Kase.O: 'If you're a fascist, you can't listen to rap'

Spanish rap veteran Kase.O has returned with his first album in a decade, "Camisa de fuerza" (Straightjacket), a title reflecting his willingness to speak his mind. The artist, born Javier Ibarra, did not shy away from addressing contentious topics, including his stance on the conflict in Gaza and his strong opinions on political alignment within the hip-hop community.

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I think if you are a fascist, you cannot listen to rap. Everything is not possible in life. Rap is an anti-racist movement, because all our idols are racialized.

"I think if you are a fascist, you cannot listen to rap," Kase.O declared during a press conference in Madrid. He explained that rap is fundamentally an "anti-racist movement" rooted in the experiences of "racialized" idols. However, he also qualified his statement, noting that one can criticize the left without being a fascist, emphasizing the freedom to express diverse views outside of strict political affiliations.

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I have done more for Gaza than all those who have said something about me regarding that controversy, that's for sure. In Gaza, I have more affection than they do.

The album's release marks a significant return for the former member of Violadores del Verso. Kase.O explained the ten-year gap by describing the album-creation process as deeply personal, requiring him to "stop all the infrastructure" to compose. He also cited the need to wait for significant personal and global events to unfold, influencing the album's content. He noted that on this album, "Ibarra has used Kase.O, who is braver and has more power to say certain things."

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It doesn't hurt; it produces pity and disgust, but it's annoying because it's unnecessary.

Addressing his support for Gaza, Kase.O asserted that he has done more for the cause than his critics, stating, "In Gaza, I have more affection than they do." He also touched upon the criticism he faces, describing it as producing "pity and disgust" rather than pain. The rapper defended the legacy of 90s Spanish rap, which he helped shape, against claims that it monopolized the genre, arguing that the public's preference at the time dictated its dominance.

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That makes no sense, because then there was nothing, no industry or anything. The public decided that we were the ones they liked. Well, tough luck. There was no boycott or conspiracy from the Boa label or anything. The public mattered more than ever.