Rhythm of cities: Urbanization and music relationship in Türkiye

Abstract

Cities, beyond their spatial dimension, are dynamic spaces where social relations, cultural production, and identity formation unfold. Music serves as a powerful medium reflecting these dynamics, rendering urban experiences, migration, social change, and cultural tensions perceptible through rhythm and emotion. This study investigates the interplay between urbanization and music in Turkey across historical periods, from the proclamation of the Republic to the present.

Employing a qualitative approach, the research combines literature review with content and thematic analysis of selected songs, examining popular genres and lyrics of each era. Findings reveal that rural-to-urban migration, squatter settlements, social stratification, neoliberal policies, urban transformation, and globalization leave discernible imprints on music. Genres such as arabesque, pop, rap, and arabesque-rap emerge as symbolic tools in identity construction and urban experience. Musical and lyrical transformations reflect not only aesthetic choices but also social inequalities, migration patterns, identity conflicts, and cultural modernization projects. This study highlights the reciprocal relationship between urbanization and music, illustrating how cultural production mirrors broader social transformations.