GRANDGOOD

The high production value for Hichkas’ 2008 video for Bunch of Soldiers (shared recently by WITWhat) motivated me into an internet prowl for more background on the Iran-confined Persian rapper whom apparently manages to sustain an independent rap career (including performances and pressing cds) in a country that is said to have banned this type of Western decadence. Among my most interesting findings is this seemingly unrehearsed BBC interview wherein Hichkas concisely articulates the everyday conflict between political ideology and political culture in Iran. Also, Tirippe Ma, a video dating back to 2004, is striking to me as it’s contrastingly low budget value leads me to believe it was even more definitively un-coached and thereby a raw representation of youth culture in Tehran. Unfortunately, Tirippe, does not include a translation (like Bunch), although the featured MC does rhyme in English.