Category: Morocco
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5 songs that symbolize the African America diaspora and cultural exchange through Hip-Hop
For my mixtape project, I have decided to use Famous and Unforgettable by French Montana, Umrika by Wale, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, and Fall by Davido to demonstrate the theme: African diaspora blending American and African influences in the hip hop industry. The cover art is Wale as a member of the African diaspora embracing hisRead…
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May Peace Be Unto You
Salam Alaykum, the standard Arabic greeting translating to “Peace be unto you,” is the only track on French Montana’s latest album, Montana,with an Arabic title. Additionally, his whole album is one showcasing Montana’s consistent efforts in bridging his Moroccan roots with the music industry. The song begins with a fading angelic voice presenting a crypticRead…
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French Montana: Be Proud of Your Roots
In 2018, Moroccan-American rapper French Montana released his video for the song FAMOUS where he showcases his African heritage by displaying the beauty of Morocco. Montana, whose birth name is Karim Kharbouch, was born in Morocco but had moved to New York City when he was thirteen. Although he’s become a prominent and well-accomplished artistRead…
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The Voice of Women
“Hip hop taught me how to be strong and how to face men, even if they are bigger than you.”-Soultana Soultana is a prominent Moroccan rapper and one of the first Arab woman in the field addressing the patriarchy and gender obstacles through her music. She joined the hip hop industry in search of respectRead…
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Staying true to your roots even in FAME
Morrocan rapper French Montana releases ‘Famous’ in his second studio album, Jungle Rules. He starts the music video with the title of the song in Arabic script, showcasing the relation of his song with his ethnic roots as Arabic is the official language of Morocco. His message in this video is a powerful one: NeverRead…
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French Montana’s unforgettable promise
Karim Kharbough, better known as French Montana in the hip hop industry, is an extremely accomplished Moroccan rapper, CEO of Cocaine Records, and an esteemed member of Maybach Music group. Born in Morocco, at the age of 13, Karim and his family moved to the South Bronx in New York City in search of betterRead…
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HHAP Episode 50: The Mixtape Episode P. 2
This episode is our second mixtape episode. The episode features the most recent works of 23 of Africa’s fiercest lyricists. All of songs featured on this episode were released in 2018 and 2019, and features women from across Africa, and African women who reside in the Diaspora. Some of the artists are fairly well known…
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French Montana Pays Homage to his Moroccan Roots
French Montana, an internationally acclaimed rapper based out of New Jersey, has not forgotten his African roots. Born in Morocco, French Montana, whose birth name is Karim Kharbouch, moved to the United States when he was thirteen. However, even after several prominent albums and singles in American markets, French Montana is still sure to payRead…
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Famous: Bringing Moroccan Culture to the United States
Moroccan rapper French Montana arrived to the South Bronx in 1996. At the time he immigrated, the rap scene in New York was incredibly popular with heavy weights such as the Notorious B.I.G, Jay Z, Nas, and Mobb Deep ruling the scene. French Montana became enamored with rap, and decided to pursue a career ofRead…
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New Book on Hip Hop in Morocco
Moreno Almeida, Cristina. (2017). Rap Beyond Resistance: Staging Power in Contemporary Morocco. Palgrave Macmillan.