Moroccan hip-hop

Moroccan rap music is a Moroccan musical style related to rap and hip hop culture.^[1] The emergence and evolution of rap music in Morocco represent a significant chapter in the country's contemporary cultural history. While influenced by global hip-hop trends, Moroccan rap has developed its own distinct identity, reflecting the unique social, cultural, and political landscapes of the nation. In recent years, the Moroccan rap scene has witnessed substantial growth and diversification,^[2] encompassing a wide array of styles, lyrical approaches, and regional influences. Consequently, the rise of Moroccan rap has provided a vital platform for youth expression, addressing pertinent social issues, and contributing significantly to the ongoing cultural dialogue within the country.

History

Moroccan's hip-hop and urban culture history dates back to the mid-1990s, when, after hip-hop's emergence in Western culture, Moroccan immigrant youth in Europe transferred the new musical style back to Morocco upon their returns home.

Rap and urban music have since gained a following in major urban centers in Morocco. Moroccan rap, a favorite genre for many Moroccans, especially Moroccan youth, speaks out and protests on social and political issues.^[3][4]

It took Moroccan rappers several years to transform Western rap into Moroccan rap (a fusion of traditional Moroccan music and Western rap) and to find the right phrasing. The country's democratic opening, which began in the late 1990s, played a crucial role in the blossoming and expansion of all the new musical genres of the new Moroccan scene.^[5] The first Moroccan rapper to sing and record rap songs in Moroccan Arabic was Shams Ddine in 1986,^[6] other poineers are Al Kayssar, Double A, Thug Gang, Zanka Flow and others. The first official Moroccan rap album was that of the group Double A (Aminoffice and Ahmad; originally from Salé), released in 1996 on the Adoua' Al-Madina label.

The legendary group from Meknes, founded in 1996, H-Kayne (literally "what's up?") is the group to know when discussing rap in the Kingdom. Their second album, HK-1426, was the first Moroccan rap album to be sold outside the country. The group then toured throughout Europe and remains the only Moroccan rap group to have performed at the Bataclan.

Prominent Rappers

This list does not encompass all influential Moroccan rappers but rather highlights some of the most prominent artists based on their widespread recognition, commercial reach, and critical acclaim. The included names have consistently appeared in rankings of Morocco's top rappers across multiple credible sources, reflecting their significant impact on the country's hip-hop scene.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Solo rappers

• Don Bigg is considered a pioneer of Moroccan rap, beginning his career in 1997. Initially rapping in English, he switched to Darija, the Moroccan Arabic dialect, to connect with a wider audience, focusing his lyrics on social issues relevant to Moroccan youth such as poverty, crime, and corruption. He gained significant popularity with his debut album 'Mgharba Tal Moute' (2006).^[13]
• Muslim is a prominent figure in Moroccan rap. He started rapping in mid-1990s and formed the group Zanka Flow in 1998. Muslim is known for his socially conscious rap style, drawing inspiration from 90s American rap and addressing issues like emigration, delinquency, and government mismanagement in his lyrics.
• 7liwa gained recognition in 2013 with his track "Da7k T9ada" and the popular single "Batal l3alam". 7liwa is considered one of the most influential rappers in Morocco.
• Dizzy DROS is a prominent Moroccan rapper who rose to fame with his 2011 music video "Casafonia". In 2013, he released his debut album 3azzy 3ando Stylo, considered one of the best albums in Moroccan hip-hop.^[14] His 2019 track "Moutanabbi" and 2023 track "M3a L3echrane" gained viral success.^[15][16] He won the award for Best Male Artist in North Africa at the 2021 AFRIMA awards.^[17]
• Nessyou is known for his creative rhyme schemes and bars. He started rapping at a young age, influenced by French rap, and released his first project 'ANORMAL' (2015) and 'ATMSPR' (2022), which is ranked amongst the best rap albums.^[18] His lyrics often contain social commentary and showcase his wordplay, appealing to a dedicated fanbase.
• Madd is an artist, musician, songwriter, and composer from Safi. He blends hip-hop and R&B with Moroccan sounds, he has gained recognition for tracks like '3310', 'Ey Ey Ey' and 'Karma'. Madd released his debut solo album 'Black Rose' in 2020, featuring collaborations with artists like Lacrim and Laylow. He was also part of the Naar collective.
• L'Morphine is a Moroccan rapper known for his distinctive style of 'deep lyrics' and massive influence on the Moroccan rap scene. He has released several successful projects such as 'Gala' (2022) and 'Yakine' (2024). He has collaborated with artists like Nessyou and Mobydick.
• Pause is known for his thought-provoking lyrics and enigmatic personality. He has been rapping since 2009 and has released several projects like 'Solaris' (2019), 'Metamorphose' (2023) and '112' (2024) to massive success.
• ElGrandeToto is a highly influential rapper known for blending Darija, French, Spanish, and English in his music. Starting his career in 2016, he quickly gained popularity with his song "Pute" (2017) and his 2018 EP "Illicit". His debut album "Caméléon" (2021) achieved significant international recognition, ranking among the top global album debuts on Spotify.^[19] ElGrandeToto was the most streamed artist in the MENA region on Spotify in 2021.^[20] He has received awards such as the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act.
• Inkonnu is known for his unique style and complex flow patterns. Inkonnu was a member of the group A6 Gang before pursuing a solo career. His 2021 album 'Arabi' showcased his blend of traditional North African rhythms with modern trap elements and is considered one of the best Moroccan rap albums.
• Stormy is known for his catchy flows and melodies. He gained initial fame with tracks like 'Africain' and 'Si Tu Savais' Ft. Anys. Stormy has released projects like the collaborative album 'Jackpot' (2021) with Tagne and his solo debut album 'Iceberg' (2024), considered one of the best albums.^[21][22] He often blends different genres in his music like Brazilian Funk and local Moroccan instruments.
• Fat Mizzo is known for his distinctive style and lyrical skills. He has gained popularity with tracks like 'Dunk' (2012) and 'Kan Drik' (2029). His music often heavy inspirations from American music with classic hip-hop beats, touching on themes of braggadocio and daily life.
• Lmoutchou gained recognition after the 2006 Boulevard Casablanca festival with his track 'Toc Toc'. Known for his lyrical content and stage presence, he has released projects like 'Lmoutchou Family'. He often raps in Darija and has a significant following among Moroccan youth.

