Moroccan Rap’s Rise: From Local Pioneers to International Collaborations

In Morocco, rap has "an identity of its own" and "really developed in the 2000s... Rapper Don Bigg is one of the pioneers, he released his album in 2006. They were quite denunciatory tracks. Then, from 2012 to 2016, more and more artists emerged. For example, the Naar collective really contributed to the rise of rap in Morocco," explains Anissa Rami.

Subsequently, Moroccan rap quickly exported itself. "Very quickly, Moroccan rap turned to abroad and to France. There are collaborations with Koba LaD, Laylow. 2019 was a year when this collective became really known in France," she adds.

The rap specialist insists on the particularity of Moroccan rap, which is done in "Moroccan darija". "There are quite a few African artists who can rap in French or English, here there is a specificity of keeping the language and rapping in that language. Even if they have a desire to be known abroad, they keep this specificity by mixing it with English, Spanish and even French. Moroccan rap has wanted to bring this touch of: "We come from Morocco, we want to keep our Moroccan culture," while making links with France," develops the expert, also noting collaborations between Moroccan rappers and afrobeats.

Beyond the language, Moroccan rap is also distinguished by "the instrumentals, which will be influenced by Raï rhythms. The fact of keeping its own identity means that it is a recognizable rap... that they manage to differentiate themselves, to be known as Moroccan rappers. There is a real scene in the country, the artists do a lot of collaborations with each other. There is a real desire to be known with their own identity." According to Anissa Rami, Moroccan rappers have conquered the Moroccan public. "French rap was much listened to in Morocco," but now there is "this desire to listen to their own rappers, to go to their concerts, etc. France has long been seen as an El Dorado, but that is less the case now," she points out.

Rap in France or the United States is an engaged style. The same is true of Moroccan rap, testifies the journalist. "Moroccan rap started with claims. But a bit like the rest of rap, there is much more entertainment now... The female rappers of the new generation also have more of a role to denounce, a bit like in France. They will denounce for example the oppressions made to women," comments Anissa Rami, also mentioning difficulties for Moroccan rappers to sign with labels on the spot. "El Grande Toto for example is signed in France... We can do rap (in Morocco), but we can’t make a living from it".