Rap, Islam and Jihadi Cool: The attractions of the Western jihadi subculture

Recent scholarship has explored the potential of subcultural theory for understanding convergence Western street and jihadi subcultures. The role rap in this radical hybrid culture, however, is yet uncharted. We argue that analysis allows an aesthetic fascination jihadism, sometimes referred to as cool, should be seen integrated part cultural amalgam. To better understand hip-hop street-jihadi paper offers a historical relationship between Islam detailed insight into more contemporary, marginal, phenomena rap. track continuities discontinuities from presence Black early hip hop recent convergences jihadism. Our draws on Lévi-Strauss concepts bricolage floating signifiers. Subcultures music are bricolages draw multitude references with their own particular history. In these bricolages, often acts signifier, different ambiguous meanings. demonstrate long history being rebellion attraction this, channelled through rap, can contribute cool contemporary pull