More than 50 years of existence and still the same story: 'music for illiterates, misogynists, or thugs'—in short, rap is still considered a subculture. Granted, less so than in its early days, but a few stubborn holdouts remain firmly entrenched in their positions,especially in their privileged roles, which still allow some to call the shots in this industry. We remember the 1998 French Awards and the bizarre crowning of Manau’s Celtic rap in the 'urban music' category. The irony is there in the title. Not to mention all the controversies surrounding the lyrics of certain rappers. When Johnny Hallyday sings 'he killed her to keep her,' suddenly we’re told we have to separate the man from the artist. With the rise of specialised media & shows (Booska-P, Rapunchline, Paroles Véritables, etc.) and streaming platforms, rap has managed to create its own ecosystem. While some rappers still venture onto mainstream shows where ignorance and disdain still reign, rap has become, "the culture".
