https://doi.org/10.31261/pr.22566
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian Rap has become one of the most powerful tools of artistic resistance, with anti-war songs emerging as both cultural protest and a new form of non-fiction narrative. Among the most notable voices is the Kasta band and one of its members Vladi with a solo project, whose works blend elements of satire, lyrical self-expression, and journalistic testimony. These songs not only articulate personal perspectives on the war but also document war crimes committed by Putin’s regime, turning rap lyrics into vehicles of cultural memory and protest journalism. The purpose of this study is to examine Russian anti-war rap after 2022 as a hybrid phenomenon at the intersection of art and reportage. The research addresses key questions: How do artists like members of Kasta use satire and lyrical innovation to oppose the war? In what ways do their songs function as non-fiction, documenting social reality under conditions of censorship? How does their work influence public perception of the war in both Russia and abroad? The analysis will focus on the lyrics of Kasta’s album “Новинкизарубежного рэпа” (2024) and Vladi’s “Длится февраль” (2022), supplemented by interviews and critical reviews. The method of close reading will be combined with discourse analysis of media reactions and social networks. By analyzing the case of Russian Rap, this research sheds light on the potential of music to serve simultaneously as art and as a form of political journalism. It also highlights the broader role of cultural resistance in times of war and repression.
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Vol. 193 No. 1 (2026)
Published: 2026-03-29
10.31261/pr
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Język Polski
Русский
English