Iranian rapper drops bomb with pro-nuke video
An underground Iranian rapper who had previously been in trouble with the law sparks an online backlash after making a pro-government video.
Vocativ, an online media company that uses data-mining technology to report stories trending in social media, reported that as the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna headed into the 11th hour, former underground rapper Amir Tataloo and his new song, “Energy Hastei,” which means “Nuclear Energy” in Persian, was the top Google search in Tehran.
Tataloo, whose real name is Amir Hussein Maghsoudloo, is known for his popular flashy blend of pop, rap and R&B. The 32-year-old has more than 1.2 million fans following his official Facebook page. From an aesthetic perspective, Tataloo’s physical appearance has never personified Iran’s revolutionary zeal. Up until a few years ago, his trademark long hair, piercings, exposed chest, cross necklace and tattoos could have set the standard for what Iran’s morality police traditionally considered as “indecent.”
Tataloo ran into trouble in December 2013 when he was arrested by authorities for his alleged cooperation in distributing his unlicensed music to illegal foreign satellite channels. A few days after his arrest, Tataloo was freed from detention and released a public letter apologizing to his fans, promising accountability, with the goal of working toward obtaining a permit so that he can legally work in Iran.
