Hip-Hop, Islamofascist Style
The mullahs of Iran have allowed a “hip-hop” album to be released—but the message is nothing like Baby Got Back: Mullahs give their blessing to leader of the Teheran posse.
He is clean-shaven and goes about his business wearing a suit and tie with his cut-back collar shirt. Hardly a hip-hop image for Iran’s first official rap artist. But Shahkar Binesh-Pagoh has brought the once underground genre of rap music into the open for Iranian teenagers. Sales of his new album Eskenas, literally banknote, are rocketing.
“I started writing the album four years ago but knew that we would encounter problems releasing it,” said the 32-year-old singer. “Up to 20 lyrical excerpts were deleted and we had no choice [but to] delete some songs.”
The album was finally approved by the ministry of Islamic guidance and culture, which vets all forms of art in the theocratic state.
Many of the songs question the habit of girls following western fashions.
The lyrics mock the girls in Teheran who stroll through the capital with designer headscarves and make-up.
“More important than bread at night is your lipstick and lipliner,” raps Binesh Pagoh about a conceited girl.
“There’s a lot of religious people here, cover your legs with that skirt.”
I don’t think Sir Mix-A-Lot would be down with this.
So, fellas! (Yeah!) Fellas! (Yeah!)
Has your girlfriend got the butt? (Hell yeah!)
Tell ‘em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)
Shake that healthy butt!
Baby got back!