A pack of bloodhounds and fox hunters head off in search of prey

Fox hunting was banned in England after furious debate in 2004. This wikipedia entry gives a pretty good overview of what fox hunting is all about. It’s a particularly British phenomenon and one that millions of young Brits have probably been sensitized to because of the novel, Tarka the Otter. In a nutshell, fox hunting consists of a lot of aristocrats and aspiring aristocrats, many of whom dress up in finery for the occasion, jumping on their trusty steeds and going off to hunt a fox, usually accompanied by bloodhounds, who are renowned for being able to track a scent for days.

The great debate over fox hunting still fresh in English minds, London rapper, Dizzee Rascal, used the imagery of fox hunting to great effect in his video for “Sirens.” The dogs in the video are not bloodhounds. What are they? Notwithstanding, it’s a pretty damn good video and a sign that rap is not entirely about bitches and ho’s and the never-ending pursuit of money and bling-bling accessories, etc. (Although Dizzee has sadly gone more in this direction of late, alas, a sign that fame corrupts absolutely?)