No harm in teens' craze for rap music

No harm in teens' craze for rap music

JAKARTA (JP): Rap music may be devoid of aesthetic value, but that is no reason to condemn Indonesia's young people for catching up with the phenomena, let alone banning rap, a leading artist said.

Jathi Kusumo, chairman of the Nusantara Artists Association, said rap music carries messages from young people, and rather than condemning it, people should try to understand it, Antara reported.

He was responding to criticisms made by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who last weekend deplored rap, saying it was a bad influence on young Indonesian and undermining local cultures and values.

The chief message of rap is rebellion against the establishment, Jathi said. In its narrower sense, it is a rebellion against the more established pop music. In its wider sense it could mean rebellion against established social and political structures.

"We don't have to condemn this kind of music. On the contrary, we should try to understand why a music that has no aesthetic value has attracted so many young people."

Jathi said he fully understood the concerns expressed by Habibie about the negative impact of rap on the nation's culture.

Time will eventually tell whether or not rap can be regarded as a creation of art or simply a fad that will disappear, he said. "Without condemning it or banning it, rap will eventually fade out if it has no artistic value."

Jathi, in particular, warned against any attempt to ban rap music in Indonesia. Indonesia should not make a habit of banning artistic creations because it reflects shortsightedness in understanding existing phenomena, he said.

"Let the public be the judge of art. Works of art that are mediocre will eventually fade away." (emb)