Video: Meet Afghanistan's first female rapper as she shuts down patriarchy

Kabul: Afghanistan has been a war ravaged country for decades now and the situation of women has remained a cause for concern in the country with the fairer sex suffering oppression and violence throughout, be it from religious fanatics or the conservative society’s indifference.

Music, and primarily hip hop and rap started off as a vehicle of social change and political expression in the US, as it has been adopted as a popular means of protest by artists looking to make a political statement for social reforms through music.

As oppressed groups speak up through rap anthems in different parts of the world, women have been using music for a while to break the glass ceiling in Afghanistan and start an important conversation about women’s rights in the Afghan society rather than just western society.

Paradise Sorouri is shattering patriarchy and challenging restrictions by emerging as Afghanistan’s first female rapper, and sticks to her hoodie, camo fatigues and caps in a country where women can face dire consequences for stepping out sans the hijab.

In a country where a large percentage of women go through sexual and domestic violence, this 27-year-old has received numerous death threats and fled the place twice as she was once beaten up in the middle of the street by 10 men. But Sorouri remains defiant as she goes on telling stories of being a woman in Afghanistan in fluent Dari raps.

Paradise isn’t alone as her husband Diverse stands alongside in the group 143Band which one the best rap act in Afghanistan in 2015 and got recognition from UN in 2013, something that has given them much more exposure and popularity despite the threats.