Balkan Rap: A Fusion of Sound and Stories

The rap came from Hip-Hop during the 70s in the American ghettos. We recognize rap music by a specific beat and a lot of rhyme. In the beginning, rap music was a way of expressing a kind of life, and it claimed and brought to light social inequalities. In the 80s, rap music was exported around the world in Europe (France, Germany, UK…), in Africa (South Africa, Senegal…), and in Asia (URSS, China…).

Hip-hop, and rap music, have taken place in the Balkans since the 80s, an era that experienced a lot of political and social changes. This music genre developed as an expression tool for young artists who wanted to share their frustrations, hopes, and realities in this context. Like everywhere, Balkan Rap was influenced by American Rap. Then, with time, it developed its own identity and was inspired by local musical genres, like traditional music of Balkans, or oriental music. In the decade after, the region was marked by war and political conflicts, and rap music followed it in writing lyrics about social and political topics with a bigger impact: such as corruption, violence, inequalities…

Pioneering artists have contributed to the emergence of this musical style in the Balkans, such as Frenkie, a Bosnian rapper who leaves a mark on the rap music scene with socially and politically engaged lyrics delivered over energetic beats. Edo Maajka, another Bosnian rapper, captivates listeners with his poetic writing style and his fusion of different musical genres. In Serbia, the rap collective Beogradski Sindikat emerged in the early 2000s, gaining recognition for their politically engaged lyrics and social critiques. The Croatian collective Tram 11 has played a key role in Croatian rap for similar reasons.

As of 2000, rap artists and collectives in Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, and Macedonia make step by step themself a place in the local music industry and catch international attention. The fusion of different musical genres, like rap music with rock, electro music, or traditional music of the Balkans becomes a common characteristic in this region. Today, Balkan Rap has an important part in the Balkan culture as a kind of artistic expression, social protest, and identity claim.

During the last years, Balkan Rap continued to evolve and diversify. New artists arise regularly, with new sounds and styles of music, allowing for new music types such as trap folk. This kind of music is a unification strength in the Balkans, where there is a duality between the hard reality of life and a utopia, a dream, a hope. It’s a combo of modernity and tradition, focusing on street life on one side and traditional folkloric music, with instruments, on the other. For some of them, the trap folk begin a process of a new cultural and collective identity of the Balkans.

Today, some artists hold a prominent place in Balkan rap, such as the Serbian rapper Coby, recognized for his successful hits and his unique style that blends rap, pop, and electronic music. Similarly, the Serbian collective S.A.R.S. draws inspiration from rock, reggae, and folk music while addressing social and political topics in their lyrics. In Albania, Majk Spirit is gaining popularity with his hit songs and unique style that incorporates elements of rap, R&B, and electronic music. The Macedonian rapper DNK, known for his socially and politically engaged lyrics and dynamic style, also touches upon lighter subjects with reflections on everyday life.

Rap finds its place in the Balkans during a particular social and political context that shapes the history of this region. It emerges in the Balkans, initially drawing inspiration from American rap, and then evolves by incorporating folkloric and traditional sounds. Rap serves as a means of expression and protest for artists, but it also contributes to a fusion of cultures, encompassing musical styles, language, and the topics they address. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.”

Chloé Le Cair

Sources:

Importer, authentifier, revendre. La trap music dans les Balkans – Cairn.info

Brother after arms – Balkan rappers as public intellectuals – University of Helsinki

Balkan beats: introducing folk rap, the hybrid music craze sweeping Serbia and beyond – New east digital archive