COLORSxSTUDIOS

We originally had this interview planned for earlier this month, around the time of the earthquake in Morocco. I want to give my condolences to your home country. How have you been? How are you dealing with the news?

It was devastating, but we have to take the good out of it. Seeing how the Moroccans showed up for each other–not just those in Morocco, but around the world—was amazing. It’s sad that it took an earthquake to show the world real Moroccan values. But, it’s how the saying goes, “even in the darkest places there’s a lot of hope.”

Are you currently in Morocco?

I’m in Morocco but I’m leaving soon—for good.

Where are you going?

Haha! Make sure to write this down: I can’t answer this question because I don’t want to be followed. I want to be at peace. I want to eat bananas, smoke trees, and have kids!

Where does your artist name, “ElGrandeToto”, come from?

It’s a reference to the Italian mafia, and to a neighbor who lived on my block. His name was Toto, and my name is Taha. I hung around him a lot as a kid, so the neighbors used to call me ‘Little Toto’.

Has your time as a dancer influenced the style of music you create?

There’s a hugely competitive side to krumping: you can’t let yourself or your team down.  I kept this aspect of dance in my music. I’m always trying to do my best. I’m my biggest competition, my biggest critic, and my biggest fan.

You started releasing your own music in 2016. What have been a few of the most challenging aspects of breaking into hip-hop from Morocco?

Being myself. Most artists are creating an image, playing a role, and trying to be entertaining. I can’t do that. I was in love with the realest rappers growing up. I fuck with Biggie, but I love Pac. Pac stood for something, he defended his ideas. In Morocco, speaking-up for yourself can be hard. I do it in a really harsh way. I take no shortcuts, no tunnels, I take the highway straight on.

Other than that, the biggest challenge I’ve had is getting visas. There’s a stigma around rappers, so it can be hard to convince people to provide us with the right documentation to travel outside the country.

In 2021, you released your debut album ‘Caméléon’. On it you rap in Darija, French, and English. How do you approach creating music that blends multiple languages?

Whenever I travel somewhere I adapt and blend in. For example, I went to Tunisia, five days later I was speaking like a native. I went to Lagos for a video shoot with CKay, six days later I was doing half-a-verse in Pidgin. When I love a country and its culture, I try to get the most out of it.