17 Best Somali Rappers
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10. Mo Muse
Mo Muse is a rapper and part of the Somali diaspora. He’s from Auckland, New Zealand, and started rapping to give a voice to minority communities in the area.
The rapper is the child of immigrants and writes about his experiences being a first-generation kid. His lyrics are socially conscious, and he’s unafraid to tackle challenging topics like religion, politics, and violence.
11. Sharma Boy
Sharmarke Abdinasir Mohamed, better known by his stage name Sharma Boy, is a rapper from Burtinle, Puntland, in the northeast part of Somalia. Born in 1999, he grew up in Mogadishu, where his single-parent family struggled financially, and he had to leave school in year 10.
The future rapper worked some odd jobs before venturing into political rap. Today, he tours worldwide and writes lyrics about social justice, unemployment, and poverty in Somalia.
12. Dree Low
Dree Low is a Swedish rapper and songwriter with Somali ancestry. He was born Salah Abdi Abdulle in Husby, a suburb of Stockholm, on September 17th, 1994, and began rapping in his teens.
Low started producing music in 2016, launching his first album, “No Cap,” in 2018, and it was a hit in Sweden. However, he chose to retire from music in 2022 and pursue other things.
13. Chino’o
Chino’o is a Somali rapper born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1988, now based in Seattle, Washington.
In 2010, Chino’o formed Militia MaliMob with other Somali rappers. The group quickly gained a following in the Seattle hip-hop scene and is part of a movement to produce more African music in the US.
Chino’o uses his music to raise awareness of Somali issues and create a positive perspective of Somali people from outsiders.
14. Mastermind
Mastermind is a Somali-British rapper based in Manchester. He was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1996 and moved to the UK with his family during his childhood. His father is Somali, and his mother has Welsh and Yemeni heritage.
In 2019, Mastermind released his first hit single, “Wave Time.” The track was a critical and commercial success, and it cemented Mastermind’s status as one of the top Somali rappers of his generation.