America’s Secret Weapon: Hip-Hop?

Hishaam Aidi assesses the use of hip-hop as part of US democracy promotion in the Arab world:

For State Department officials, the hip hop initiatives in Muslim-majority states showcase the diversity and integration of post-civil rights America. The multi-hued hip hop acts sent overseas represent a post-racial or post-racist American dream, and exhibit the achievements of the civil rights movement, a uniquely American moment that others can learn from.  

But it's unclear how persuasive this racialised imagery is. Muslims do not resent the US for its lack of diversity. Where perceptions are poor, it is because of foreign policy, as well as, increasingly, domestic policies that target Muslims. 

Liam Stack profiles [NYT] a Libyan hip-hop collective's experience during and after Qaddafi. Their first video, above, was filmed in Qaddafi's former compound in Bab al-Azizyeh (though the song was released in March).