大象传媒

Moroccan rapper Don Bigg is a pioneer. He was one of the first to dare to speak out about the reality of life for ordinary people, and he laid the foundations for what is now a vibrant hip-hop scene in his country.

Bigg, or Bigg the Don, as he鈥檚 also called, started out back in 2004, a very different time from now, when rappers in Morocco are celebrated in the mainstream and even get the support of the King. He began rapping in English, but soon realised that rapping in Darija, Moroccan Arabic, was the way to connect with the people. He became hugely popular thanks to his refreshing fearlessness when it came to talking about poverty, crime and corruption.

He鈥檚 managed to remain on top for almost 20 years, and has collaborated with many of the younger generation of Moroccan rappers, including Dizzy Dros, Dragonov, Khtek and El Grande Toto.

In this conversation with his old friend DJ Edu, he remembers what it felt like the first time he stood on a stage in front of 80,000 people, describes the changes he has seen in the course of his career and reveals what excites him now in music.