Juice Rap News

Juice Rap News is an internet based satirical news show, created in Melbourne, Australia. The show is the creation of a duo based in Australia and consists of a rapped "news report" with social commentary using comical rap lyrics.^[1] As of the end of 2013, 20 episodes have been produced.^[2] The show is known for using satire and rap rhyming to analyse important topics of the day ^[3] in a humorous, yet philosophical fashion. It is hosted by a fictional news anchor called Robert Foster. Juice Rap News is distributed via YouTube.

The idea for Juice Rap News came from Giordano Nanni. Hugo Farrant joined the initiative as a writer and rapper. Nanni and Farrant co-write the series together, but Nanni is behind crafting the arguments, plots and perspectives depicted and explored in the show. Farrant portrays the anchor Robert Foster and a host of other characters. He is also responsible for giving the dialogue the "rhyme and flow" of rap.^[4] Meanwhile Nanni also appears in the show, portraying supporting characters such as Aussie correspondent Ken Oathcarn and George Torwell. The goal is to provide an alternative view on world events, one that they feel is currently lacking in the popular media outlets.^[5][6]

Recurring Fictional Characters

Robert Foster

Robert Foster, performed by Hugo Farrant is the Anchor and central character of Rap News.

General Baxter

Darth H. Baxter is a caricature representing the Military Industrial Complex. When war is in the news, General Baxter is called upon to give the point of view of war-mongering, colonialist governance. Baxter often changes his uniform to represent the topic.

Terrence Moonseed

Terrence Moonseed is the caricature of the resident mad pseudo-scientist that often counterpoints General Baxter with the new age spirituality and conspiracy theories.

Ken Oathcarn

Ken Oathcarn is an Australian hick stereotype and correspondent for Rap News who appears when Rap News handles Australian-centric topics and is played by Giordano Nanni. In July 2013, Ken Oathcarn visited Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to give Assange a "makeover" for his campaign for senate in Australia.

Celebrity Cameo Appearances

Julian Assange

Julian Assange appeared^[7] in Rap News Number 5 only a few weeks before the "Cablegate" story broke in December 2010. Later, in Episode 20, Assange gets a "makeover" by Ken Oathcarn, donning a mullet wig, singing John Farnham's "You're the voice"" recorded in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Noam Chomsky

Robert Foster and Rap News interviewed Noam Chomsky from his hotel room in Sydney in December 2011 when he was in town to be awarded the Sydney Peace Prize

Kristinn Hrafnsson

Investigative Journalist Wikileaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson appeared in Episode XIII "A News Hope" from the Hoth System to defend Wikileaks in the context of Newscorp's phone hacking scandal.

Controversies

Rap News 20 caused controversy when it was released during the 2013 Australian Federal Election. Most of the controversy surrounded Julian Assange's appearance in the episode. The character Ken Oathcarn (played by Nanni) convinces Assange that if he is to be successful in his election bid for a Senate seat, he is in need of a make-over. Assange dons a flannel shirt, a blonde mullet wig and a fake Australian flag tattoo, and proceeds to sing a parody of John Farnham’s “You’re The Voice.” The video went viral soon after being posted online. It also featured on The Chaser's 2013 Federal Election coverage ^[8] and Ten's The Project.^[9]

The offending scene was filmed in London's Ecuadorian Embassy where Assange has remained since seeking political asylum on 19 June 2012, which he was granted in August 2012.^[10] After Rap News went viral, Assange was publicly chastised for his appearance in the video by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, who said,

"We have sent him a letter: he can campaign politically, but without making fun of Australian politicians. We are not going to allow that. The rules of asylum in principle forbid meddling in the politics of the country that grants asylum. But as a matter of courtesy we are not going to bar Julian Assange from exercising his right to be a candidate. Just so long as he doesn't make fun of Australian politicians or people." ^[11]

This was the first public indication of any friction between Assange and his Ecuadorian hosts.

Furthermore, many major media outlets failed to recognise Rap News 20 as satire, calling it a “campaign video,” in what Farrant and Nanni described as “true to form.” ^[12]

In an interview with ABC Radio, the duo addressed the controversy and confusion, saying,

"In the world of the internet parody culture, what we’re doing is accepted and most people and most of the comments on the video and on Twitter and Facebook are overwhelmingly positive. It’s no surprise that once things are taken out of context and brought into the world, of, you know, the considerably more sober world of the mainstream media, these out of context quotes can be portrayed as offensive…We don’t really engage with that audience. Our audience is on the internet. We really pride ourselves on making an internet show and we’re trying to get people away from the more conventional, centralised, one-way media model, such as, basically, the traditional media. We love the fact that people can watch the video, post comments, we reply to comments, it’s a two way dialogue, it’s a totally different culture".^[12]

On 14 September 2013, Farrant and Nanni notified viewers that a copyright claim had been filled against the video for the parodic use of Farnham's "You're the Voice", despite protection for parody and satire under Part III: 41A and Part IV: 103AA of the Australian Copyright Act.^[13] On 26 October 2013, the duo uploaded a version without the parody, as an agreement with copyright holders had not been reached.^[14]

Episodes - Season 1 (2009-current)

References

External links

• Juice Media YouTube channel on the YouTube. Retrieved Nov 20, 2013
• Website Retrieved Nov 20, 2013