Rap Music Around the World

Rap Music Across the Globe: A Universal Voice Erupts in Every Language

In a world of fleeting trends and viral moments, few genres have stood the test of time quite like rap music. From the streets of New York in the 1970s to the farthest corners of the globe, rap has evolved into a universal language—a voice for the voiceless, a platform for resistance, and a means of cultural expression. Recently, one song from India, Big Dawgs by Sooraj Cherukat, known professionally as Hanumankind, has taken the internet by storm. With its flashy music video blending Indian tradition with modern rap swagger, it has reminded many that the global rap scene is thriving—and it’s not just mimicking American beats, but creating something entirely new and authentic.

When I saw the attention Big Dawgs was getting, it hit me: Americans don’t realize just how deep rap roots have spread across the world. Every country now has its own thriving rap scene, with artists using local languages, rhythms, and stories to carve out their unique place in the genre. Back in 1990’s, I was producing the Japanese version of Rap City for BET. Traveling across the UK, France, USA, and Japan, I witnessed firsthand how American hip-hop had seeped into these cultures. It was eye-opening—but what’s even more incredible is how rap has transformed since then. What started as an American export has now become a local movement in nearly every country.

A Global Genre: Rap in Every Corner of the World

Today, rap isn’t just confined to English-speaking countries or big cities. It’s as much a part of life in Rio de Janeiro as it is in Johannesburg or Berlin. Every culture is taking the base ingredients of hip-hop—rhythmic lyrics, storytelling, and powerful beats—and transforming it to reflect their unique stories, struggles, and styles. Here’s a journey across the globe to explore the vibrant and diverse rap scenes:

France

• Booba and Niska are two of France’s biggest stars, often rapping about the struggles of life in the suburbs (banlieues), where issues like racism and inequality are front and center. Booba infuses his tracks with gritty narratives, while Niska blends Afrobeat and Latin rhythms with French street slang, creating a sound both eclectic and globally relevant.
• Unique Style: French rap is heavily influenced by African and Caribbean music, giving it a rhythmic, melodic edge.

United Kingdom

• Stormzy, Skepta, and Little Simz are leading the British rap revolution. Known as grime, UK rap has a faster tempo, gritty production, and often addresses issues like race, poverty, and politics in the UK.
• Unique Style: Grime, born in East London, is known for its rapid-fire delivery, minimalistic beats, and raw, aggressive energy.

Germany

• Bonez MC and Kontra K dominate Germany’s charts, with a fusion of reggae, rap, and powerful motivational lyrics. German rap has become a voice for immigrant communities, tackling issues like integration, identity, and economic struggle.
• Unique Style: German rap often blends European electronica and techno influences with classic boom-bap beats.

South Africa

• Nasty C and Cassper Nyovest lead the South African hip-hop scene. Nasty C, known for blending Zulu influences with American-style rap, has emerged as a global sensation. Cassper’s music highlights post-apartheid South Africa’s struggles, balancing personal ambition with political consciousness.
• Unique Style: South African rap often incorporates traditional rhythms like kwaito, giving it a distinctive, local sound.

Nigeria

• Falz and M.I Abaga are pioneering voices in Nigerian rap. Falz uses humor and satire to address political corruption, while M.I Abaga, a seasoned lyricist, combines Nigerian languages with English in his hard-hitting verses.
• Unique Style: Nigerian rap fuses rap with the booming Afrobeats scene, creating an infectious blend of traditional African rhythms and hip-hop.

Japan

• KOHH and Awich are redefining Japanese rap, blending raw emotion and bilingual verses. KOHH’s gritty, confessional style touches on topics like mental health, while Awich brings Okinawan and Western influences into her lyrics.
• Unique Style: Japanese rap often merges electronic beats with a minimalist, subdued tone that contrasts with the high-energy delivery of many Western rappers.

South Korea

• Jay Park and Keith Ape are at the forefront of the K-hip-hop movement. Jay Park, a former K-pop star, now blends smooth R&B melodies with rap, while Keith Ape’s viral hit “It G Ma” introduced the world to South Korea’s underground rap scene.
• Unique Style: K-hip-hop blends rap with electronic, pop, and trap music, creating a hybrid that’s polished yet edgy.

Brazil

• Emicida and Karol Conká bring the sounds of São Paulo’s favelas to life through their music. Emicida’s socially conscious lyrics tackle racism and inequality, while Karol Conká’s feminist anthems are unapologetically bold.
• Unique Style: Brazilian rap frequently incorporates samba, funk, and traditional Brazilian rhythms, giving it a festive yet politically charged feel.

Russia

• Oxxxymiron and Noize MC use rap to fight back against government censorship, tackling issues like free speech and corruption. Oxxxymiron’s battle rap skills have made him a cult figure in Russian hip-hop, while Noize MC’s biting satire has drawn the ire of Russian authorities.
• Unique Style: Russian rap often has a darker, more introspective tone, reflecting the country’s political tensions.

