RAP AS A TOOL FOR IDENTITY STRENGTHENING AMONG PERIPHERAL YOUTH

Abstract

This article addresses the construction of youth identity in contexts of social vulnerability, highlighting Rap as a tool for resistance and belonging. The investigation stems from the problem of how Rap narratives shape these processes in the face of stigmas associated with the peripheries. The general objective is to analyze how songs by Emicida and the band OQuadro, from Ilhéus, construct belonging and resistance. The relevance of this work is justified by the need to understand cultural productions as symbolic resources for the re-signification of youth trajectories marked by ethical-political suffering. The theoretical framework articulates Ciampa’s (2005) identity-metamorphosis theory, Sawaia’s (2001) concept of ethical-political suffering, Vygotsky’s (2007) symbolic mediation, and the identity crises in Erikson (1976) and Hall (2003; 2006). Methodologically, this is a qualitative and documentary research, using Bardin’s Thematic Content Analysis (2016) to examine the lyrics "Levanta e Anda" and "AmarElo" (Emicida), and "Evolui" and "Asas" (OQuadro). The discussion points out that Rap acts as a device for active subjectivation and mediation between the self and the collective, allowing youth to transition from a prescribed identity to an announced and authorial identity. It is concluded that rhyme strengthens agency and self-esteem, transforming territory and ancestry into supports for resilience and political emancipation.