Blacklisting of Kanye West's songs, specifically "WW3" and "Heil Hitler," is being pursued by Steglitz-Zehlendorf.

In a move that could potentially reshape the music landscape in Germany, the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlondorf has announced its intention to ban two songs by US rapper Kanye West - Heil Hitler and WW3. The songs are singled out for their explicit praise of Nazis, a subject matter that the German institution, the index of harmful media, aims to limit young people's access to due to its potential to glorify Nazi ideology.

The index of harmful media, established in the 1950s, has a history of banning various forms of media, including music, comics, and video games, if deemed inappropriate. Previous items listed for their portrayal of Indigenous peoples include the comic books Tarzan and an Italian comic called Il Piccolo Sceriffo. Notable games like Mortal Kombat and Wolfenstein 3D were once banned for violent content and the display of Nazi symbols, respectively. However, both have since been removed from the index.

If the motion to add Heil Hitler and WW3 to the official index of media harmful to young people is approved by the Cultural Affairs Committee in Steglitz-Zehlondorf, it could then be submitted at the federal level, leading to a potential legal ban in Germany. The responsible official for the evaluation of the list of youth-endangering media in the Kultusministerium is not named specifically, but the Federal Centre for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) is the central authority for assessing and indexing such media in Germany.

In Heil Hitler, Kanye West justifies his alleged support for Nazis through a reference to a custody battle. The song ends with a sample from a 1935 speech by Adolf Hitler. In WW3, West again raps about Hitler. These lyrics have sparked controversy, with Berlin radio stations Radio Eins and Kiss FM deciding not to play any of Kanye West's music.

If the songs are added to the index of harmful media, they could be subject to restrictions, preventing them from being sold or made accessible to minors. However, if approved by the District Council, this is not guaranteed for international streaming services.

The potential ban of Kanye West's songs marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate about the role of art and freedom of speech in society, particularly in a country with a history as profound as Germany's. This decision could set a precedent for how controversial content is handled in the future.

Blacklisting of Kanye West's songs, specifically "WW3" and "Heil Hitler," is being pursued by Steglitz-Zehlendorf.