Tach 21’s ‘5 Killers’ EP Explores the Dark Underbelly of Moroccan Rap

Following a steady stream of singles, rising Moroccan rapper 21 Tach has finally dropped his debut EP, ‘5 Killers’, a collaborative project that positions him as an artist to keep an eye on. 

The EP’s title metaphorically frames the record as a criminal file of the misfits who managed to shape the Moroccan rap scene, presenting five tracks, where each track is a crime scene, contributing a unique perspective and energy, much like distinct characters in a cinematic musical ensemble. Four of the five tracks on the EP feature four Moroccan rap moguls: Vargas, Tchubi, Furelise and Abduh, flipping through their real-life stories of rebellion and ambition, peeling back the dark underside of the rap game, and the fleeting allure of recognition. 

Throughout the whole EP, 21 Tach demonstrates a songwriting style that is very mature and distinctive, articulating the nuances of daily life struggles as a marginalised talent. He borrows insights from his predecessors to deliver his message, adding layers of depth and versatility to the overall sound. 

On the opening track, ‘Against The World’, 21 Tach reflects the loneliness of being an underdog, fighting to solidify his position in the competitive industry. The track opens up with a grand orchestral arrangement that then unfurls into a raw, gritty trap beat that sets the tone and dominates the overall production of the EP. The shades of trap shift slightly as we move through the other tracks, alternating between spaced-out, ambient textures on ‘No Peace’ to a more instrumental-infused, groovy nature in ‘Makina’.