Abstract
In the introduction to collection of essays The Organic Globalizer: Hip Hop, Political Development, and Movement Culture editors Christopher Malone and George Martinez, Jr map out three stages in the political development of hip hop from (1) a cultural expression to (2) a network of grassroot social institutions focusing on issue of social justice and finally to (3) a potentially enduring political force. Is it possible to find equivalent to these stages in the development of Czech hip hop subculture? In my paper I will focus on rap music as one of the elements of hip hop culture and its relationship to so called movement culture.
This particular subgenre of rap music, usually labeled "conscious rap" is more often than not related to the specific ideology of "underground" hip hop scene. In opposition to so-called mainstream rap music which usually promotes materialism, capitalism, sexism and other -isms, conscious rappers are viewed as those who critique the status quo and their lyrics contain a substantial political message.
When talking about Czech rap music it is important to take into consideration the way hip hop in general and rap music in particular were appropriated and the transformations that occurred during this cultural translation. Czech rap is dominated by middle class white men where one group insists on ties to the roots of hip hop culture in the USA and the other considers Czech rap as an entity of its own.
Within the Czech rap scene Biggboss label are considered the "mainstream". In this paper I will focus on the attitudes towards the intersection between music and politics as expressed by the artists singed to this label and particularly on the "Statement of the Biggboss label on the current climate in the Czech Republic" released in February 2016.
On the opposite side of the spectrum I want to highlight the activities of independent artists like Memento Morí to showcase the different grassroots approach and work within the local communities.