As a key part of international youth culture, hip-hop is no longer just a genre of music, but also sells a lifestyle that exists beyond political and cultural boundaries. Everyday life is questioned in the contemplative rhythmic lyrics, and experiences are retold.
In Azerbaijan rap has a traditional role model: Meykhana, a rhyming competition accompanied by old melodies and rhythms.
As part of CULTURESCAPES, the Azerbaijani newcomer band HOST, the Turkish-Swiss formation Makale and the Swiss musicians GREIS have decided to organise a multi-day hip-hop workshop in Basel for young people with Azerbaijani, Turkish and Swiss backgrounds.
The joint concerts by the three bands in Zurich and Basel will show that music knows no boundaries, enabling Orient to meet Occident, West to meet East - and rap to meet rap.