Gen Z Protests in Morocco: How the Hip-Hop Community Reacted
WATCH DADA – MGHRIBI KA33I [Video Lyric] prod by LBANDY | a pro-GenZ protest song, released on Oct 1, 2025.
ElGrandeToto’s Stand: Symbols, Statements, and #FreeKoulchi
ElGrandeToto, Morocco’s most streamed and celebrated homegrown rapper, delivered one of the most powerful artistic responses. His Instagram reel, viewed over 10 million times, carried a stirring caption invoking constitutional rights and social justice:
“In the most beautiful country in the world, the tales of education and health are unfolding, stories of incomplete, fragmented tragedies … In the most beautiful country in the world, this youth is being targeted and is screaming out, but only for their rights. These young men and women … are rejecting the insult, despising the injustice, and seeking understanding. They want a change where democracy thrives and dignity reigns. This Moroccan youth isn’t backing down; they want a better tomorrow.”
Beyond words, ElGrandeToto mobilized his massive digital following with a bold visual act: changing his profile photo to a bleeding Moroccan star, symbolizing a nation in pain. The caption #FREE_KOULCHI (Free Everybody), intiated by DOSEI, became an instant rallying cry for detained protesters and a call for national dignity.
Dizzy DROS on Gen Z: A Generation That Won’t Be Cornered
Rapper Dizzy DROS, one of Morocco’s most influential voices, took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the state’s approach:
“As is the custom, the State succeeds in making itself an adversary to its own young people. An animosity that can only be avoided by listening to them and their legitimate demands. Instead, it chose to confront them with Byzantine methods that might have worked with previous generations. But this is the generation of the letter ‘Z’ (Gen Z)… a generation that doesn’t know the meaning of being cornered, and won’t put up with the truncheon (zarwata) because they haven’t lived under its constant shadow. That de-humanizing, cattle-pen approach won’t work on them, and your flimsy talk won’t calm them down… They want good schooling, they want hospitals with no bribes, and they’d love it if you would finally close the file on the Al Haouz earthquake recovery. Are you going to deal with them seriously and maturely? Can you move past this storm? Or will you keep pouring oil on the fire? Between all this, may God grant a good outcome for our beloved country, the country of the letter ‘Z’.”
He praised Gen Z’s energy and fearlessness, urging authorities to act “seriously and maturely” rather than repeat the mistakes of the past. Through multiple Instagram story posts, DROS shared footage of protests, arrests, and commentary demanding government resignation and renewal.
Raid’s Detention: Targeting a Critical Voice
Raid, known for his politically charged lyrics, was arrested on the first day of the GenZ212 protests. Shortly before his second detention, he posted on Instagram:
“Salam Alaikum (Peace be upon you). I just wanted to leave a little message here. There’s been a little bit of targeted security presence today. I was still on th way next to Alza, two cops came right up to me, demanded my ID, and took me to their chef (supervisor). He asked the standard questions, but it was all part of the usual, hush-hush investigative business you’re familiar with, the ‘we know you’ thing. Anyway, that’s what’s going on.”
He was detained the following day without explanation. After spending several days in custody, he was released and placed under judicial supervision, and is now awaiting trial.
7liwa’s Message: Backing Protest and Warning Against Chaos
7liwa, often ranked among Morocco’s most influential rappers, posted several Instagram stories backing the protests. In one, he wrote:
“Gen Z are those good kids who started out peaceful, but now they are the Red Indians (a historical term often used to mean unpredictable). I saw that cute post on Instagram where they are demanding things in the name of ‘Non-Destruction’? These [voilent protesters] are acting just like Akhannouch (the current Prime Minister), they listen to nobody!”
Despite his frustration with rising tensions, 7liwa joined the campaign calling for the government’s resignation.
Producers, Filmmakers, and Collectives: Culture in Resistance
Al Amine, a leading producer, reposted a powerful quote from a protester being arrested:
“Brave men died for this country, so do not live in it humiliated.”
a clear call to action and a statement of honor and dignity, urging people to live and fight with pride, worthy of the sacrifices made by their predecessors.
