In Germany, because of the rap about Auschwitz, abolished the prestigious music award

In Germany, the prestigious Echo music award was abolished after a scandal involving the awarding of an award to a rapper duo whose lyrics included lines deemed anti-Semitic.

Photo: PushaTV

It's about a duet kollegah (pseudonym of Felix Blume) and Farid Bango, who received the prize in the category “Best Hip-Hop Album”, which contains several references to the tragic moment in history - the Holocaust and prisoners in concentration camps.

Germany's music industry says it doesn't want to see its prize Echo as a platform for anti-Semitic sentiment, and since the reputation of this brand has suffered so much damage, you need to start over.

The Jewish community in Germany has recently come under attack and threats from what Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a "new phenomenon" distinct from the old, far-right anti-Semitism.

“We have many refugees, including people of Arab origin, who are bringing a different form of anti-Semitism to our country,” Merkel said.

On Wednesday, meetings against this phenomenon were held in Berlin and several other German cities. Their participants called for bales (a traditional Jewish men's headdress) to express their support for the Jewish community.

Police are investigating an attack in Berlin against two young men, during which the offender, filmed on tape, shouted out anti-Semitic insults.

The attack in Berlin. Photo courtesy of the Jewish Forum for Democracy and Anti-Semitism

What was contained in the rapper lines?

The decision to give the prize album kollegah and Bongo's "JBG3" ("Young, Fierce, Handsome3") led to many musicians, one after another, handing over their awards in protest Echo.

One of the tracks on this album, “0815,” contains the following lines: “My body is more defined than the prisoners of Auschwitz.” In another place there are these words: “I’m creating another Holocaust, I’m going with a Molotov.”

German daily Die Tageszeitung calls on its readers to rally on Wednesday with the words: “Have you stocked up on bale?” Photo: TAGESZEITUNG

Berlin-based internationally renowned Israeli conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim said he was returning his prizes in protest at the rapper's lines, which he condemned as "blatantly anti-Semitic, misogynistic, homophobic and in violation of human dignity."

Rock musician Marius Muller-Westernhagen said he would give back seven of his prizes Echowhich he collected over the years.

Also, prizes were returned by the German pianist Igor Levit and the famous artist, musician and music producer Klaus Formann, who created the cover of the Beatles album. Revolver.

However, the harshest criticism came during the awards ceremony from Campino, the lead singer of the German punk rock band Die Toten Hosenwhich also received this award.

“It’s one thing to provoke, but using misogynistic, homophobic, far-right or anti-Semitic statements in texts is beyond the pale,” Campino said.

Islamist kollegah already apologized for saying about Auschwitz, saying during the presentation of the award that he did not want to stir up political debates.

"We're here to have fun," he said.

The record company BMG, which sold more than 200 thousands of copies of this album, said it was against anti-Semitism, and promised to allocate funds to fight this phenomenon.

Award Echo in the categories of classical and jazz music, which were to be presented at the end of May, will also not be awarded due to the decision to completely eliminate this brand.

In a statement, the Federal Music Industry Association of Germany said that Germany represents the third largest music market in the world and still needs to be recognized by outstanding musicians of different genres and generations.

Premium Echo Awarded with 1992 year.

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