From Punk to Rap | Self-Produced | B-Boys | 4th Generation

A Brief History of Italian Rap

Autoprotto

These transformed spaces were self-described as being centri sociali occupati autogestiti (occupied and self-governed social centers) or c.s.o.a. Those centri outfitted with recording and duplication equipment sought to maintain control over music production and distribution, and ultimately, the prices of CDs in the overinflated Italian market by circumventing the involvement of multinational corporations like Sony and Philips, and especially the control. This practice of autoproduzione or self-produced recordings, created an almost artisan approach to hip hop.

This antiphony to multinationals is exemplified by Assalti Frontali's recording of the title track of Gabriele Salvatores's (unreleased in the U.S.) 1993 film "Sud," but refusing for it to be included in the film's soundtrack on Sony Music Entertainment. Instead, the Roman band released the self-produced song on a 45 r.p.m and on the CD Conflitto (Conflict) on the centro sociale's label. As Marco Grispigni has noted, "...[T]he pronouncements about and the practice of autoproduzione ... in some cases takes on such an abstract ideological dimension that it reminds us of the horrid diatribe of the 1970s with its sense of pure revolution."

The underground distribution of recordings and organization of sponsored concerts like Bisca/99 Posse's double CD set of its 1994 Incredibile Opposizione tour are the work of an informal network of centri. While each centro is autonomous, its members are linked to others through printed newsletters as well as the WEB.

While Italian hip hop's ability to sustain this antagonism against multinationals was ultimately impossible, it did change how the business of music was conducted in Italy. For example, while 99 Posse signed a distribution contract with the Neapolitan independent label Flying Records, the group demanded a clause in its contract stipulating that recordings would be shipped to centri sociali as well as large music stores. In addition, CDs are stamped with a single price to prevent the outrageous mark-ups common in Italy.

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"...[L]e reflessioni su e la practica dell'autoproduzione ... in alcuni casi assumono una dimensione astrattamente ideologica che riporta alla mente le terribili diatribe degli anni '70 sulla purezza rivoluzionaria...." BACK

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From Punk to Rap | Self-Produced | B-Boys | 4th Generation

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