Wow, wow, wow, wow! ElGrandeToto, one of Morocco’s largest rappers released his album 7ELMET ADO in December of last year. A dominating force in Morocco’s hip-hop scene, ElGrandeToto helped bring hip-hop into the spotlight. He is most known for blending Darija, French, and the occasional English phrase into his music. 

His album, 7ELMET ADO roughly translates to “The Dream of a Teenager”, with each track titled “7ELMET ADO” followed by the track number. 7ELMET ADO 7 is an eight minute song, comprising two parts. 

Part 1 consists of a fun, chaotic beat along with a flute-like sound of the Ney, a traditional Moroccan instrument. This first part tells the story of his past– one of being a kid with a dream, rebelling, of drugs, but surviving. In between the verses, he repeats “wow” four times. As a non-Arabic speaker, I think that the beat also helps tell the story. It definitely conveys the same chaotic energy of his past, with Ney adding in a nostalgic touch. I can definitely say that the first part was my favorite. 

The second part focuses on his life as an adult– the life of a successful rapper, that is. The beat does a complete switch. The beat is more deep, similar to that of trap music, or more modern. In part 2, he has achieved his dream, but acknowledges the challenges; The world is ruthless, people can be fake, and there is pressure around being so successful. His journey has helped him grow, but life is still complicated and survival never stops. 

Now, I loved part 1 of the song, but hoped for something more in the first part of the video. Throughout the first part, the camera follows him as he tells the story of his childhood. I just hoped for it to be more engaging. However, the second part was very aesthetically pleasing. The link between the imagery and his story are clear. Us, as the audience, witness how he has grown. 

Overall, I enjoyed the song. After analyzing its meaning and watching the music video, it is clear that ElGrandeToto approaches his craft intentionally. 

To listen, click here: 7ELMET ADO 7 (Prod. By West, Foniki & Flem) M/V