Kazakh hip-hop artist Yenlik has announced a joint track with Kyrgyz rapper Ulukmanapo titled Sebep. The premiere is set for September 18, according to infohub.kz.
The announcement of the collaboration sparked a heated reaction on social media amid a recent scandal between users from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Tensions online arose after the conclusion of the VI World Nomad Games, held in Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 6. The dispute was triggered by the overall team standings.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Tourism and Sports declared the Kazakh team the winner, while the Kyrgyz side canceled the official medal ranking. They stated that the concept of the Games does not provide for determining winning countries, which provoked a wave of hate.
Against this backdrop, lines from the upcoming track sound like a call for reconciliation.
"Ala-Too or Alatau — choose whichever is more convenient. Ala-Too or Alatau — no difference, we are one people" — the authors emphasize: call the mountains Ala-Too or Alatau — there is no difference, for we are one people and brothers.
Internet users' reactions were divided. Some supported the artists for cultural collaboration and preserving fraternal relations between the countries. However, other commentators were skeptical of the track.
"Bomb," "Living next door, I never called them brothers and won't in the future! Our Kyrgyz don't get the message!", "Kokpar or kokboru?" — users write.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that Kazakh artist Yenlik (Yenlik Kurarbek) announced a new track Sät. The composition is about a new stage, inner courage, and a state when something good is felt ahead.