Ghemon

Ghemon is the stage name of Gianluca Picariello, an Italian rapper, singer-songwriter and comedian from Avellino, born in 1982. He took his moniker from Goemon, the samurai character in the Lupin III anime, reflecting his early immersion in hip hop culture as a teenager, when he was also active as a graffiti writer. He began recording in the late 1990s, first in dialect with a local crew and then in Italian, eventually forming the duo Sangamaro before pursuing a solo career.

Ghemon emerged as one of the more literate voices of Italian underground rap in the mid-2000s, known for dense wordplay, introspective lyrics and a refined, jazzy production style that set him apart from more commercial rap acts. He built his reputation through mixtapes and EPs before signing to independent labels associated with the Italian rap scene, gradually expanding his sound to incorporate soul and R&B influences alongside hip hop.

Over the years Ghemon has moved fluidly between rap and a more song-oriented, melodic register, collaborating with a range of Italian artists and producers. Tracks such as «Un Temporale» and «Mezzanotte» reflect this blend of rap sensibility and pop songwriting, and he remains respected as a lyricist whose work bridges the underground and mainstream of Italian music.