One of his favorite artists isSaib, a well-known name in the genre. "I like this way of producing, mixing jazzy melodies and funk with hip hop," Small X tells OkayAfrica in a Zoom call alongside his manager, Othmane Bellamine. "When Othmane told me that Saib is a Moroccan guy, I said, 'We are two Moroccans. Two different types of music, and we both love hip-hop. Why not? Why not work together?'"
Small X and Bellamine are in good spirits, making jokes, breaking into laughter, and completing each other's sentences. They're refreshingly humble, considering that Small X is one of Morocco's most influential rappers and has been in the game for nearly two decades.
He first made waves as part of the rap duo Shayfeen. His lyrics and catchy flows earned him a loyal fan base across North Africa and beyond. In 2021, they decided to pursue solo careers, which led Small X to Mass Appeal, the revered New York City hip-hop label founded byNas.
“This frequency doesn’t exist in Morocco or North Africa right now. There’s a lot we can do to make hip hop better in North Africa. Morocco is culturally rich, we need to take that seriously.” - Small X
Photo by Salaheddine El Bouaaichi