New Book Exposes Anti-Semitism in Pop Music Scene

From Kanye West to Kollegah, 'Loud Hate' reveals how anti-Semitic ideologies are normalized in pop music. The book argues that the industry's silence supports extremist groups.

, and Administrator

2025 October 19 . 12:04 AM

1 min read

This picture is clicked inside a musical concert. Here, we see three women standing and holding... — This picture is clicked inside a musical concert. Here, we see three women standing and holding violin in their hands and playing it. Here is three stands on which book is placed on it and on the right bottom of this picture, we see women sitting and listening to that music. Behind them, we see white wall on which watch is placed on it. In the left corner of this picture, we see white curtain.

New Book Exposes Anti-Semitism in Pop Music Scene

A new book, 'Loud Hate: Anti-Semitism as a Pop Cultural Event', by Maria Kanitz and Lukas Geck, delves into the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the music industry and festival scene. The authors explore how anti-Semitic ideologies infiltrate pop culture through music, performances, and events.

The book examines various music genres, including rock and rap, where anti-Semitic symbolism and rhetoric can be found in lyrics and performances. Musicians like Kanye West (Ye) and German rapper Kollegah have expressed anti-Semitic views or used anti-Semitic slogans. The authors also discuss the use of an inflatable pig balloon at Roger Waters' solo shows, which sometimes bears a Star of David, a symbol that Waters interprets as a political critique of the Israeli government. The book argues that the pop music scene's lack of shock and empathy towards Jewish victims of violence, such as the Hamas attack on the Israeli Supernova festival, supports the ideology of terrorist groups.

The book, published in 2023, is a significant contribution to the pop culture research, providing a systematic analysis of the intersection of anti-Semitism and pop culture in the German-speaking world for the first time. It highlights the importance of addressing and challenging anti-Semitism in the music industry and festival scene.