Mideast Tunes reports the release of Biyan Raqam Wahid, translated as Statement No. 1. or Communique No. 1, a rap song protesting against, and documenting, the violent government suppression of demonstrations and rallies against the authoritarian and repressive state, as an extract from the lyrics make clear:

We live in silence 
It’s been years

How long do we have to stay like this — dead 

They are always promising reform and freedom 

But it seems there is no will 
and opinions are banned

The song was released online and widely networked. The Mideast Tunes article makes the excellent point “Arab Spring raps strike the same tone as rap’s emergent themes when it was evolving as an American rebellious protest form in the 1970s, with strong roots in “street culture” of urban neighborhoods that spoke to global social and political conflicts. Like American rap’s original investment in formulating lyrics to convey a strong mobilization message.”

LA rapper Snoop Dogg controversially (in the true tradition of rap) appeared in a khandoura for the first hour of his recent concert at the Yas Arena in Abu Dhabi. Whilst seen by some as an expression by Snoop Dogg of empathy with UAE culture, many have been shocked and offended. Snoop changed into a white T-shirt with a small UAE flag on the side, and Etisalat written across the front. As well as meaning “communications”, Etisalat is also the name used by the Emirates Telecommunications Corp. Ltd., the company providing services for the Free Libyana mobile ‘phone database Free Libyana created during the 2011 Libyan civil war by disconnecting part of the Libyana mobile phone network from its central control in Tripoli and placing it under new control as an independent network.

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Libyan-American hip hop artist Khalid M has released a powerful new rap in support of Arab Spring protests and uprisings. “Can’t Take Our Freedom,” which also features Lowkey. The song is an anthem for desperate measures against oppression:

When your voice is illegal
Only Choice for the people
Is to stand up proudly
In the face of death
It ain’t a waste of breath
When you speak up loudly

Khalad M has understandably strong personal feelings about the violence of the Gadhafi regime as he makes clear in part of the song:

Dad escaped jail and he dedicated..
His life to the cause but he never made it.
This ain’t about my father gettin’ retribution,
All my uncles gettin’ tortured with electrocution,
Other uncles gettin’ hung in public executions,
Just simply comin’ up with the best solution.
And I don’t know why it seems..
This guy’s regime keeps pushin’ through the silent screams,
Will take you half an hour to figure that this coward
Can only get his power through violent means.

The situation vis a vis the song seems very fluid – whilst still, apparently, available on YouTube, there is also a petition being circulated by Care2 on the grounds YouTube have taken down the clip because, YouTube says, of the violent scenes portrayed. The Petition is gathering signatures.

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