Tabula Rasa: A Protest Track Calling Out Sexual Violence, With Proceeds for MenAsWell

Some songs are made for the club, others for the charts. “Tabula Rasa”, released by the Skenggeng label (known for Kaascouse), is made for something else entirely: calling out every form of sexual violence without exception, and channeling its revenue to the Dutch organisation MenAsWell.

Co‑written and performed by Abouta with TR33 and Rainey, and produced by Tone Jonez, a Grammy‑winning producer, the track is now out on all major platforms — Spotify, YouTube, social media and online stores. It’s a protest song with a clear purpose: to say, in plain language and sound, that sexual violence is not an isolated incident but a systemic problem, and that we need to stop treating it as something we just “live with”.

A track that refuses to look away

“Tabula Rasa” is framed explicitly as a protest song against sexual violence. The title evokes the idea of starting from a blank slate, refusing to carry abuse forward from one generation to the next. In its messaging, the track:

• names sexual violence as a massively underestimated issue in our societies
• insists that it concerns all victims, not just those who fit dominant narratives
• calls for a deeper, collective awareness rather than a quick move‑on.[menaswell.nl]

By pairing committed lyrics with a contemporary production that fits easily into current rap / R&B / pop playlists, the artists and Skenggeng make the message hard to ignore: this is not a “special project” you file under activism, it’s a track that can sit next to everything else you already listen to.

MenAsWell: where the money goes

All profits from “Tabula Rasa” are donated to MenAsWell, an organisation that works around sexual violence and its consequences. Sexual violence is often treated as something rare or “private”, but MenAsWell and the track’s press note remind us that survivors frequently live with long‑term physical, psychological and emotional impacts:

• depression, anxiety, panic
• flashbacks, nightmares, dissociation
• difficulties with intimacy, trust and relationships
• body‑memory issues and other trauma responses.

By linking the song to a concrete organisation, the project makes two important moves: it honours survivors’ realities instead of abstracting them, and it transfers financial benefit directly to a group doing on‑the‑ground work rather than just raising awareness in theory.

Why this matters for queer and allied communities

In queer and trans communities, especially in Belgium and neighbouring countries, conversations about sexual violence are often complicated by shame, stereotypes and the fear of confirming hostile narratives. A track like “Tabula Rasa” helps break that silence on several fronts:

• it states clearly that sexual violence is never limited to one group, and can affect men, women, non‑binary people and queer folks alike
• it insists that violence is systemic, not just individual “monsters”
• it supports an organisation that can make space for stories that don’t always fit the mainstream scripts.

For LGBTQIA+ people who’ve experienced sexual violence or who support survivors, having artists and labels take the topic seriously — and talk about eradicating such violence rather than just “managing” it — can feel like a rare alignment between culture and care.

Practical info

• Track: Tabula Rasa
• Artists: Abouta feat. TR33 & Rainey
• Label: Skenggeng (also behind Kaascouse)
• Producer: Tone Jonez (Grammy‑winning producer)
• Where to listen:
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0bQnaLf4jKPzFfLmbgVB1c
  • YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZHffmfdYsjo
  • Plus other streaming platforms and online stores
• Beneficiary: All proceeds go to MenAsWell (more info: https://menaswell.nl)

If you’re curating your own summer soundtrack and want at least one track that doesn’t just make you move but also speaks directly against sexual violence, “Tabula Rasa” is an easy, meaningful addition to your playlist.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels