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Amongst the numerous bands in contemporary Serbia, none are even remotely similar to Belgrade Syndicate. They are a unique band, showing traits that can’t be found among other Serbian groups. Formed in 1999, they marked the beginning of the second wave of Serbian hip-hop, pursuing heavy themes of corruption and organized crime wrecking havoc in post-war Serbian society. Belgrade Syndicate became more than popular with the young and idealistic population, especially in Belgrade.

"Because of their distinctively critical attitudes towards the ruling structures, Belgrade Syndicate didn’t get much attention from the media. Still, that didn’t stop them, and they are still one of the most important bands in Serbia."

The band managed to pretty much define and pinpoint the main problems of society during the last 14 years, and each of their albums followed contemporary social topics. Of course, because of their distinctively critical attitudes towards the ruling structures, they didn’t get much attention from the media. Still, that didn’t stop them, and they are still one of the most important bands in Serbia.

Along with the albums they released, they are extremely active as live performers and, although they don’t have the support of the mainstream media, they are more than busy. Some members also have their own projects, but are still active within the band. Their discography consists of five albums, the last one being The Discrete Heroes, released in 2010. Many of their songs, such as “The Ballad of the Dissidents,” “Tin Soldiers,” or “Way to Go” are greatly popular among young listeners. The social element in their poetry is very important, and most of their fans recognize the injustice and difficulties they experience in real life within the band’s verses.

"'Way to Go' is the best example of the gangster vocabulary used by criminals in Belgrade."

Also, some other songs speak of the glorious past of the Serbian people, especially in the 20th century, when they fought and greatly contributed to victory in World War I. This part of the past, although heavily neglected by politicians and the media, is still deep in the memory of young people. Regarding language, Belgrade Syndicate uses modern Serbian with its various foreign influences. In modern Serbian, there are many foreign words taken mostly from English. Still, the language of Belgrade Syndicate songs is still pretty clear and the only influences are those which can be found in the city of Belgrade. This dialogue is pretty distinctive, mostly because of its cosmopolitan accent, and most people in Serbia will easily recognize someone from Belgrade if they open their mouths.

The song “Way to Go” is the best example of the gangster vocabulary used by criminals in Belgrade. It's almost impossible to understand by non-native Serbian speakers, as the language is full of metaphors that simply cannot be translated into other languages. It is actually a mixture of metaphors and words so corrupted that they are simply unrecognizable. All in all, Belgrade Syndicate give insights into modern Serbian language, treating various topics relevant to contemporary times. They should be on the top of your list if you are interested in modern Serbian linguistics.