• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Friday, March 5, 2021
REPORTING MOROCCO REPORTING MOROCCO
REPORTING MOROCCO REPORTING MOROCCO
  • Home
  • Nation
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Environment
    • Education
  • Art & Culture
    • Food
    • Art
    • Music
    • Fashion
  • Religion
  • Health & Science
    • Public Health
  • Our Student Journalists
    • Spring 2020
      • Anna Mitchell
      • Antonia Knox
      • Aviva Rosenberg
      • Corrine Schmaedeke
      • Elijah McKee
      • Gari De Ramos
      • Harrison Daley
      • Jessica Blough
      • Kathryn Jefferson
      • Marlon Hyde
      • Nejra Kravic
      • Solaine Carter
    • In Other Media
  • Alumni
    • Fall 2019
      • Rachel Berets
      • Chloe Chaobal
      • Ella Feldman
      • Ryley Graham
      • Georgia Knoles
      • Patrick Linehan
      • Mimi Miyamoto
      • Stella Shi
      • Bella Staal
      • N’Kaela Webster
      • Ellie Zimmerman
    • Spring 2019
      • Alexis Broadnax
      • Amelia Keesler
      • Anton Delgado
      • Austin Corona
      • Catherine Brewer
      • Chris Dillon
      • Giulia Villanueva
      • Lauren Goldfarb
      • Lexi Reich
      • Mac Dressman
      • Malaya Nordyke
      • Margaret Dols
      • Mary Bernard
      • Maya London-Southern
      • Michelle Li
      • Shelby Kluver
      • Stephen Higgins
      • Viviana Prado-Núñez
    • Fall 2018
      • Alexandria Saurman
      • Alexis Miller
      • Brionne Frazier
      • Jabari Richardson
      • Jordyn Congelli
      • Kylie Wilder
      • Megan O’Herron
      • Sam Metivier
      • Zoe Buchli
    • Spring 2018
      • Alyssa Kann
      • Anna Bongardino
      • Carrie Boike
      • Emily Vega
      • Erika Riley
      • Hadley Stack
      • Joseph Held
      • Matthew McDermott
      • Molly Keisman
      • Najah Mateen
      • Olivia Lewis
      • Ryan Terhune
    • Fall 2017
      • Andrew Seger
      • Claire Franksen
      • Clara Neill
      • Jeanette Lam
      • Justin Cates
      • Katie Koontz
      • Lara Korte
      • Lars Brady
      • Lars Brady
      • Livvy Fore
      • Olivia Kohn
      • Rita Carmona
      • Sophie Nunnally
      • Sophie Pollock
    • Spring 2017
      • Allie Merola
      • Anisha Wilson
      • Connor Shannon
      • David Fuchs
      • Deborah Katsuva
      • Evan Popp
      • Katharine Milbradt
      • Kesley Cochran
      • Mary Chen
      • Mary Mathis
      • Max Jodoin
      • Micaela Harris
      • Perry DeMarche
      • Regan Reeck
      • Sophie Alexander
      • Tamara Matheson
      • Zakiyyah Maryam
    • Fall 2016
      • Celia Heudebourg
      • DeJah Ault
      • Dewborah Honore
      • Jessica Lartigue
      • Margaret Britton-Mehlisch
      • Phoebe Osterhout
      • Regan Reek
      • Shirley Chan
      • Sonia Mohammadzadah
      • Taylor Burris
    • Spring 2016
      • Amelia Palacios
      • Becca Dewosky
      • Cannon Sullivan
      • Danielle Douglas
      • Daria Etezadi
      • Elaina Zachos
      • Julia Cabrera
      • Kainoelani Lee
      • Kelsey Hanson
      • Mackenzie Ritter
      • Madeline Hughes
      • Molly Mulroy
      • Oly Zayac
      • Savin Mattozzi
      • Shiloh Frederick
      • Viviane Feldman
      • Wesley Lickus
    • Fall 2015
      • Allegra Thomas
      • Christopher Lowell
      • Darren Spirk
      • Hannah Steinkopf-Frank
      • Jennifer Kwon
      • Kayla Dwyer
      • Mitchell McCluskey
      • Nora Kipniss
      • Rob Dozier
      • Rob Dozier
      • Simneon Lancaster
      • Trey Strange
    • Spring 2015
      • Ben Bartenstein
      • Brennan Weiss
      • Emma Sikora Paulus
      • Evan Verploegh
      • Evin Billington
      • Hayden Crowell
      • Julia Barstow
      • Julia Levine
      • Kacie Graves
      • Kiannah Sepeda-Miller
      • La’akea Kaufman
      • Mackenzie Martin
      • Mary Byrne
      • Paris Alston
      • Samantha Weiss
      • Sofie Tapia
      • William Matsuda
    • 2014 Students
    • 2013 Students

DJ Sim H: Finding Freedom in Rap

April 24, 2018 By sysadmin

By Najah Mateen

CASABLANCA, Morocco – When Simo Sguiry was a child, he and his younger brother would listen to American artists from their father’s tape collection. “I grew up with Michael Jackson,” Simo says.

Since then, his musical tastes have changed a lot. A Casablanca native, Simo is now a DJ, and the Moroccan music industry knows him as DJ Sim H.

Like Simo, Moroccans have embraced hip-hop culture while managing to put their own cultural twist on something that was once uniquely American. This is evident in the current generation of Moroccan rappers, who rap in Arabic, Darija, and French. Moroccan rap is also a platform for sharing political messages.

Simo sits in one of the offices of L’Boultek, a space in Casablanca for aspiring hip-hop artists. Simo just finished teaching a spin class.

