ATHENS – Three of Greece’s best known and notorious trap artists – specializing in drug use, sex, money and urban violence – will have to appear before the National Council for Radio and Television for a hearing over their provocative lyrics.
Snik, Toquel and Rack were summoned to appear as they and their record labels – Capital Music, Alphapop Records and Mad House Records – are under investigation for violating Law 4779/2021, which prohibits content that may harm minors’ moral development or incite violence and hate.
The NCRTV, responsible for regulating audiovisual material, flagged their lyrics and music videos for promoting drug use, violence and a gangster lifestyle although they said it’s artistic expression that shouldn’t be censored.
Their critics said they are glorifying a dangerous lifestyle to susceptible young people, and their lawyers were able to postpone a hearing until Dec. 9 to give the artists time to prepare a defense.
Potential penalties include fines up to 50,000 euros ($53,157) and possible bans on platforms such as YouTube for the artists who try to emulate black rap and hip-hop and trap singers, the case raising questions about freedom of expression.
The term “trap” comes from the Atlanta slang term “trap house”, which refers to a house used exclusively to sell drugs. The word was popularized in Atlanta in the late 1990s by the Dungeon Family collective. T.I. is often credited with founding the term “trap music” with his 2003 album Trap Muzik.
