T17:34:39","slug":"freeze-its-the-vice-squad-part-6-rap-music-strikes-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=3357","title":{"rendered":"Freeze! It’s the Vice Squad! Part 6: Rap Music Strikes Again!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iran\u2019s “Vice Squad” is a long time favorite topic here at The Magical Buffet. Those spunky individuals charged with insuring that the citizens of Iran don\u2019t stray too far from the government\u2019s \u201cnorms\u201d. In other words, they spend a lot of time harassing women for wearing make-up or showing off a little ankle. However, back in December 2007 I took a moment to discuss Iran\u2019s rap music problem<\/a>. And oddly, nearly three years later, Iran\u2019s relationship with rap music has again found its way into my news browser. <\/p>\n

I think I may have been on to something considering that almost three years later CNN International is reporting that<\/a> \u201cPolice in Tehran have arrested several members of underground Iranian rap groups, the semi-official ILNA news agency reported.<\/p>\n

Tehran Police Chief Hussain Sajedinia told ILNA that several young boys and girls were discovered using vacant homes to record and videotape illegal rap music for various websites and satellite networks.<\/p>\n

Police raided the homes, arrested the young musicians and confiscated \u2018western style musical instruments\u2019 and several bottles of liquor, according to ILNA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tehran police chief Sajedinia, through ILNA, \u201caccused Iran’s underground rap scene of spreading profanity and poisoning young minds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reading this article made me have two thoughts. One, \u201cpoisoning young minds\u201d sounds an awful lot like, \u201cthe anti-authority, revolution inspiring themes, are what is really causing the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry to crackdown on the genre.\u201d (Aren\u2019t I the savvy pundit?) Two, please someone tell me that the \u201cwestern style musical instruments\u201d were turn tables!<\/p>\n

I find the fact that rap music persists in Iran to be an encouraging thing. In April 2010 when discussing music returning to Afghanistan <\/a>I said, \u201cMusic matters. I don\u2019t have facts and figures to back up that statement. Sure, I could go online and find them, but you know it\u2019s true, so why fight with WordPress to create a link? Music inspires, educates, and liberates, that\u2019s just how it is, no sense in denying it.\u201d Despite a regime that wishes to stifle creativity, rap musicians are finding a way to make it work; working out of abandoned houses, getting their music out to the internet, selling CDs on the sly; that my friends is truly \u201cold school\u201d and assuredly \u201chard core\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"