Ms3oudi, a renowned filmmaker in the Moroccan rap scene, He shared a story post featuring DOSEI’s website, which announced the suspension of all merchandise until further notice. This decision came after most of their members were arrested during the recent protests. The announcement ended with the defiant note: “Free Koulchi, No surrender.”
DOSEI is the most impactful collective to emerge in the Moroccan hip-hop scene post-COVID. They have revolutionized street fashion with a consistently disobedient aesthetic, designed highly detailed album art covers like Lmorphine’s ‘Gala’ (2022) and ‘MC3’ (2025, and organized EGREGORE, one of the biggest festivals in recent years, known for hosting 40 rappers over two days to celebrate 40 years of Moroccan hip-hop.
El Morad, one of the biggest Moroccan diaspora rappers in Europe, reshared footballer Achraf Hakimi’s post “God bless” with the tag #FreeKoulchi, reinforcing solidarity across borders.
Moroccan Critics and Influencers Demand Accountability
FaroukLife, Morocco’s most prominent rap reviewer with over 2 million YouTube subscribers, he wrote calling for accountability and transparency:
“Peacefulness must come from both sides! Poor decisions and actions [by security personnel] have led to an escalating situation where the police forces seem to become the adversaries of the protestors. Clear, official demands for reform of Health and Education have reached the point of calling for the resignation of the current government and linking accountability to an audit. The bottom line is, neither the security officer nor the protestor who shares the same deprivation of resources will benefit from this conflict.”
Rap reviewer Simohamed F’Rap mourned Abdessamad Oubalat, a university student and filmmaker allegedly shot while documenting a protest:
“We just got the news about the passing of our brother, Abdessamad Oubalat… He was killed by a bullet wound to the head during the protests that took place in Qalaat al-Sraghna. He was one of the best of the city’s youth, a university student from the Cinema Institute in the city, who was documenting the moments of the big protest when he was killed. La hawla wala quwwata illa billah (There is no power or strength except with God). Inna Lillah wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Indeed, we belong to God, and indeed to Him we shall return).”
Responding to an urgent news banner where Akhannouch expressed ‘engagement’ and ‘regret’ over protest fatalities, Simohamed posted a firm rejection: “We don’t want engagement. We want resignation and accountability.”
Lil Bvdr, co-founder of the hip-hop podcast Kulture, echoed this sentiment, reposting:
“Who killed Abdessamad? Who ordered it? Why? We demand justice.”
Rapper Tagne Reacts to Oujda: Condemning Violence, Urging Peace
After a police car in Oujda deliberately drove onto the sidewalk and hit a protester, an act many called attempted murder, the attack resulted in the victim losing one leg and potentially a second, rapper Tagne reacted furiously online:
“Attempted murder or murder, witnessed by all… We won’t let this one slide, ya wlad l’qhab. We don’t want just Education and Health anymore, now it’s another level.”
Later, he urged demonstrators to maintain peaceful discipline:
“My brothers and sisters, please don’t wreck public facilities … we’re all suffering here, and you’re hurting your own citizen brother before anyone else. This just makes us look bad and gives the traitors/enemies the perfect excuse to shut us down. Let’s make sure our voice gets through in a civilized fashion, control your emotions, everyone needs to be in charge of their own self, and change is coming, there’s no doubt about it.”
Underground Voices: Bo9al, Mehdi Black Wind, and Systemic Critique
Bo9al, known for his raw lyrics and the most electrifying stage presence, posted on his IG:
“A question for the press that’s funded by the people’s money: Why are you focusing on the scraps of wood (referring to minor disturbances) and neglecting the people’s legitimate demands? We pray for God’s mercy upon those who have lost their lives, for a swift recovery for the wounded, and for freedom for all: both those jailed behind bars and those imprisoned outside them. And the core demand of the people is the resignation of the Government and the King’s intervention.”
Mehdi Black Wind, widely regarded as the ‘face of the underground‘ and one of Morocco’s most prominent political rappers, directly linked the state’s domestic crackdown to its foreign policy in an Instagram story. He wrote:
“He who normalizes with the genocidal Zionist entity (referencing the 2020 normalization deal), we do not expect decency, understanding, or compassion for the oppressed from it. What is happening is not merely the reckless action of certain individuals, but rather it is the true reflection of the regime’s nature.”
