Ma­chia­vel­li | Rap und Politik

Rap cannot exist without politics – and politics can also learn a lot from hip-hop culture. For more than six years, the two WDR journalists Jan Kawelke – a music journalist and COSMO presenter – and Vassili Golod – a political journalist and head of the ARD studio in Kyiv – have been talking and arguing about the love affair between rap and politics. In their podcast, ‘Machiavelli’, the two highlight topics from both worlds in an attempt to build bridges between rap culture and politics and to promote discourse. At the Reeperbahn Festival, Jan Kawelke asks rappers Kat and Nina from 6euroneunzig: How do you write feminist sing-along anthems and pushy fitness bangers against machos? The three talk about head-off music and head-on lyrics.

The list of strong voices that have spoken into the Machiavelli microphone continues to grow: Guests have included top politicians such as Olaf Scholz, Annalena Baerbock, and Robert Habeck. On the rap side, RIN, Soho Bani, LIZ, and Nura – among others – have also done the honours.