Anyone with their finger on the pulse of North Africa’s music scene can testify that 2023 was a stellar year for hip hop. From Morocco and Algeria to Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan, the region is a rising powerhouse in the international rap scene. And if the past 12-months are any indication, the once-underground genre has surged forwards, taking giant strides towards achieving mainstream levels of success.
Dominating both local and global soundscapes in a relatively short period of time, Maghrebi streets found its voice aptly embodied by those who know it best. In between chart-topping singles, lyrical prowess, and infectious beats shelled daily, a new generation of local rappers have managed to simultaneously conquer the hearts and charts of a part of the world that is finally making itself heard.
Even those who aren’t fans of rap would be hard-pressed to not stumble across this pocket of music that carries a treasure trove of competing artists who can all stake their claim to the title of legend. But as their respective discographies get longer and their influence continues to spread, cutting through the generated noise can be more challenging than expected.
As we usher in the new year, we sat down with digital cultural collective NorfAfrica to gain insight into the dynamics that took place in 2023. According to the platform’s founder— who has managed to build one of the most vital hubs for North African creatives online with 148,000 Instagram followers— despite the ongoing political and economic plaguing of the Arab World, the region is “experiencing a renaissance that is all the richer for the contributions of brilliant individuals.”
Asked to compile a list of the 10 best artists of the past year, Norf revealed that the task was no easy feat due to the abundance of promising and established talent while also having to recognize artists who might not have achieved commercial success yet took part in the artistic evolution of the genre. On that topic, the founder explained that the shortlisted artists were selected for a range of diverse reasons with the commonality of all having created some kind of momentum “that is impossible to ignore.”
“Each artist listed has a career path and body of work worth examining,” NorfAfrica told MILLE. “Some artists have pushed the envelope with their sound and brought along their way a sonic contribution that is new to music on a global level, while others were chosen for their prolific runs and domination across borders regionally,” he added, emphasizing on the wealth of good music there is to tune into.
From the seasoned veterans who continue to push to the emerging talents keen on toppling the established order, below, the 10 hottest North African rappers, according to NorfAfrica.
Samara
ElGrandeToto
Hady Moamer
“As both a vocalist and producer, Hady Moamer arguably holds the title of most talented musician in North Africa. Grammy-nominated under the moniker “Jean Bleu,” he has produced a slew of tracks for some of the industry’s most esteemed artists including Drake, J.Cole, and Conway the Machine amongst others. This year, the Cairo-based multihyphenate released his second project, ZEKRAYAT EL MOSTABAL, a groundbreaking offering that blends Egyptian folkloric art with contemporary UK genres from Garage to 2Step. If we had to bet, our money would be on Hady Moamer to become one of the most influential figures in the region’s music scene.”
KTYB
Hleem Taj Alser
“Sudan is North Africa’s sleeping giant, and at the helm of its music scene sits Hleem Taj Alser. Beyond the popularity he enjoys in his homeland, his praises are sung out of several more countries from the region. Given his background (Egypt, where he is now based, and Libya, where he spent a significant portion of his life) and current trajectory, the young star is primed for a takeover. We predict him to become a favorite across North Africa as his songs possess a deep realism that makes you feel his music with an immediacy that is rare to find.”