He further amplified this sentiment by reposting a video in which a letter from imprisoned activist Nasser Zefzafi is read by his brother. In the message, Zefzafi saluted the GenZ212 protesters, telling them: “the echoes of your screams seep through the cracks of my prison cell.” He expressed that he bows to them “in respect for your genuine nationalism,” and that their chants for the detainees’ release move him to tears. He concluded with an emotional slogan: “May he who betrays you never live.”
Rappers Small X and 48: “Violence Means Failed Leadership”
Small X of the duo Shayfeen criticized the violent handling of demonstrations:
“As long as you use violence against peaceful protests, it just means failed dialogue and failed leadership. Violence only creates real hatred. We don’t want things to go down a different path, which the protesters don’t want. Instead of doing your duty to organize and keep the peace, you did the opposite. The ones who should be held accountable are the decision-makers, not the youth and the innocent people.”
He later urged protestors to reject destruction, emphasizing that chaos only betrays the peaceful ideals of the first days.
Lyricist Quatreheuit shared a post challenging state reports of a “security incident”:
“A security center in a quasi-city, in the suburbs of another city. What armaments are available there that could necessitate an engagement, leading to live ammunition being fired at individuals who are fundamentally outside the jurisdiction of the center? Why were no warning shots fired? Why is there no camera footage or any other witnesses to corroborate the assault? Had the incidents of driving through protesters yesterday was captured by cameras, the narrative would’ve been deliberately altered, and we are well aware of that.”
Rapper Diib: Against Brutality and Media Manipulation
Diib, a top-five most prolific Moroccan rapper with over 300 singles known for his support of Palestinian and Moroccan struggles, used his Instagram platform to share three critical posts amplifying the protest movement. First, he shared a reel showing the arrest of a minor, commenting: “This is way too much and totally out of control. It makes zero sense to be calm while you’re arresting a kid.”
Second, he endorsed a national campaign to boycott the web channel Chouf TV, citing its “deliberate sensationalism,” “paid journalism,” and “demonization of legitimate demands and protesters.”
Finally, he posted a quote by Iraqi poet Ahmad Matar that reflects a deep disillusionment with empty nationalism: “We sacrifice ourselves so that the nation may survive, but who is it surviving for?!… We ourselves are the nation.”
Moroccan Protest Rap Songs: the GenZ 212 Movement Sountracks
As the protests unfolded, several rappers released songs directly inspired by the movement:
Dada – “Maghribi Ka3i”
selected bars:
“Moroccan film, the same story, we’re getting beatings in every session.”
“We don’t attack, we don’t fear.”
“Hospitals need managers, PhDs are just cosplay.”
Pause – “Marionnette”
selected bars:
“Generation Z is paying for what Generation A did.”
“There’s no ideological revolution, the country’s been rotting since the ’60s.”
KDK 44 – “Free Koulchi”
selected bars:
“I was born in this wave.”
“Be careful, you know what pressure gives birth to.”
Raffy – “ACAB”
selected bars:
“The guys stood up and got their legs cut off.”
“Even though they’re one of us, they’re chained by a collar around their neck.”
Jntyyy – “Scarecrow”
selected bars:
“We have Morocco in our blood, you have it in your ID cards. The nation is its People, we added ‘Long Live’ [the People] and you turned it into distortion (or falsification).”
“Free everyone, free expression, free the youth, you and me. Long Live the King, and let us live too, and those who oppose the stand (protest) are traitors.”
WATCH Jntyyy – Scarecrow ( prod by Teaslax ) | a pro-GenZ protest song, released on Oct 5, 2025.
Conclusion: Hip‑Hop as Morocco’s Moral Compass
From Casablanca to Madrid, from underground collectives to YouTube critics, Morocco’s hip-hop community has once again proven itself the moral compass and megaphone of a restless generation. Through beats, bars, and bold statements, they transformed the GenZ212 protests into more than a political moment, it became a cultural awakening, demanding that Morocco’s youth be heard, respected, and free.
