ChordStrike: Hip Hop Putin Don't Stop

Hip Hop Putin Don't Stop

by Courtney Powell on November 16, 2009

If you follow the movements of certain international politicians, you may have noticed that Vladimir Putin has been polishing his image of late, as evidenced by some widely-distributed photos of the Russian prime minister in recent months. We've now seen this rugged man of the people shirtless with gun, shirtless on horseback, fishing shirtless, and of course flexing on his own Judo DVD.

Last week, Putin covered his famous pecs with a turtleneck and appeared at a hip-hop show to warn his younger countrymen about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. At a music contest aired on Russia's Muz TV, the prime minister stood stiffly between his nation's young b-boys and b-girls, and as they danced and swayed around him, he clapped off-beat and looked somewhat uncomfortable. After the rappers performed, ABC News reports that Putin shared some thoughts about hip-hop culture:

“Street rap may be a little bit rough but it contains social meaning, raising social problems. Graffiti has become a real elegant art, break dance is something special. It is really a promotion of a healthy lifestyle. It is hard to imagine break dance being combined with alcohol or drugs."

Watch the Reuters video of the event below.