Using 'hip-hop diplomacy' to achieve American foreign policy goals

AMERICAN music is an influential instrument of US diplomacy, as seen in President Barack Obama's call for Hanoi to allow "a little rap" and the ongoing rounds of hip-hop diplomacy being conducted by US diplomats especially in the Middle East and around the world.

On Wednesday, the US president interacted with a female Vietnamese rapper named Suboi at a town hall meeting with hundreds of young Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City. On his request, Ms Suboi belted out a catchy hip-hop song in her language.

Before departing, he left the Vietnamese government with a clear message: let people express themselves.

While Mr Obama lifted a 50-year-old US ban on weapons sales to Vietnam during his visit this week - signalling a marked improvement …