
Still, there are some Iranians recording rap music, and their CDs and MP3s are spreading across the country's black market and online. Some of them even have the balls to play live. Like Ghogha, who also defies the regulation against female solo artists. I recently saw her perform in Stockholm, on her first show outside Iran, which might cause her some serious bad vibes with the government. Unlike Iranian "rappers" like Erfan and Khashayar who also rap about stuff like girls and panties, her rhymes are all about philosophy, politics, women's rights and pleads for change. And change sure is on the horizon considering how rapidly rap music is infiltrating the Iranian society, whether the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance likes it or not. Iran has one of the world's youngest populations; an unimaginable 65 percent are under 25(!) and they've grown up under strict authoritarian rule, all while having access to cell phones, MTV and internet. There are even reports stating there's a 90 percent chance of hearing rap music pumping out of the car next to yours in Iranian traffic jams. Now that's what I call an underground movement.PAULINA STOLTZ