A new song titled "Harbu Darbu," which translates to war strike or mayhem, is surging in popularity in Israel, especially among the Gen Z demographic.
The song, released by Israeli hip-hop duo Ness and Stilla, has quickly climbed to the top of Israel's Mako chart and is gaining viral status on TikTok, according to Yahoo News.
Despite its upbeat tune, "Harbu Darbu" contains dark and violent lyrics that unabashedly support the ongoing war against Hamas and glorify the Israel Defense Force's military actions in Gaza.
The song has sparked controversy due to its call for retribution against a list of perceived enemies, which notably includes celebrities Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Mia Khalifa, who have been vocal in their criticism of Israel's actions.
The song was released five weeks after a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which, according to Israeli officials, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people. In response to the song's growing popularity, Ness and Stilla stated that they wrote it to channel the righteous anger in Israel, as opposed to sadness and grief.
The song's popularity on TikTok is evident, with over 11,000 videos using its sound. The top video, posted by Ness, has garnered more than 11 million views and 135,000 likes.
The content ranges from Israeli celebrities and soldiers to young TikTokers lip-syncing and dancing to the song.
However, the song's lyrics have raised eyebrows and stirred controversy. Lines like "We have brought the whole army against you and we swear there will be no forgiveness" and "Wait until we rain a storm on you, bitches," demonstrate its aggressive stance.
The song also mentions writing the names of children killed on October 7 on shells.
The inclusion of Hadid, Lipa, and Khalifa as enemies in the song is particularly contentious. Khalifa, a Lebanese-American media personality known for her anti-Israel views, reacted to the song on social media, criticizing its message and the use of a drill beat. In response,
Stilla reportedly called Khalifa an idiot, and the duo expressed satisfaction that the song was sparking global conversation.
