Rapper Ptakha (David Nureyev) has called the constant attacks on rap artists discriminatory. This is how he interpreted the statement of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Zubov on the introduction of criminal liability for rappers for songs about drugs from 2024. The artist recalled that President Putin once stood up for rappers and asked them to “leave them alone.”
“In my personal opinion, this is already an overkill. There are drugs in the songs. This is normal. Just like in the movies. You just need to understand the context. There is a context in which people promote drugs and their use. And when they talk about a situation in which this or that narcotic substance comes out. Vladimir Vladimirovich once said that their singing is, of course, bad, but rappers should be left alone. Only someone does not live in peace and everyone wants to jail rappers. Make sure you do something with them to eliminate the rap. The constant attacks on rap are already a form of discrimination. Presumably, we are supposed to be a social group of people, or whatever is rightly called, they need to stay behind us,” Ptakha said.
According to the rapper, drug-related songs will not go away, despite the criminal liability law. Ptaha believes the perpetrators will find a way to circumvent the law.
“Everything that is forbidden attracts young people. For rappers, it means more listeners and more money. Accordingly, more songs about drugs. If we get the drugs off the streets, there won’t be any drug-related songs. And so there is no problem. We will just be called differently and be released in other countries under other names and aliases. In Russian, these songs will be the same. So this war is like the war with the dark web. It is easy to get around. But simply, rappers should really stop promoting and just talk about their lives, where and when, in what situations. However, try to protect yourself from these hotheads who are constantly trying to put us in jail. In any case, art does not remain silent. One way or another, it will be present,” said Ptakha.
If passed, the law will enter into force in 2024. According to the new norms, it is proposed to introduce penalties for the propaganda of drug use in music, in the cinema, on the Internet (including personal accounts on social networks).
According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, criminal responsibility will not come immediately, but after a citizen, provider, performer and other violators are brought to administrative responsibility for such violations two or more times. At the same time, Zubov assured that there were no plans to “imprison thousands”.