Organizers Criticize Withdrawal of Support Following Yasin Booking

The Swedish rapper Yasin has emerged as one of the most streamed artists in the country since his debut in 2019. He has received significant recognition, including the title of Artist of the Year at the P3 Guld awards and a Grammis for Best Hiphop.

However, Yasin's connections to gang-related crime and his lyrics addressing such themes have sparked ongoing debates and controversies. He has served two prison sentences for serious offenses, including illegal possession of firearms and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.

This summer, Yasin is set to perform at three festivals in Sweden, marking his first live appearances in nearly a decade. The events include the Trädgården festival in Kristianstad, Brännbollsyran in Umeå, and Alive festival in Borlänge.

The response to these bookings has been mixed. While some fans and advocates of artistic freedom celebrate the news, others express concerns regarding the potential glorification of gang culture, including criticism from politicians and law enforcement.

Both Umeå and Borlänge municipalities have opted to withdraw financial support for their respective festivals due to Yasin's bookings, citing alignment with their values and the reputation they wish to uphold.

Peter Juneblad, the business director of Umeå municipality, stated that despite Yasin's public contrition, his ties to gang environments do not align with the community's objectives. Umeå recently signed an agreement with local police to combat crime, which influenced their decision to rescind the festival's funding.

As a result, Umeå has reallocated the 450,000 SEK originally intended for event support to safety initiatives, such as providing water stations and security personnel on buses. Juneblad acknowledged the complexities of the decision, emphasizing that it was made by municipal staff rather than elected officials.

In Borlänge, the chair of the municipal council, Erik Nises, defended the decision to withdraw support for the Alive festival, which amounts to 150,000 SEK, stressing the importance of open dialogue regarding cultural expressions without adhering strictly to the principle of arm's length.

The organizers of Brännbollsyran, Trädgården festival, and Alive festival justify their decision to book Yasin by highlighting his significant popularity and the positive feedback from their audience. Peter Arkhult, CEO of Homerun festivals, noted that the announcement about Yasin's booking received an unprecedented number of likes on social media.

The Trädgården festival, which does not have a financial agreement with the municipality this year, has expressed concerns over government interference in artistic choices. Ylva Schnorrenberger, a member of the festival's management, criticized the withdrawal of funding based on artist selection.

Schnorrenberger does not agree with the notion that Yasin's work glorifies crime, viewing it instead as a reflection of his lived experiences. This viewpoint is echoed by Arkhult, who argued that many Swedish rappers come from challenging backgrounds and that their art should be seen as a means of inclusion rather than suppression.

Both organizers emphasized that Yasin has served his sentence and is now focused on his music career. They advocate for the idea of second chances as a fundamental principle of the legal system.

While Nises acknowledged the importance of offering second chances, he emphasized Yasin's extreme case, highlighting the rapper's past involvement in a gang conflict associated with serious violence.

Patrik Schultz, CEO of Dala live, the organizer of the Alive festival, reported that many ticket buyers have expressed concerns about the possibility of canceling Yasin's performance due to the municipal funding cuts. He mentioned that various groups, including school classes, are eager to attend the festival.

Despite the withdrawal of municipal support, none of the festivals have plans to cancel Yasin's performances. Both Alive festival and Brännbollsyran maintain that their events will not hinge solely on municipal funding, although future artist selections could be influenced by these decisions.