ESRAP wins Willi Resetarits Prize: Hip-Hop for Integration in Vienna!

ESRAP wins Willi Resetarits Prize: Hip-Hop for Integration in Vienna!

Wien, Österreich - On April 5, 2025, the Vienna City Hall of the Willi Resetarits was awarded for the second time. The price, endowed with 10,000 euros, recognizes artists who are committed to integration and social cohesion. The winner this year is the hip-hop duo Esrap consisting of the siblings Esra and Enes Özmen. The award was awarded in recognition of her musical work and at the same time serves as an order to use music as a political force. With the price, the city of Vienna sets a sign of an open society and cultural diversity.

Cultural City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler praised Esrap for her significant contribution to the cultural landscape. Nikolaus Heinelt, the jury manager, described Esrap as a role model of the Austrian pop culture with a migrant background. The jury consisted of representatives of the integration house and other cultural institutions. The wooden sculpture, which represents the price, was designed by Adam Wehsely-Swiczinsky.

The relevance of Esrap

Esrap addresses post -migrant experiences, identity, racism and social inequality in their songs. These topics are particularly relevant in a country that has a diverse history of migration. In Germany, for example, the integration of migrants has been a central social question since the economic miracle after the Second World War. Young migrants found a platform for identification and pronouncing their problems in the rap, often in the languages ​​of their countries of origin. Albums such as "External in their own country" by Advanced Chemistry have addressed the feeling of strangeness and the experiences of migration. The rap reflects social conflicts and offers a stage for the votes of marginalized groups.

In Austria, Esrap succeeds in continuing this tradition and integrating it into their music. The combination of classic rap with influences from the Turkish Arabesque shows how diverse and intercultural hip-hop can be. The comparison between the German and Austrian rap scene shows that migrant identities in rap are more visible than in many other art forms.

Integration and social challenges

The integration house, one of the jury instances, serves as a competence center for the inclusion and integration of refugee people and migrants. It offers accommodation, care, education and advice for people seeking protection. Dialogue about migration and integration remains of great importance in Europe, especially in times when right -wing currents try to use these topics to stir up fears.

This means that the influence of artists like Esrap not only stands for aesthetic enrichment, but also for an important cultural and social statement. The price is not only awarded for artistic performance, but also as an appeal that the music should continue to be used as a platform for dealing with identity and social inequality.

The work of Esrap and similar artists illustrate how rap acts as a conflict culture and reflects social disputes. At a time when migrants are often stigmatized, they can gain attention through their music and bring in their perspectives in public discussion. Your successes are therefore not only individual, but also collective steps towards a more open and inclusive society.