Rap groups

This selection focuses on the most impactful rap groups in Morocco, chosen for their cultural influence, commercial success, and enduring legacy.

• Double A is a Moroccan hip hop duo formed by Aminoffice and Ahmed in 1995 in Sale. They are considered by many to be the first rap group in Morocco, the first act to officially release an album, 'Wa9i3' in 1996,^[23] and the first Moroccan rappers broadcast on local TV, 1997.
• Zanka Flow is a Moroccan rap group from Tangier formed by Muslim and L3arbe in 1998. The group had immense influence on the undergraduate rap movement in late 90s and early 2000s.
• 3awd Lil are the enigma of Moroccan rap as nobody knowns who they are but everybody knows at least one of their songs.
• H-Kayne is a Moroccan rap group consisting of Sif Lssan, HB2, Ter 7or, Othman Benhami, and DJ Khaled, founded in 1996 in Meknes. They are widely considered to be the most influential rap group of both their generation and of all time in Morocco.
• Casa Crew is a Moroccan rap group formed by Caprice, Masta Flow, Chaht-Man, and J-OK in Casablanca in 1999. They are considered one of the most impactful rap groups in Moroccan rap scene.
• Shayfeen is a Moroccan hip-hop duo formed by Shobee (Chouaib Ribati) and Small X (Abdessamad Lamriq) in 2006 in Safi. They gained recognition for their energetic flows and lyrics centered on ambition and motivation. Following their performance at Génération Mawazine in 2012, they released their debut mixtape 'Energie'. Their 2016 EP '07' and the hit collaborative track 'Tcha Ra' with ElGrandeToto and others in 2018 further boosted their popularity.

Bibliography

• Lamarkbi, N., Fièvre hip-hop au Maroc in Jeune Afrique, 16/10/2006, https://www.jeuneafrique.com/216144/archives-thematique/fi-vre-hip-hop-au-maroc/
• Abu Ghanim, K., 2009, Les changements de la nouvelle musique jeune au Maroc (in Arabic), Université Mohamed V, Agdal, Rabat.
• Guerrero Parado, J. (2012). Zanka Flow: Rap en árabe marroquí. In Romano-Arabica 12, pp. 125–157
• Gintsburg, Sarali (2013). I'll spit my rap for y'all... in darija: Local and global in Moroccan hip hop culture. In Evolution des pratiques et représentations langagières dans le Maroc du 21e siècle (Vol 2), Benítez-Fernández, M., Miller, C. de Ruiter, J and Tamer, Y. (Eds), 186–207. Paris, L’Harmattan.

See also

• Morocco portal

• Moroccan music
• Arabic hip hop
• Culture of Morocco