Is Kremlin Behind Rap Group’s Ultra-Nationalist Lyrics?
Paul Goble Vienna, August 1, 2006 – The unexpected appearance of ultra-nationalist lyrics in a new album by one of Russia’s leading rap music groups has raised suspicions that Kremlin political technologists may be attempting to exploit popular culture for political gain just as their Soviet-era predecessors did. The latest album of the popular Russian rap group “Avariya” (Accident) contains one song whose lyrics contain something that has not appeared in any of the group’s previous offerings: nostalgia for the Soviet Union, hatred for the United States, and a robust form of Russian nationalism [http://www.globalrus.ru/column/782930/]. This song stands in stark contrast to the group’s normal offerings, including such popular hits in the Russian Federation as one about a drunken Father Frost and his adventures in alcohol, Moscow commentator Oleg Kashin wrote on the Globalrus portal yesterday. Although there is no direct evidence of Kremlin involvement, he said, “few doubt” that someone
