ElGrandeToto draws five million listeners but still has no European residence permit

On Sunday, November 8, ElGrandeToto performs to a packed house at Alcatraz in Milan. The success is such that his concert had to be moved to a larger venue than originally planned. The Moroccan rapper, who has a large following in France, Germany and Spain, is continuing to expand on the European music scene. But behind that success, his administrative status remains that of a visitor passing through.

In an interview with Rolling Stone Italia, published on November 10, the artist explains that he has no residence permit allowing him to live in Europe long term. He can come to perform concerts, work with other musicians and leave, but says he cannot settle there. He sums up the situation by describing himself as a mere tourist.

This reality brings back memories of his first trip to France. At the time, he had obtained a 15-day visa. With only three days left before it expired, he met someone interested in working with him. He seriously considered extending his stay, even if that meant overstaying his visa. Speaking French and able to rap in the language, he thought he had the means to start a new life there. In the end, he chose to return to Morocco, despite his doubts about his chances of getting another visa.

The rapper’s administrative difficulties had already made headlines in August 2022. France had refused him a visa, leading to the cancellation of his appearance at the Demifestival in Sète. A few weeks earlier, he had denounced being issued a visa limited to 10 days, despite what he considered a complete application.

Five million listeners, but vastly different earnings

His international success also raises the question of how Moroccan artists are paid. ElGrandeToto says he has to rack up five times as many streams as a French rapper to earn the same amount. He says he has five million listeners, about half of them in Europe. The rest are mainly in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, where payouts per stream are generally lower.

The artist attributes the gap to economic differences between music markets and to the share of users with free accounts on streaming platforms. This means, he says, that he has to reach a much larger audience to earn what his European counterparts do.

ElGrandeToto also talks about friends from his neighborhood who stayed in Europe and are facing difficult circumstances. He has tried to involve some of them in his tours, but those experiences have sometimes ended prematurely. The rapper says he expects those he helps to show real professional commitment, particularly when he has to step in to facilitate their administrative procedures.

Despite his international career, the artist remains deeply attached to Casablanca. He says he tried living in Senegal and then Tunisia before returning to Morocco. The atmosphere of his hometown, conversations in cafés and the daily struggles of its residents continue to inspire his writing. He finds inspiration there that he struggles to find elsewhere.