Moroccan-French Rapper Urges Youth to Stay, Build Future at Home

Encountered during the "Mawazine Rhythms of the World" festival in Rabat on June 23, 2019, by the music columnist of the French newspaper Le Monde, Lartiste gave an overview of his history and albums. In addition, he gave his point of view on the degrading history of the 21st century: immigration, this African evil that decimates many lives, particularly the youth, the spearhead of any development.

To this lost youth, determined at all costs to make the perilous sea journey to reach the European eldorado, the Moroccan artist has launched an appeal. He asks the young people who are trying the adventure, at the price of their lives, to first try everything at home before taking the unnecessary risk of dying in the Mediterranean, in an attempt to reach Europe. The artist also showed a hard tooth against African leaders who, according to him, do not do enough to retain this youth in perdition in his country.

However, he shared his testimony on this evil of the century, which he has also drawn inspiration from to write his piece "7arraga": "On my way back from Tangier to pick up a vehicle, I heard the cries of young people, hailing me as I passed. Seeing them clinging to the barbed wire, waiting their turn, broke my heart. I approached them. And they told me: "We are the 7arraga"".

In the song, the author says he has "immigrated in both directions". To have an impact on African authorities, Youssef has worked on touching lyrics: "I’ve seen kids climb the wall to look at the world. But while everyone is watching them, the world is not watching them..."