L'Morphine

L'Morphine
Also known asLmorpho, Chiekh Rap, M-Psy
Born
Mehdi Mouhib

(1984-06-13) June 13, 1984 (age 41)
Genres
OccupationsRapper, Songwriter
Years active2004-present
Formerly ofPiranha-Labo

Mehdi Mouhib (born June 17, 1984), known professionally as L'Morphine, (formally as M-Psy), is a Moroccan rapper and songwriter from Midelt. Mouhib is recognized for his distinctive lyrical approach, characterized by sophisticated literary techniques (extended metaphors, metonymy, alliteration, & symbolism) and profound philosophical themes.[1][2] Widely considered to be one of the best Moroccan rappers,[3][4][5] and to have the biggest rap music catalog in Morocco with over 200 singles.[6]

Life and education

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Personal life

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Born in 1984 in Midelt, Morocco, and spent his childhood and adolescence in Midelt and Meknes. Currently married, he is the father of two children.

Education

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Coming from an academic family background, his mother served as a physician while his father practiced as a private medical doctor, he pursued higher education in Canada, graduating with a degree in tourism management. Professionally, he maintains dual occupations in both the tourism sector and the commercial trade of geological specimens, specializing in rocks and fossils.

Career

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Mouhib began his artistic journey in the early 2000s under the stage name "M-Psy," drawing inspiration from American hip-hop.[7] Initially treating rap as a hobby, he didn't upload his work online until 2004 when he began engaging with audiences. In 2006, he joined the Salé-based rap collective Piranha-Labo before departing in 2010 to focus on his solo career.

Artistic style

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Renowned for his complex metaphorical lyricism, Mouhib has earned the nickname "King of Metaphors" in Moroccan rap.[8] His writing demands careful analysis, fostering deep audience engagement.[9] Distinctively, he records tracks immediately after writing and rarely when he appears in music videos.[10]

He made his live debut at Le Boulevard festival in Casablanca (2022),[11][12][13] one of the biggest festivals in the world.[14] In 2025, he performed at Mawazine and was part of the 40+ rapper line-up performing at EGREGORE Festival, celebrating 40 years of hip-hop in Morocco.[15][16][17][18]

Career milestones and fanbase growth

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From modest beginnings, Mouhib's popularity grew significantly:

  • 2015: Formation of dedicated fan group 2020 SQUAD
  • 2020: Mainstream breakthrough following media appearances
  • 2022: Spotify debut with GALA EP
  • Highly anticipated album Excelsior (in development since 2015)[19]

Influence

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Mouhib has established himself as one of Morocco's most prominent battle rappers, recognized for his lyrical prowess in high-profile feuds within the hip-hop scene.[20][21] His reputation in this competitive arena led to his selection as a guest judge for the rap battle episode of Jamshow, Morocco's televised rap competition on 2M, where he evaluated contestants based on flow, wordplay, and improvisational skills.[22]

Mouhib has influenced the careers of many rappers in Morocco, including as Pause Flow, Hamza 15-3, Raid, Diib and others.

Discography and musical evolution

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With over 200 recorded tracks, Mouhib's career highlights include:[6][23]

  • Maxi Mighnatiss (2006, with Pirahna Labo)
  • Mixtape Na9ouss (2009, solo)
  • Mixtape Total (2012)
  • Mixtape Paprika (2013)
  • Mixtape INK (2019)
  • LMorphiniya series (2015-present, currently at 35 installments)[24]
  • EP GALA (2020)
  • EP Yakine (2024)[25]
  • Mixtape Mo3wa9 Chayt Lih 39al (2025)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lmorphine : the modern day Al-Mutanabbi". Rap Culture. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  2. ^ Dionysus, Amine. "Fame Vs. Freedom: LMorphine's Take On The Cost Of Success". Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  3. ^ Moujahid, Ben Tarki. "Top 10 Moroccan Rappers Of All Time | Voted By 300+ Insiders". Dimatop. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  4. ^ "المورفين... أفيون الراب المغربي السهل الممتنع". رصيف22 (in Arabic). 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  5. ^ "المؤثرة الشهيرة فاميليا: "بّوز" خاصو يعتذر، والمورفين رقم واحد فالراب (فيديو) - ميد راديو" (in Arabic). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  6. ^ a b "موسيقى الراب تسيطر على باقي الأصناف »… أسماء من الجيل المؤسس للراب بالمغرب تتحدث لـ »اليوم24″". اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  7. ^ elkhouzai (2023-11-18). ""البولفار" يلتقي الجمهور بذكريات الشغب". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  8. ^ "RapArt: المورفين - ملك الميطافور -". RapArt. June 16, 2016. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  9. ^ "المورفين... أفيون الراب المغربي السهل الممتنع". رصيف22 (in Arabic). 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  10. ^ chouaib (2025-04-18). ""فونطوم" .. عمل فني بفكرة بسيطة يضع "الجن والمورفين" في الواجهة". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  11. ^ "L'Boulevard 2022: L'morphine, Dollypran, El Grande Toto... les grands noms du rap marocain montent sur scène". Le 360 Français (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  12. ^ "L'Boulevard 2022: Comment (et pourquoi) la soirée dédiée au hip-hop a frôlé le drame?". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  13. ^ El Masaiti, Amira (2022-09-06). "L'Boulevard is back to Casablanca after a two-year break due to COVID-19". Hespress English. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  14. ^ "11 Biggest Music Festivals in the World: Is this Time Different?". Finance.yahoo. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Morocco's Egregore Festival Announces Full 2025 Lineup July 26th-27th". SecneNow. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  16. ^ Moujahid, Ben Tarki. "EGREGORE Festival: 40 Rappers, 40 Years Of Moroccan Hip-Hop". Dimatop. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  17. ^ Dazed (2025-08-27). "Celebrating 40 years of Moroccan hip-hop". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  18. ^ "بمشاركة أسماء لامعة.. انطلاق أول مهرجان مغربي لموسيقى الراب". 24 AE.
  19. ^ "أفضل 50 تراك راب في الوطن العربي لسنة 2018". SecneNow. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Best Moroccan Rap Beefs of All Time". Dimatop. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  21. ^ "توتر متصاعد بين "مورفين" و"الكناوي": خلافات الراب تتحول لتهديدات علنية وتثير جدلا واسعا". مجلة أصوات. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  22. ^ "Jam Show : Découvrez les gagnants des "Clashs" et les deux talents sauvés par le "Cypher" en Replay". 2M.ma (in French). Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  23. ^ "Encyclopedie Dyal L'Morphine - Rhymat". Rhymat (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  24. ^ "Five Albums That Tell the Story of Moroccan Rap". SecneNow. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
  25. ^ "Rap of the Week | June 28 - July 5". SecneNow. Retrieved 2025-06-06.

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