Best of Moroccan Hip Hop – January 2026

One of the most respected figures in the underground scene, Art Smoke is renowned for lyrics influenced by mythology, religion, and Japanese culture. Blending references to his hometown of Salé with a hardcore flow, his boom-bap beats consistently transport listeners back to the “golden age” of hip-hop. When we polled our Instagram community for our monthly “Rapper of the Month” feature, the majority of voters named Art Smoke, citing his recent album as the primary reason for their choice.  

On January 17, Art Smoke released his debut album, L’Mdad Ki Dam (Ink Like Blood). The 11-track project was fully produced by Art Smoke himself and features two guest appearances: fellow Salé native KPV 14-5mm on “Spartans” and Egyptian rapper Qishbar on “Sacrifice.” This release follows his debut EP, Budo, released on November 22, 2022. That project was praised for its raw hip-hop vibes and features, including respected local figures such as Mehdi Black Wind, Diib, and DJ Sim-H.

Art Smoke’s affinity for Japanese culture is evident in the nomenclature of his projects and tracks. This is seen in the title of his debut EP, Budo (modern Japanese martial arts), as well as songs like “Nikuya” (Butcher), “Hara-Kiri” (ritual samurai suicide), and “Jigoku” (the concept of Hell in Japanese Buddhism). His work similarly explores global mythology and history. His most-watched music video, “Enkidu,” features DJ Sim-H and references the Epic of Gilgamesh, while “Agent Orange” reflects on the defoliant chemical used by the US during the Vietnam War. 

His thematic depth continues with his song “As Above So Below,” an ancient Hermetic maxim from the Emerald Tablet that describes the interconnectedness of higher and lower planes of existence. Furthermore, his track “Sankofa” draws from a Twi word used by the Akan tribe of Ghana. Loosely translated as “go back and get it,” the term originates from the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri,” which suggests that it is not taboo to return for what you have forgotten or left behind.

Art Smoke is widely recognized among the “top 5” symbol of Morocco’s underground scene. His significance as a producer was also demonstrated during the pivotal “Morap Type Beat Challenge” in 2025, a historic event that saw over 60 Moroccan producers unite to sonically define the Moroccan rap subgenre known as Morap. By blending traditional Moroccan instruments with global hip-hop, Art Smoke continues to serve as a major contributor to the movement.

His philosophy is best summarized by few lines from his latest album: like on “Arm Leg Leg Arm Head”, he raps: “[Art] Smoke Ma3bad 9lil lli zar ardo” (Art Smoke is a temple, very few have walked its grounds); a dual metaphor where the “temple” refers to the sacred value he places on his art, while “very few” speaks to his underground status. While on “Tameshigirl”, he raps “Knowledge of self is the new gangsta”, this line deriving from deep self-knowledge and, by extension, a nuanced understanding of one’s place in the world.