Hip hop scene puts aside differences after rapper killed by right-wing party sympathiser скачать в хорошем качестве

Hip hop scene puts aside differences after rapper killed by right-wing party sympathiser

(16 Oct 2013) An unprecedented surge in public support since the financial crisis hit Greece four years ago helped the extreme right-wing Golden Dawn party earn 18 parliamentary seats during last year's elections. The party's members and supporters have frequently been suspected of carrying out violent attacks, mainly against immigrants. But it was the stabbing to death of a Greek rap singer last month, the first attributed to political motives and allegedly involving Golden Dawn, that launched an unprecedented political crackdown against the party. On Wednesday, Parliament will debate the lifting of immunity from prosecution for some Golden Dawn lawmakers so they can face charges of participating in a criminal organisation. But for members of Greece's fractured hip hop community, political or legal action against the party is little consolation for their loss. The stabbing of 34-year-old Pavlos Fyssas by a Golden Dawn sympathiser in a Piraeus suburb has brought together colleagues and friends who are trying to make sense of the artist's death. Thanassis Perrakis, who was a close friend of Fyssas, said the rapper's songs had not even touched on the subject of the extreme-right party, and that other artists had targeted Golden Dawn much more aggressively in their lyrics. "Pavlos wrote more about parties, about Jamaica. He was Jamaica," Perrakis said. "He loved the sun, he loved parties, he loved freedom of the spirit, of the heart. Surely we are against authority, no matter what authority that might be, whether it's right or left. We cannot be a part of something like this." Perrakis performed one of Fyssas' songs at a recent hip hop concert in Athens. He recalled their friendship and highlighted Fyssas' kind, good-hearted nature in helping young artists launch their careers. "He very much enjoyed helping new kids, kids who didn't have the opportunity to promote themselves otherwise. And he did it from the bottom of his heart," said Perrakis, who also goes by the stage name Tiny Jackal. "He set it up for them to play at festivals with big-name artists. He opened the door for them to work at clubs where they wouldn't be able to go alone because the owners don't trust unknown artists." "But Pavlos saw something in their eyes. He saw a value and wanted to help them be promoted in one way or another. He did whatever he could for people." The Athens hip hop scene has been split by rivalry throughout its 20 year history, but following Fyssas' death, ten bands put aside their differences to pay tribute to the dead musician, and to call for unity against Golden Dawn. B.D. Foxmoor, one of the founders of hip hop in Greece with the band Active Member, said he knew Fyssas as a teenager when he was starting out. He described the rapper, whose stage name was Killah P, as a simple kid who dreamed of bringing hip hop artists together. He said Fyssas tried many times to get him to work with other artists but he always declined. It was Fyssas' death that prompted him to change his mind. "If any other kid from the hip hop scene died, yes we'd all be saddened, but this wouldn't happen. He was the link between the two scenes. That is why it happened. Only Pavlos could make this happen," he said. "There are many differences and diversity is great. But for this whole thing to be united there is much work to be done, as you can understand. It's a situation that's been fractured for 20 years," he said. As for the crackdown on Golden Dawn, B.D. Foxmoor said he thought members and supporters of the extreme-right party felt threatened by people who speak through song. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...