7liwa: Morocco’s Lil Wayne | Parallels of Two Hip-Hop Icons
In 2017, a mixtape from Casablanca shock up the Moroccan hip-hop scene. Who was behind it? 7liwa, a rapper whose debut project Weld Fatima became a cultural landmark, much like the impact Lil Wayne had on global rap with Tha Carter III. Though they come from vastly different worlds, 7liwa and Lil Wayne share similar journeys. These two rappers, through talent and grind, have reshaped their respective rap scenes and inspired generations.
Here’s a deep dive into why 7liwa is “Morocco’s Lil Wayne.”
7Liwa – Wald Fatema (Official Music Video) | One of 7liwa’s earliest and most impactful singles, released in 2015
Lil Wayne – Go DJ (Official Music Video) | One of Wayne’s earliest and most impactful singles, released in 2004
1. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Changing the Game with Auto-Tune
Let’s be real, before Lil Wayne made auto-tune cool, most people weren’t feeling it. Sure, T-Pain was out there doing his thing, but Wayne took it to a whole new level in hip-hop. His clever punchlines and raspy voice, layered with auto-tune on tracks like A Milli, 6 Foot 7 Foot, and Lollipop, were so catchy and innovative that they became inspirational. Suddenly, everyone from Future to Young Thug was riding that wave, using auto-tune to push trap music into the mainstream.
Now, fast forward to Morocco, and you’ve got 7liwa doing the exact same thing for Moroccan rap. Back in the early 2000s, Moroccan hip-hop was still raw, heavy on traditional rap flows and themes. Then came 7liwa around 2013, and with his signature auto-tuned sound, he completely flipped the script. Tracks like Weld Fatima (2015) and Nik DT (2016) blended auto-toned aggressive flows with creative lyrics.
What’s even crazier? Neither artist stopped at influencing their immediate scenes. Wayne paved the way for trap icons like Future, Lil Baby, and Playboi Carti. While 7liwa inspired a wave of Moroccan talent, from ElGrandeToto to Inkonnu. These artists took what 7liwa started and ran with it. Just as American trap owes much of its sound to Wayne’s early experiments, Moroccan rap owes a great deal of its identity to 7liwa’s pioneering use of auto-tune.
7LIWA – NIK DT (Official Music Video) | One of 7liwa’s best and most influential songs
Lil Wayne – Lollipop (Official Music Video) ft. Static | One of Wayne’s most iconic songs
2. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Masters of Wordplay and Metaphors
Let’s talk about bars, the kind that make you hit rewind just to process what you heard. Lil Wayne and 7liwa both have a knack for dropping headache-giving bars. Who can forget Wayne’s “Real Gs move in silence like lasagna”? It’s the kind of wordplay that makes you stop mid-song and say “that’s why he is the GOAT”. Wayne has a reputation of turning even the simplest phrases into unforgettable quotes.
Now, look at 7liwa. His pen game is just as strong, and his metaphors are straight-up poetry. One of his most iconic lines describes an ashtray as a “graveyard of cigarettes”, a vivid image that turns a mundane object into something profound. Or when he said “Raised in backwards diapers—Kris Krossed since birth.”
And it’s not just about the metaphors, it’s the way they deliver their words. Wayne’s A Milli is a masterclass in lyrical prowess, packed with nonstop punchlines and rhythm. Similarly, 7liwa’s Batal L3alam (World’s Champ) is just as impressive, a 10-minute track with no verses, just pure lyricism. It’s takes crazy skill to hold someone’s attention for that long with nothing but your words. It’s no wonder fans on both sides of the Atlantic see them as benchmarks for lyrical greatness.
