L'Morphine (rapper)
L'Morphine | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mehdi Mouhib |
| Also known as | Lmorpho, Chiekh Rap, M-Psy |
| Born | June 17, 1984 (age 40) Sale, Morocco |
| Genres | Rap ● Hip Hop ● Moroccan Rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Songwriter |
| Years active | 2004-present |
| Formerly of | Piranha-Labo |
Mehdi Mouhib (born June 17, 1984), known professionally as L'Morphine, (formally as M-Psy), is a Moroccan rapper and songwriter. Mouhib is recognized for his distinctive lyrical approach, characterized by sophisticated literary techniques including extended metaphors, metonymy, alliteration, and symbolism. Considered by many to be the best Moroccan rapper,[1][2] and to have the biggest rap music catalog in Morocco with over 200 singles.[3]
Life and education
[edit]Personal life
[edit]Born in 1984 in Salé, Morocco, and spent his childhood and adolescence in Midelt and Meknes. Currently married, he is the father of two children: a daughter named Kenza and a son named Qays.
Education
[edit]Coming from an academic family background, his mother served as a physician while his father practiced as a private medical doctor, he pursued higher education in Canada, graduating with a degree in tourism management. Professionally, he maintains dual occupations in both the tourism sector and the commercial trade of geological specimens, specializing in rocks and fossils.
Career
[edit]Mouhib began his artistic journey in the early 2000s under the stage name "M-Psy," drawing inspiration from American hip-hop.[4] Initially treating rap as a hobby, he didn't upload his work online until 2004 when he began engaging with audiences. In 2006, he joined the Salé-based rap collective Piranha-Labo before departing in 2010 to focus on his solo career.
Artistic style
[edit]Renowned for his complex metaphorical lyricism, Mouhib has earned the nickname "King of Metaphors" in Moroccan rap.[5] His writing demands careful analysis, fostering deep audience engagement. Distinctively, he records tracks immediately after writing and rarely when he appears in music videos.[6] He made his live debut at Le Boulevard festival in Casablanca (2022),[7][8][9] one of the biggest festivals in the world.[10]
Career milestones and fanbase growth
[edit]From modest beginnings, Mouhib's popularity grew significantly:
- 2015: Formation of dedicated fan group 2020 SQUAD
- 2020: Mainstream breakthrough following media appearances
- 2022: Spotify debut with GALA EP
Influence
[edit]Mouhib has established himself as one of Morocco's most prominent battle rappers, recognized for his lyrical prowess in high-profile feuds within the hip-hop scene.[11] His reputation in this competitive arena led to his selection as a guest judge for the rap battle episode of Jamshow, Morocco's televised rap competition on 2M, where he evaluated contestants based on flow, wordplay, and improvisational skills.[12]
Mouhib has influenced the careers of many rappers in Morocco, including as Pause Flow, Hamza 15-3, Raid, Diib and others.
Discography and musical evolution
[edit]With over 200 recorded tracks, Mouhib's career highlights include:[3]
- Debut project Maxi Mighnatiss (2006, with Pirahna Labo)
- Breakthrough mixtape Na9ouss (2009, 9 tracks) - his first solo project
- Subsequent mixtapes Total (2012), Paprika (2013), and INK (2019)
- The ongoing LMorphiniya series (2015-present, currently at 35 installments)
- Commercial breakthrough EP GALA (2020)
- Recent EP Yakine (2024)[13]
- Highly anticipated album Excelsior (in development since 2015)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "TOP 10 Best Moroccan Rappers of All Time". Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "المورفين... أفيون الراب المغربي السهل الممتنع". رصيف22 (in Arabic). 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ a b "موسيقى الراب تسيطر على باقي الأصناف »… أسماء من الجيل المؤسس للراب بالمغرب تتحدث لـ »اليوم24″". اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ elkhouzai (2023-11-18). ""البولفار" يلتقي الجمهور بذكريات الشغب". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "RapArt: المورفين - ملك الميطافور -". RapArt. June 16, 2016. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ chouaib (2025-04-18). ""فونطوم" .. عمل فني بفكرة بسيطة يضع "الجن والمورفين" في الواجهة". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "L'Boulevard 2022: L'morphine, Dollypran, El Grande Toto... les grands noms du rap marocain montent sur scène". Le 360 Français (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "L'Boulevard 2022: Comment (et pourquoi) la soirée dédiée au hip-hop a frôlé le drame?". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ El Masaiti, Amira (2022-09-06). "L'Boulevard is back to Casablanca after a two-year break due to COVID-19". Hespress English. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "11 Biggest Music Festivals in the World: Is this Time Different?". Finance.yahoo. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Top 10 Best Moroccan Rap Beefs of All Time". Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Jam Show : Découvrez les gagnants des "Clashs" et les deux talents sauvés par le "Cypher" en Replay". 2M.ma (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ "Rap of the Week | June 28 - July 5". SecneNow. Retrieved 2025-06-06.