Vladimir Putin wants to ‘control’ rap music in Russia

Reminiscent of a Soviet-era censorship of the arts, Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to control rap music, saying it is a path to the “degradation of the nation”.

Alarmed by the growing popularity of rap music among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin wants cultural leaders to devise a means of controlling popular music.

“If it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it and direct it,” Mr Putin said.

Rapper Oxxxymiron, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov, is one of the Russian musicians who has experienced a spike in pressure from the authorities in recent months. Picture: AP

The Russian leader told cultural advisers at a Kremlin meeting on Saturday that attempts to ban artists from performing will either have an adverse effect and bolster their popularity, however, they have to crack down.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes rap is a path to the degradation of the nation”, Picture: AP

Mr Putin argued that “rap is based on three pillars: sex, drugs and protest.”

But he is particularly concerned with drug themes prevalent in rap, saying “this is a path to the degradation of the nation.”

People cheer during a concert in support of rapper Husky, in Moscow. A string of concert cancellations and arrests have brought an outcry from critics who see it as censorship. Picture: AP

He then claimed “drug propaganda” is worse than cursing.

Mr Putin’s comments come amid a crackdown on contemporary music that evoked Soviet-era censorship of the arts.