Sentenced on Monday, April 27 by the Nice criminal court for glorifying terrorism, the rapper Freeze Corleone received a 15-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 euros. On the campus of Université Côte d’Azur, some students continue to listen to the artist, while others believe that the red line has been crossed.
Saint-Jean d’Angély Campus, 5 PM. In the courtyard, conversations are lively as classes end. A few meters away, in front of the university library, some students still have their earphones on. But since the rapper’s conviction, Freeze Corleone, the question often arises: can one continue to listen to an artist whose statements are deemed reprehensible?
The Nice criminal court sentenced the artist to 15 months of suspended prison time and a 50,000 euro fine for glorifying terrorism, following lyrics in the song Haaland, accused of referring to the July 14, 2016 attack on the Promenade des Anglais: « I come into rap like a truck rushing at full speed in the – ». A judicial decision that has provoked many reactions among the young people of Nice.
“I listen to the music, not the ideas”
Sitting on a bench on campus, Hugo, 21, admits to regularly listening to Freeze Corleone, who has more than 2.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. But for him, music should be distinguished from everything else. « Honestly, I understand that some lyrics may shock. Especially when it touches on an event like the Nice attack. But I’m not going to stop listening to an artist because of that. I listen to the music for the vibe, for the beats, not for the ideas he might express in his lyrics », explains the economics student.
A view shared by several students encountered on campus. For them, rap often works through provocation and metaphors. « In rap, there have always been violent or provocative punchlines. It’s part of the style. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the artist supports what he says », says Leo, a 19-year-old student.
“Freedom of expression exists, but it also has its limits”
Other students, however, believe that certain limits should not be crossed. While taking her “smoke break” in front of the Saint-Jean-d’Angély university library, Manon, 20, does not hide her unease at the rapper’s lyrics.
« When you have a large audience, you need to be careful about what you say. Many young people listen to this kind of music. If the lyrics trivialize serious issues like terrorism, it becomes problematic », she asserts. According to her, the judicial conviction sends a clear message: « freedom of expression exists, but it also has its limits. »