7liwa – Batal l3alam (Official Audio) | One of the best written rap songs in Morocco’s history
Lil Wayne – A Milli (Official Music Video) | One of hip hop’s most iconic songs
3. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Building Empires and Shaping the Culture
Legends don’t just make great music, they create paths for others to do the same. Lil Wayne didn’t stop at being one of the best rappers alive; he went ahead and built Young Money Entertainment, a label that gave us global icons like Drake and Nicki Minaj. Think about that for a second, arguably two of the biggest names in the music industry wouldn’t be where they are today without Wayne’s vision, (ey, don’t forget about Tyga!) That’s why Wayne isn’t just an artist, he’s a cultural architect.
Now take 7liwa. He did the same thing in Morocco with Zawa City, a Casablanca-based collective that completely changed the game. Artists like ElGrandeToto, who’s basically Morocco’s equivalent of Drake with his dominance in streams and awards, and Inkonnu, known for his impeccable flows and versatility, owe part of their success to the foundation 7liwa built. Even Ily, one of the few well-known female voices in Moroccan rap, got her shine through Zawa City.
The parallels are wild. Both Wayne and 7liwa didn’t just create platforms, they built ecosystems. They scouted talent, mentored artists, and gave them the tools to thrive. What’s even cooler is that their collectives became cultural hubs. Young Money made Southern rap the center of the hip-hop world, while Zawa City recentered Casablanca’s position in Moroccan rap and bridged it even more strongly with Europe.
7Liwa ft. 7ari x Inkonnu x Toto x Drizzy x Zeroten – Mi Amore (2017) | 7liwa’s first Zawa City collective collab, putting the spotlight on then unknown artists (3 of them are now superstars in Moroccan hip hop scene: Toto (aka ElGrandeToto), Inkonnu, and 7ari)
Drake ft. Lil Wayne – Ransom (2008) | Wayne’s earliest Young Money collab, also being on several tracks on Drake’s debut album “So Far Gone” (2009); similar to putting a spotlight on Minaj through the single “Knockout” (2010)
4. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Iconic Tattoos & Hairstyles
When it comes to rap, what people remember about rappers is not only what they say, but also how they present themselves. Lil Wayne and 7liwa both understood this from the jump, turning their appearances into extensions of their artistry. Wayne’s tattoos, especially the iconic teardrops on his face, are as impactful as his music. They’re symbols of his problimatic childhood and his triumphs.
Now look at 7liwa. His tattoo game is just as iconic. On the back of his hand, you’ve got a big 7, and across his fingers, it spells out his name: L-I-W-A (7LIWA). A tattoo reflecting self-confidence and social rebellion. And just as Wayne inspired many rappers to have face tattoos, 7liwa did the same in Morocco with many rappers inking their names across their fingers.
And it doesn’t stop there. In his early days, 7liwa rocked a signature hairstyle, a single braid that became just as recognizable as Wayne’s dreadlocks. Both styles weren’t just random choices; they were statements: “I’m different. I stand out.”
5. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Albums That Inspired Generations
Every legendary rapper has that one project that changes everything. For Lil Wayne, it was Tha Carter III (2008), his magnum opus. That album is revered globally as a cultural landmark. With tracks like A Milli, Lollipop, and Mr. Carter, Wayne really proved he was the best rapper alive.
Now flip the script to Morocco, and you’ve got 7liwa’s Weld Fatima (2017). This mixtape was revolutionary in every sense of the word. Before Weld Fatima, Moroccan rap was still finding its feet. Then came 7liwa, dropping tracks like Adidas and Haribo, blending auto-tuned raging flows with clever lyricism. And just like Wayne, 7liwa didn’t stop there. He followed up with more albums: La Street (2019), Weld Fatima II (2021) and Champion (2024), proving he’s here to stay. Their iconic works shaped the future of their respective scenes.
Interestingly, both Tha Carter III and Weld Fatima feature cover art that shows the rappers as children. Lil Wayne’s cover portrays him as a baby in a suit, complete with his signature tattoos. 7liwa’s cover, on the other hand, features a black-and-white photo of a young 7liwa, framed like a cherished memory.
6. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Masters of Dark Visuals and Bold Themes
Lil Wayne and 7liwa sure know how to grab our attention, even though sometimes in ways that are a little unsettling. Both rappers have a knack for diving into dark and controversial themes. For example, Wayne’s Love Me (2013, featuring Drake and Future) is a perfect example. The video is packed with horror-inspired imagery: demonic creatures with split tongues, eerie insects coming in and out of ears and nostrils, and an overall vibe that feels straight out of a nightmare. Other examples include Drop the World (2010, ft. Eminem), John (2011, ft. Rick Ross) and Krazy (2014).
On the other side of the Atlantic, 7liwa released Musi9t Chitan in 2014, (lit. Music of Satan). This track, and its music video, caused a massive stir when it dropped. The visuals are dark and shocking, featuring images of death, devils, and even torture. It really had people sharing the video and asking: “Did you see this new guy and his horror short movie?”, “how did he do it?” Just like Wayne, 7liwa was never afraid to use shock value to make a statement and challenge societal norms.
What’s even more impressive is how these visuals tie back to their music. Wayne’s lyrics often touch on themes of death, drugs, and rebellion, and his videos bring those ideas to life in haunting detail. Similarly, 7liwa’s music is packed with themes of inner demons, existential dread, and societal critique, and his videos amplify those messages with bold, often shocking imagery.
7liwa – Mosi9t Chitan +18 (Music Video) | One of the best horror-inspired music videos
Lil Wayne – Love Me (Explicit Version) ft. Drake, Future | One of the most creative music videos
7. Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Putting Their Hometown on a Larger Map
Collaboration is the heartbeat of hip-hop, or any genre for that matter, and both Lil Wayne and 7liwa have used it to smash boundaries and put their hometowns on the map. Wayne didn’t just dominate the Southern rap scene, he brought it to the world. His collabs with artists from different genres and regions, from Jay-Z to Kevin Rudolf, made sure everyone knew New Orleans wasn’t just a jazz city; it was a hip-hop powerhouse. By working with heavyweights across the industry, Wayne turned Southern hip-hop into a global movement.
Now, let’s look at 7liwa. While he’s repping Casablanca, he’s been just as instrumental in connecting Moroccan rap with the larger world. One of his most famous collaborations is with Moroccan-French rapper Lartiste on the track Gonzales (2016). This wasn’t just a song, it was a bridge. Gonzales helped bring French rap into the Moroccan scene, creating a cultural exchange that hadn’t been seen at that level before. Other collabs include La Fafa (2017, ft. Belgian-Italian rapper LAIOUNG); Bilal (2017, ft. Algerian-French rapper Soolking); Nari (2018, ft. Moroccan-Dutch rapper 3robi).
If you’re curious about the impact, for Wayne, it meant the South was no longer just a regional sound, it was the heartbeat of American hip-hop. For 7liwa, it meant Casablanca was much bigger than ‘just a city in Morocco’; it became a part of the European hip-hop conversation. Tracks like Gonzales and Nari are amongst the most watched Moroccan music videos on YouTube.
Lartiste – Gonzales feat. 7Liwa (Clip Officiel) | One of Morocco’s most impactful international collabs
Lil Wayne – Mirror ft. Bruno Mars (Official Music Video) | One of Wayne’s Biggest collabs
Conclusion | Lil Wayne and 7liwa: Two Legends, One Legacy
At first glance, Lil Wayne and 7liwa couldn’t be more different, separated by continents, cultures, and languages. But dig deeper, look closer, and it’s clear they share the same DNA as artists: innovators, leaders, and GOATs who had the vision to make a name for themselves and others to follow.
Both rappers have faced struggles, sparked controversies, and built empires, all while staying true to themselves. They’ve left marks that go far beyond rap, proving that hip-hop is a universal language of resilience, creativity, and self-expression.
So, is 7liwa really “Morocco’s Lil Wayne”? Absolutely. More importantly, both are revolutionary legends who have inspired and paved the way for tons of other artists to follow.
