By Rachid Acim
Morocco World News
Beni Mellal, Morocco, June 2, 2012
The very famous Moroccan rap band has recently composed a new album called “Bassma”, literally Smile.
The group of rappers, who are admired throughout Morocco, sing many themes that relate directly to the Moroccan society. Originally, the group was composed of four members: Achraf, Khalifa, Belkaz and Mouhssine. They are all youngsters in their twenties.
They are mixing up contemporary rap music with Chaabi. They also dwell on many other music genres like Reggae, Rocks, and Fusion. Thanks to their highly talented rich musical style, they tend to express the Moroccan youths’ worries in a humoristic but realistic way. For this reason, they use lyrics in Moroccan dialect to address the youths’ hopes for a better life and a perfect world.
In most of their songs, the singers rely on other local music colors like the Melhoun, Gnaoua, Issaoua and the Marrakchi drumming. This is why their music becomes widely popular appealing to all people of all ages.
The singers have a strong affinity for their country Morocco. They are much determined to change things towards the better. They are distinguished by humor, light jokes which they would share on many occasions.
In recent years, they have achieved much success with their touching song “Matkish Bladi”, which can be translated roughly into English as “Don’t touch my country.”
The latter song was composed as a response to the tragic terrorist attacks of Casablanca in May 2003.
After their albums “donation “, “Hand of Paradise”, songs like “Lalla Mannan”, “History of my country”, “Red and Green”, the band comes up with a new album this year, for which it has chosen the name “Smile”.
The album was officially announced in a special conference in the Festival of Mawazine last May. It is dedicated to the spirit of Hisham Belkaz, one of the former members of the band.
The band of rappers keeps fascinating the Moroccan public with their beautiful albums. They are creative and gifted. Their music celebrates both diversity, love and dignity. It has a noble message that resonates widely with the Moroccan public.
