Fabri Fibra- Italian Hip Hop

During our conversation the other day about hip hop and its international reach, I immediately was reminded of the popular Italian rapper Fabri Fibra. Many of his videos and songs look and feel like "American rap music". It is obvious that Fabri Fibra is influenced by American hip hop music and it serves to suggest that hip hop can be an outlet of expression for not only cultures that have experienced some sort of diaspora, but also as an outlet to react to particular political and social movements. In Fabri Fibra's song In Italia, he exposes and criticizes the corruption of the Italian government, the prevalence of the mafia, and the often false religiosity of Italians. I've included the link to the video below and a translation of the lyrics so that you may get a better idea of the songs message. I also encourage you to check out some of his other videos that are on YouTube (Bugiardo, Speak English, La Soluzione are also great examples). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORDWGRlVLJE

lyrics:

There are things nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and you died here,
you were born and you died here.
Born in the Land of half-truths.

Where do you run away?

In Italy, guns in the cars.
In Italy, Machiavelli and Foscolo.
In Italy, world champions.

I'm in Italy
Welcome

In Italy, go on holiday to the seaside.
In Italy, it's better not to get surgeries.
In Italy, don't go to the hospital.
In Italy, life is beautiful.
In Italy, parties and gala nights.
In Italy, you make deals with the underworld/mafia.
In Italy, your neighbor will shoot you.
In Italy...

There are things nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and you died here,
you were born and you died here.
Born in the Land of half-truths.

Where do you run away?

In Italy, there is the real Mafia
In Italy the most dangerous are,
In Italy the hookers.
In Italy you eat home-made pasta,
In Italy burglars enter your house,
In Italy you can't find a job,
in Italy, but you kiss the Crucifix.
In Italy the monuments,
In Italy churches with paintings,
In Italy people with feelings, 
In Italy countryside and kidnappings

There are things nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and you died here,
you were born and you died here.
Born in the Land of half-truths.

Where do you run away?

In Italy, dating girls, 
In Italy photographed pin-ups,

In Italy the blackmailed top models,
In Italy you learn Art,
In Italy the fortune-tellers/gypsies,
In Italy murderers are never caught,
In Italy lost faces and sure votes.

In Italy 

There are things nobody will tell you
There are things nobody will give you
You were born and you died here,
you were born and you died here.
Born in the Land of half-truths.