Turkish Rap Music

‘You’ve got to try if you want to find music from elsewhere… And I’ve never bothered’

Helen Brew is a Chemistry teacher.

Without knowing anything:

In all honesty, I don’t understand where the appeal lies here. Why do I care so much about this music? Why should I be invested in this music? When I don’t understand either what they’re talking about. Yes, I enjoyed the video, but am I analysing the music or the video? Because I spent my time watching the video, trying to gauge a story from it – as opposed to enjoying the music itself. The video was well produced yes, someone had become involved in a gang with their life being overwhelmed with gang violence and they were trying to make their life better by boxing. But why do I care? The beat was relatively samey and very little changed rhythmically, which I’m assuming is the norm in rap music and this made it relatively easy to listen to. So yes, I would say I enjoyed the music, I just wish I could understand it, I can’t help it… It’s one of my pet peeves. The Middle Eastern sound gave it something different, it certainly had the underlying sound of the country, it was definitely inspired by where it was from… But I have no idea where that is.

After being informed:

25 million views doesn’t shock me at all. We’re just not very exposed to music from anywhere other than the UK and US in the general diet which we’re fed on the radio. It’s sad, really. I think if I was able to easily access the music, I would probably find some really good stuff to listen to… Which would also make me feel more cultured… We have to actively try to find music from elsewhere and in all honesty, I’ve never bothered trying. I cannot gauge the metaphor from the video but that’s not so shocking as I can’t understand the words anyway. To be honest, I want to thank you for introducing me to this, I enjoyed it and when I hear them I enjoy the Middle Eastern sounds, I just never hear them. I’m going to go out today and look for some more of this kind of music. Sagopa Kajmer, get ready for a white, British, middle aged fan because she’s coming your way.