Don Bigg

Don Bigg, born Taoufik Hazeb in 1983 in Casablanca, is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Moroccan rap. Raised in a middle-class family, he began rapping in English as a teenager before switching in 1999 to Darija, the Moroccan Arabic dialect, a decision credited with helping establish Arabic-language rap as a viable form in the region. He got his start with the group Mafia-C before launching a solo career.

His music is known for a raw, confrontational delivery and lyrics addressing the everyday frustrations, politics and social conditions of Moroccan urban youth, giving him a reputation as a voice of the streets of Casablanca. He briefly studied law before dedicating himself fully to music, releasing his solo debut album in 2006.

Songs such as «170 KG», «D.D.D» and «Byad Ou K7al» became staples of Moroccan hip-hop, and Don Bigg's influence extended across the broader Maghrebi rap scene, inspiring a generation of Darija-language MCs who followed his lead in rapping in their own dialect rather than French or English.