TikTok’s unique video format allows musicians to freely express their creative vision in bite-sized musical moments without compromising authenticity. Well-crafted, catchy content becomes accessible to music enthusiasts worldwide, including listeners who wouldn’t normally engage with lengthy content. By capturing the essence of an artist’s craft, TikTok’s digestible format enables musicians to reach diverse audiences.
Carving his way out of TikTok, 23-year-old Moroccan rapper Liamsi, whose 2023 single ‘MON LOVE OHO‘ surpassed 5 billion views on the platform, has released his debut LP, LUCID. The album tells the story of an artist who has achieved everything he once dreamed of: fame, money, and global recognition, only to discover that the reality is far colder than the fantasy.
The concept of “lucid” isn’t just about dreaming, but about control: a state where you’re aware you’re dreaming and can manipulate your reality. Liamsi uses this metaphor to explain how he is now in control of his sound and career, while remaining painfully aware of the artificial nature of the industry and the people surrounding it.
Liamsi’s delivery on this project is his most polished yet, having carved out a niche through a distinctive vocal texture that blends Afro-pop with cloud rap. The production, largely helmed by his frequent collaborator KgotBeat, creates a cohesive project that mirrors the sensation of underwater lucid dreaming. High-cut filters on melodies and airy synthesizer pads with no sharp edges make the production feel muffled and heavy, as if it’s coming from another room or submerged underwater across the album’s eight tracks.
Throughout the album, Liamsi’s auto-tuned vocals and flows blur the line between rapping and singing over production that features rolling percussion typical of Afro-pop, but darker and more stripped back. On ‘MILLION MARRA’, the sampled production becomes more atmospheric, moody, and introspective, leaning deeper into cloud rap aesthetics.
The seventh track, BATMAN, stands out as an anomaly on the album, hitting like a wake-up slap in the middle of the lucid dream. Featuring 7liwa, aka the godfather of Moroccan rage and trap, the track leans into aggressive rage and hard trap, driven by distorted 808s and sharp, metallic synth leads that sound gritty and abrasive.
Rather than relying on obvious samples, the project leans heavily on vocal chops, with pitched and distorted vocal snippets woven into the beats, most notably on MAKANSACH, adding to the hazy, dreamlike texture.
A standout track, ‘MAKANSACH‘, featuring established Moroccan rapper Kouz1, stands as the album’s most immediate and accessible moment. The two artists alternate lines, creating a rapid, continuous flow that highlights their chemistry, having previously collaborated on Panamera and Tigini Remix.
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