While it may be too early to fully grasp the impact of Sudanese rap over the past year, it’s certainly time to give credit to those who have helped push the sound forward. Enter Montiyago.
Based in Cairo, the genre-bending MC has been on a rise since he first burst onto the region’s scene. At first through singles then through the release of a debut EP in 2023, dubbed Doppler, the 24-year-old has been reaping the rewards of his hard work, quickly establishing himself as name to watch in the Arab World’s music industry. What sets him apart? His unpredictability as he’s never sticks to a specific beat or production style, yet he always manages to deliver tracks smooth enough to warrant repeated plays on your favorite streaming platform.
Cruising through boom-bap while tapping into 2-Step and trap when he wants— like he did this week with Bella Hadid and Al Pacino, his most recent drops— the Om Durman-native continues to showcase his versatility while flaunting his lyrical skills along the way. Arguably one of Sudan’s best when behind a microphone, it’s impossible to laud the up-and-coming artist without mentioning the influential work of SVNBIRDS.
The independent creative ecosystem— made up of a record label and music agency— has been standing behind Montiyago since his early steps and can be credited for some aspects of his sound and growing popularity. When you look at their artist roster—which includes Sudanese counterparts Soulja and Khayyat, as well as Egyptian producer 77—it’s no surprise to see him thrive with a sonic DNA of his own. And we’re so here for it.
Two years since his first drop, Montiyago now boasts over 25,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a loyal following of 32,000 on Instagram. To us, he’s on his way to reach summits neither he, or us, can fully predict. But in the meantime, we took the time to shoot five quick questions over to the rapper we believe will make Sudan proud and shine in the coming years.
Who are you?
Long story sort, Montiyago is a normal guy, who just discovered he had a talent for music. I’m from Omdurman but I grew up in Khartoum. I’m someone who can see the beauty in life and I always have hope. That’s what keeps me pushing towards being the best version of myself.
What pushed you to become an artist?
My love for music came from my big brother. He was talented and loved rapping but never took it seriously. I, however, love to rap and took it seriously even though I started out like anyone else in music– as a listener. Then around 18, I started to go deeper into music, especially hip-hop, peeling back its layers, immersing myself in it. I started learning how to make music, the technical details, and bending them in a way that fit my voice, that feels like me. No one knew me then, but there was something deep down inside of me that told me I could be an artist one day. So I said I would try, even just for the sake of trying.
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How would you describe your own style?
I would say my style is always shifting, taking new forms with every new release. The first minute of the song is always very different stylistically than the second minute. I like the challenge of playing with diverse sounds and different flows on different tempos. Every bar is a space to take the track in a different direction.
How does it feel to be considered as one of Sudan’s most promising talents?
I’m still at the beginning of this journey and blessed enough to say that my music has already reached so many ears. As I make my way through this industry, I will always remain true and tapped into that part of myself that people loved from the beginning and what brought me to where I am today.
So far, you’ve released several singles and a debut EP. Do you see yourself exploring the album format in the future?
In terms of rolling out an album, or an EP, I think with every release, I want to match the energy of the audience. You know when it’s time for a bigger project or when the people are hungry for music, so you release a single.
