Global Music Column – April

Negros Tou Moria – Mavri Ellada

As far-right political parties have risen in Greece in recent years, young artists from Athens’ migrant communities have been using hip-hop to channel their anger. Rappers such as Kareem Kalokoh and his ATH Kids collective rap (in English) about racism over thunderous trap beats, while Greek-Nigerian artist Moose pays homage to the often-maligned immigrant suburb of Kypseli. Negros Tou Moria, meanwhile, has developed his own Greek-language genre.

Since releasing his debut mixtape in 2012, NTM (real name Kofi Ansong) has pioneered what he calls trabetiko, mixing the Greek working-class folk music of rebetiko with trap. NTM raps about being a second-generation Greek born to Ghanaian parents while adorned in traditional clothing such as tsarouchia pom-pom shoes and a fustanella skirt.

Read the review in the Guardian.

[This piece was published on 11/04/25]