In Cuba, the communist regime has set up the Cuban Rap Agency — which is exactly what it sounds like. The state chooses which hip hop musicians become stars and pays their salaries. Shana Bromberg met up with one certified Cuban rap producer at his studio outside Havana, where he discussed the strangely familiar plight of provocative artists trying to be heard inside the artistic mainstream.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?