The twists and turns surrounding Yasin's booked performances in Sweden have been many. They have upset local politicians and created debate with voices "for" and "against".
But it has always ended in the same way – the performances have been canceled because the police have not been able to maintain safety.
The forbidden can attract
According to Yussuf, who has interviewed Yasin repeatedly for the book "Nation of Poets", the rapper has longed for his big "homecoming" since he came out of prison at the end of 2021.
He tried to make a "comeback" in Sweden as early as last year. It would be a performance at Tele2 Arena (in Stockholm), but it was the same type of problem, says Yussuf, referring to the fact that the event was canceled at the last minute.
The fact that so many performances have been canceled can also lead to the opposite effect, where the "forbidden" creates an even greater demand among the audience, Yussuf believes.
This has been seen before in this genre. The artists are both benefited and harmed by these controversies.
One of the biggest critics of the performance in Kristianstad has been the former municipal councilor Pierre Månsson (L) who meant that Yasin is a "poster boy for gang crime" and claimed that the artist has not "clearly distanced" himself from his previous life.
According to Yussuf, it is a matter of definition that cuts through different groups in society.
Yasin's music has gradually developed. He has moved abroad. He has a family, and has not fallen back into any crime since he was released. Everything boils down to the question of when one has served a sentence. What is reasonable to demand? There, the opinions diverge.
Big win
What makes the issue complicated, Yussuf believes, is the strong link between "gangster rap" and serious crime.
The rappers themselves say that they want to improve their lives through music and that it is a way out. At the same time, we have seen how the music has created conflicts in these circles.
According to Yussuf, Yasin was the third most streamed artist in Sweden in 2024. This in itself is a proof that the demand is great, and as long as it exists, Yussuf believes that the hunt for a performance will not end here.
He still has a large and loyal audience. What one has been able to see before is that there has been a great disappointment among fans after canceled performances. Therefore, it would definitely be a big win for him.
TT has unsuccessfully sought Yasin's management for an interview.
