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Rap music inspires Libyan rebels to defeat Gadhafi

Updated: 2011-04-24 20:51

(Agencies)

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Rap is not the only style of music that has been used to create anthems for the revolution, but Mutaz al-Obeidi, a 23-year-old member of Revolution Beat, said it was uniquely positioned to appeal to Libya's youth.

"Rap is more popular than rock and country among the young people in Libya because it expresses anger and frustration," said al-Obeidi, an English student, standing in a small recording studio in the official rebel media center in Benghazi that is used by Revolution Beat.

"The guys at the media center contacted us and said you guys have a rap group and we want rap to be part of the revolution," said Youssef al-Briki, 24, who started Revolution Beat with Islam Winees, 21, in 2007, but originally called the group Street Beat.

Al-Briki, aka "SWAT," works as a garbage man, and Winees, known as "A.Z.," is a small-time businessman. Both have the tough-guy vibe of gangsta rappers and expressed admiration for Tupac Shakur, who was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996.

"He's a real rapper. He's a thug," Winees said.

Al-Briki said he looks forward to writing the first song after Gadhafi is ousted.

What will it be called?

"Finally He Did It," said al-Briki.

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