Society Uncensored | The power of Greek Rap

Rap music is a mass cultural phenomenon, an art form that succeeded both commercially and artistically, despite starting out as the ultimate outsider. But is rap a unified culture, or does it branch into distinct sub-scenes? Where does it stand today, and where is it headed? How does rap relate to different social classes? What role have social media and music technology played in this explosion of popularity over recent years? What is the place of women in the Greek (and global) rap scene? Is it still male-dominated—and if so, why? How closely is Greek rap connected to its ‘mother scene’ in the U.S.? What defines this culture—and its lifestyle—and why does it often spark ethical debates?

The rappers Saske, Ladele, Katohos, and Mira—all with a significant discography and devoted followers—engage in a dialogue on all the above in the new discussion of the Society Uncensored series, shedding light on the present and the future of the Greek rap scene. They are joined by M.Hulot (aka Tasos Brekoulakis), editorial director of the print edition of LiFO, Christos Melidis (More), founder of Cool Geeks, and Andreas Metaxas, Senior Marketing Manager at Stay Independent and co-founder of Legal Pizza. Spilios Floros, a stand-up comedian with a strong presence on YouTube and Spotify, moderates the discussion.

The focus is mainly on the new generation of Greek rappers who have taken over from their predecessors and are more open than ever to musical experimentation. How has the lyrical ‘pen’ of this younger generation evolved? What is their perspective in the wake of the trap explosion? How do they perceive the criticism and resistance often faced by artists in this scene? And ultimately, why do they choose to express themselves in the way they do, through their music?

The Onassis Stegi hosts the series of “Society Uncensored” online discussions with the option of physical attendance. The audience may attend them in person and become a part of a productive dialogue through a Q&A session with the guest speakers. The discussion will be filmed and presented on the Onassis YouTube Channel. Admission to the event is free, and a pre-booking of your seat is required. By attending this discussion, the audience members consent to their video recording. Parental consent is necessary for the entry of young people under 18. The audience's arrival will begin at 18:30.

Katohos, MC / rhymer

Ladele, MC / musician

Μ.Ηulot (aka Tasos Brekoulakis), managing editor of LiFO free press (print edition)

Christos Melidis (More), Founder of Cool Geeks / STEGI.RADIO Resident

Andreas Metaxas, Senior Marketing Manager, Artist & Label Relations, Stay Independent / Podcaster, Legal Pizza

Μira, MC / artist

Saske, artist

Moderation: Spilios Floros, stand-up comedian

Curated by Yannis-Orestis Papadmitriou, Pavlos Toubekis, Tasos Brekoulakis (Μ.Hulot), Pasqua Vorgia

Dr Lambros Fatsis, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Department of Sociology & Criminology, City, University of London

Giorgos Fourtounis, film director

Natalia Koutsougera, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Social Anthropology, Panteion University

Kostas Savvopoulos, PhD, Political Science, researcher in hip hop culture

Stolou, producer, sound engineer

Yannis-Orestis Papadimitriou, journalist

Maria Pappa, journalist

Pavlos Toubekis, journalist, YouTuber