Palestine

• DAM, a Palestinian rap group, uses their music to express the frustrations of life under Israeli occupation. Their bilingual tracks (Arabic and Hebrew) speak to both Palestinian identity and resistance.
• Unique Style: Palestinian rap is often militant and politically charged, combining Arabic melodies with heavy, percussive beats.

Israel

• Subliminal and Tamer Nafar are two key figures in Israeli rap, representing both Jewish and Arab perspectives. Subliminal’s music often focuses on Zionism and Jewish identity, while Nafar, co-founder of DAM, raps about the Palestinian experience.
• Unique Style: Israeli hip-hop often features Middle Eastern instrumentation, like oud and darbuka, layered with modern beats.

India

• Divine, Naezy, and Hanumankind are among India’s top rap artists. Divine and Naezy, from Mumbai’s slums, made headlines with their gritty depictions of life in the city, inspiring the Bollywood hit Gully Boy. Hanumankind’s music, on the other hand, showcases Indian heritage fused with global rap influences.
• Unique Style: Indian rap frequently combines Bollywood melodies, regional instruments like the sitar and tabla, and a mix of English and regional languages (Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, etc.).

Turkey

• Ezhel and Ceza are popular Turkish rappers who infuse their music with political commentary and traditional Turkish rhythms. Ezhel’s style is more laid-back, reflecting the struggles of everyday life in Turkey, while Ceza’s rapid-fire delivery has earned him a reputation as one of Turkey’s best technical rappers.
• Unique Style: Turkish rap often merges Anatolian folk music with trap and boom-bap beats, creating a sound that is both modern and rooted in Turkish tradition.

Chile

• Ana Tijoux, born in France to Chilean parents, is a feminist powerhouse in Latin American hip-hop. Her lyrics, often a mix of French and Spanish, deal with themes of social justice, human rights, and female empowerment.
• Unique Style: Chilean rap often mixes Andean folk instruments like panpipes and charango with hip-hop, creating a unique blend of traditional and modern sounds.

Senegal

• Didier Awadi and Keyti are leading voices in West African hip-hop. Awadi, one of the founders of African rap, uses his platform to discuss issues like neocolonialism and Pan-Africanism. Keyti’s biting political commentary makes him a strong critic of the Senegalese government.
• Unique Style: Senegalese rap often incorporates Mbalax rhythms, a local genre based on complex drumming patterns, making it distinctively African in sound.

Philippines

• Gloc-9 and Shanti Dope are leading voices in Filipino rap, blending local dialects with English to discuss the challenges of living in the Philippines, from poverty to political corruption. Gloc-9’s socially conscious lyrics have earned him numerous accolades in the Philippines.
• Unique Style: Filipino rap often blends traditional folk music with modern beats, reflecting the country’s diverse musical history.

Why Rap is the Voice of the People

There’s something about rap that transcends political and ethnic boundaries. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s powerful. And in a world divided by class, wealth, and access to education, rap offers a way for people living in challenging circumstances to tell their stories. With a beat, a microphone, and some lyrical prowess, anyone can create something impactful—something that speaks to their struggles and ambitions.

But here’s something most people don’t know: the first rap song wasn’t recorded in the Bronx in the 1970s. It actually dates back to 1940. A gospel group known as The Jubalaires recorded a song called Noah, which featured a rhythmic, spoken-word delivery over music—essentially what we now recognize as rap. Though rap as we know it didn’t explode onto the scene until decades later, Noah is proof that the foundations of the genre were being laid much earlier than people realize.

When rap did emerge as a dominant cultural force in the U.S. in the late 1970s, it came from the streets, particularly from Black and Latino communities in New York. Early pioneers like Kool Herc, Coke La Rock, and The Sugar Hill Gang laid the groundwork for what would soon become a global sensation.

Looking Beyond Borders

If you’re a music lover—and especially if you’re a fan of rap—do yourself a favor: explore rap from other countries. You’ll find new beats, new stories, and new ways of understanding the world. Whether it’s the political rap of Palestine’s DAM, the poetic flow of France’s Booba, or the fiery energy of India’s Hanumankind, there’s a whole world of rap waiting to be discovered. By supporting these artists, you’ll be helping them break into the American market, where their voices deserve to be heard.

So next time you’re browsing for new music, don’t just stick to the familiar. Step outside the borders. You might just find that the future of rap isn’t in the U.S.—it’s happening right now, all around the world.

FYI: I Wrote and Composed a Rap Song for India – Check it out here: https://youtu.be/pkm-icYfH4Q?si=wH-fpmNRXsG6oeGh 

It is in the language of ‘Gana” one of the many languages in India. it speaks about life on the streets in the urban cities.