Exclude, accuse, absorb!

The book explores the Cuban government's evolving strategies towards music genres deemed undesirable, such as jazz, rock, and later, hip-hop and reggaeton. Following the 1959 revolution, Fidel Castro labeled jazz and rock as imperialistic, leading to censorship and the emigration of many musicians. In contrast, the nueva trova movement was embraced and promoted by the state. By the 2000s, attempts to incorporate hip-hop into the cultural framework faced resistance from artists who rejected government affiliation. The article analyzes the outcomes of these varied approaches over five decades.