About the artist
Abdi, born Abderrahim el Ommali on 7 August 1987 in Frankfurt am Main, is a German rapper and the son of Moroccan immigrants. Growing up in Frankfurt, he was drawn to hip-hop through American rappers like Eazy-E, 2Pac, and Mobb Deep, and began writing his own rap lyrics around 2003, performing them at regional rap battles before establishing himself on record.
His career took shape after meeting fellow Frankfurt rapper Celo in 2008; the two began recording together the following year as the duo Celo & Abdi, releasing the mixtape «Mietwagentape» in 2009. The duo went on to become one of the most recognizable acts of Frankfurt's street-rap scene, known for gritty, autobiographical lyrics rooted in the realities of their neighborhood and delivered over hard-edged, minimalist beats.
Beyond his work with Celo, Abdi has also pursued solo material, with tracks such as «After Hour» and «Verzeih' mir Papa» reflecting a more personal, introspective side alongside the duo's street-rap output. His music remains tied to Frankfurt's rap identity and to the broader German gangsta-rap tradition that draws heavily on American hip-hop influences of the 1990s.