Hiphop-artists’, the truth carriers of the suburbs? : A qualitative study about Swedish hiphop-artists view on suburb conditions and how they describe it in their music

The aim of this study was to examine Swedish hiphop-artists’ view on conditions in the suburbs and to find out what their music represent, and to reach an understanding about whether social movements exist in suburbs. The study was based on qualitative interviews with hiphop-artists’ whose music had a connection to suburbs. The artists had different ages, gender and residential area. Six of the interviews were conducted through video calls and one of them through a physical interview. The questions were made up through a framework before the interviews and our choice of interview approach enabled us to ask additional questions. The result showed that the conditions in the suburbs were characterized by community and love. It also showed that residents had difficulties because of their life choices and it affected their possibilities regarding to school and work. Further the hiphop-artists’ music was described as a reality portrayal or as a way to express their feelings. Some of them also felt responsible as role models, wanted to affect others, had the music as an interest and some just wanted to convey real experiences. The analysis was based on Eyerman and Jamison (2005) perspective about social movements, which means that a group collectively joins and acts to change existing conflicts and problems in society. As a conclusion the hiphop-artists’ experience racism from the society which affect them and their music. Another conclusion is that it exists a social movement in the suburbs and can be understood by the hiphop-artists’ descriptions of the suburbs conditions.