In addition to his sunglasses, he wears a light gray zip up hoodie, a blue LA cap,  and a pair of red and white Jordan’s. Most of his features are obscured by his dark shades and darker beard. His eyes may be hidden but his passion for rap music is apparent in every word he utters.

Sitting in his chair, Simo exudes an air of mystery. It could be his sunglasses, or his laidback manner, or his humbleness. After all, he has DJed for famous Moroccan rappers, like Dizzy Dros.

Simo’s story of stumbling upon rap is simple. He would attend parties and functions, where he would hear songs that piqued his interest. He would ask for the name of the artist or the song and head to the internet for more.

He developed an interest in DJing and attempted to teach himself. But that wasn’t enough for Simo, who enrolled in the only DJ School in Casablanca, Funky Noise DJ School, and graduated in 2006. There his teacher was DJ Key, a pioneer in Moroccan hip-hop history.

DJ Key is the CEO of Funky Noise Entertainment and was a huge influence on Simo. His other influences were Grandmaster Flash, DJ Premier, and DJ Kid Capri. When it comes to hip-hop, he leans towards old school.

He likes 2Pac, Nas, Biggie Smalls, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube. But he also likes Kendrick Lamar and Tory Lanez.

Simo has nothing but contempt for pop. His feelings are based on the simple fact that “it’s not rap.” But Simo himself doesn’t rap. He’s good at DJing and talented when it comes to producing beats. “That’s enough for me,” Simo says.

Simo recognizes that music, especially rap, is a powerful tool when it comes to motivating and inspiring the youth.

“In rap you must have a message,” he says. “I agree with positive messages because it’s not good to influence people to kill or do something like that.”

Simo mentions the Moroccan rapper Muslim as an example of a rapper with a positive message. In one of his popular songs, “I’m a Muslim”, Muslim raps about embracing the religion of Islam and rejecting the mostly Western ideas of what Islam is.

Even Morocco has its share of rappers who rap about money and weapons. Simo breaks down Moroccan rappers into three categories: rappers with a message, rappers on an “ego trip,” and those who have transitioned to pop music.

The message in “conscious” Moroccan rap music can be social or political, but Moroccan rap is not unique when it comes to this. In the United States, rap has been known to have a more social or political agenda. But in a country like Morocco, music with a message, if it’s a political one, can be dangerous.

Moroccan rapper El Haqed, for example, was arrested numerous times for his rap lyrics that criticized the authorities, and was eventually forced into exile. Rappers are important to Moroccans, according to Simo.

“They are like journalists, you know? They tell us what’s going on,” he explains.

Moroccan rap and hip hop culture is heavily influenced by Western culture. This is apparent when it comes to the clothing both the artists and their fans wear.

“We like hats, we like Air Jordan’s, we like Air Forces,” Simo acknowledges.

However, being a DJ in Morocco or a rapper is not the same as in America. Neither DJs nor rappers make a lot of money. The music industry in Morocco hasn’t developed to a degree that allows for that, Simo explains. Moroccans don’t spend money on music, instead relying on YouTube, and other free streaming services. DJs rely on festivals and spinning at clubs for their income.

Yet despite the fact that there isn’t much money in DJing, people like Simo continue making it their career choice.

“We love music and we don’t have a choice,” is how Simo explains it.

“I can’t do another job,” he adds. He doesn’t want to be cooped up in an office somewhere in Casablanca, he says — he wants to be free.

Featured Tagged With: dj, music, rap

Reader Interactions

rachel woolf-cow legs-lamb legs-photo-morocco-rabat Art & Culture

A Brotherly Butcher Shop

By Rachel Woolf RABAT, Morocco - A line of cow legs hangs on hooks above a counter containing a … Read Full Article

Art & Culture

News Roundup: Spanish Lawyer Expelled; Laayoune to Host Forum; Moroccan Artist Blurs the Lines

Photo Credit: Meriem Bennani February 27, 2020 Three stories you need to read today. Compiled … Read Full Article

Art & Culture

A Kasala’s Warmth

By FATIMA SUGAPONG RABAT, Morocco- Fatima Bamu sits down very slowly, exhausted after an eleven … Read Full Article

Primary Sidebar

FOLLOW REPORTING MOROCCO

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Handprints in Oudayas

More Featured Photos

ALUMNI JOURNALISTS

Alumni Spotlight: Ben Bartenstein

SIT Students Visit Alum Perry DeMarche at Dar Si Hmad

Moroccan families mourn drowning of 45 who used risky migration route to Spain

Photo by WBUR

A reporter for Boston’s unheard voices: Spotlight on MOJ alum Paris Alston

More Alumni Posts

The Program

Reporting Morocco is produced by U.S. university students on an SIT Study Abroad program called Morocco: Field Studies in Journalism and New Media. They are mentored by veteran journalists from The New York Times, The Associated Press, and Round Earth Media in a program applying technology and global consciousness to produce high-impact journalism on vital social issues.

Reporting Morocco strives to be a reliable resource for news and information about Morocco.

Learn More

SIT Logo

A pioneer in experiential, field-based study abroad, SIT (founded as the School for International Training) provides more than 60 semester and summer programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs in multiple locations.

Morocco: Field Studies in Journalism and New Media is a program of SIT Study Abroad.

  • The World Learning Inc. Family:
  • experiment.org
  • https://studyabroad.sit.edu
  • worldlearning.org

Footer

  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Apply
  • Alumni
  • Alumni Connect
  • Give
  • Media Center
  • Request Info
  • SIT Stories
  • School for International Training

    1 Kipling Road • Brattleboro, VT 05302 • 802 257-7751 • 800 257-7751 (toll-free in the US)
    SIT is a private nonprofit institution of higher education.

  • Explore SIT Graduate Institute

    © Copyright World Learning, Inc.