Based in Marrakech, Morocco, Fnaïre is a remarkably talented rap group that specializes in fusing hip hop beats with traditional Moroccan flavor. Comprised of three members, MC Khalifa, MC Achraf and Tizaf Mouhssine, these three artists have created a unique style of rap that is all their own. Known as ‘Teklidi Rap’ or in English, ‘Traditional Rap’ it is made up of Moroccan chaâbi skillfully blended with contemporary rap and lyrics that have a realistic edge, It does not promote western values or materialistic possessions such as seen in a large number of American and European Hip Hop videos. Their music maintains deep roots in Moroccan culture, as can be seen with the successful release of their first single ‘Matkich Bladi’ in 2002 which means ‘Don’t Touch My Country’. The single plus self made video made them known to a huge public all across Morocco and abroad. With a clear and positive message, Fnaïre not only captured the hearts of teenagers, but also of young and old. The single kept them working for five years straight with shows all over Morocco, Romania, France and the United Kingdom. In the meanwhile Fnaïre kept working on new material and rarely released new music. The second publicly released single ‘Sadats’ received heavy rotation on radio and kept them in the public eye, yet no official album was ever released.
In 2005 Fnaïre met with British/Moroccan poet and successful entrepreneur Abel Damoussi. Inspired by his poetry, they teamed up and began work on ‘Yed El Henna’. For two years straight they kept themselves out of the public eye to work on the most anticipated album of 2007.
‘Yed El Henna’ literally means the ‘Hand of Henna’ to Fnaïre, the “Hand Of Henna” is a philosophy. “Cleanse yourself of your sins and wrongful deeds before you shake my hands, wash your hands with Henna and start off with a clean conscience.” And thus the album entitled “Yed El Henna” carries the positive and progressive message for all Moroccans in Morocco and abroad, to become one, to wash their hands with Henna and strive to better themselves and their country.
The positive message of the album drew much attention from a variety of successful international artists such as Wu-Tang Clan’s Cilvaringz and DJ Suicide, rising Moroccan Hip Hop artist Salah Edin, Amazigh rappers Providence from France and movie composer Richard Horowitz (‘Any Given Sunday’, ‘The Sheltering Sky’), whom all featured on the album. And with the use of Moroccan’s finest folklore singers and artists, the album managed to capture the pure essence of the country.
With such anticipation and hard work, it was only normal that the album would live up to high standards and be sent to London for mixing at Mick Jagger’s Strong Room Recordings and mastering at Sahara Sounds Studios. With independent licenses with Morocco’s biggest distributor Platinium (the first non exclusive license in the history of Moroccan’s music industry), Fnaïre is set to capture the hearts of hundreds of thousands Moroccans all across the world, and all those who open their ears to the message of ‘Yed El Henna’.
