The Spanish hip-hop scene has been growing slowly but steadily since the 90s. Today, it is rapidly growing past the confines of a subculture and into the commercial space. As hip-hop’s reach continues to expand globally, countries around the world have taken a craft that originated in the United States and added to it a wide range of flavors specific to their cultures. Spain is one such nation to pull this off beautifully, and we want to give them credit for it.
To that point, we’ve complied the following list of Spanish rappers, with an emphasis on Barcelona given the city’s flourishing hip-hop scene. We highly recommend you check them out!
We’re Vouching for These Spanish Rappers in 2023
Kaydy Cain
One of the key figures of the Spanish hip-hop domain, Kaydy Cain’s work explores dancehall, reggaetón and tropical sounds, combining them into a creative blend that makes him a standalone talent. Though he knows his way around the upbeat stuff, he has also made a name for himself for an avant-garde approach toward rap. Cain’s unique ability to switch from trap bars to abstract beats is precisely why he stands out. Additionally, he launched his own record label last year to provide local and international talents with a platform. As you check out his music, be sure to keep an eye out for Honey Money Entertainment as well.
Ayax y Prok
This duo from Grenada is impossible to look past. Grimy, crisp and sharp, their piercing vocal delivery demands attention. They have tastefully managed to find a balance between the old and the new and focused their efforts on maintaining it with their distinct chemistry — no one in Spain does it quite like them!
They have generated millions of streams and views on their content online, and their following continues to grow at a ridiculously fast pace. The pair has performed at major events such as Weekend Beach, Donostifestibala and Arenal Sound, and it’s a matter of time before they become an international favorite.
FERNANDOCOSTA
Some people are just destined to blow up immediately. FERNANDOCOSTA’s career only really began in 2017, but the sincerity with which he spits has enhanced his brand beyond measure. Some people just leave a lasting impression on you, and he’s one of them. Rapping from his gut, this is someone you don’t only want to listen to with your headphones on but also watch live. Passion at this level translates incredibly on stage, and FERNANDOCOSTA is as great a performer as he is an artist.
Delaossa
As far as melodic rap goes, this is it. Delaossa represents the human experience and presents it in a manner so refined that it feels personal. You might have nothing to do with what he’s rapping about yet feel as though he’s speaking directly to you. That’s more than a skill; that’s a science. There’s a glow to everything he does, and the whimsical sound born from it is one you simply won’t be able to skip past once you’ve had a taste. It’s stylish, it’s authentic and boy is it phenomenal.
Kidd Keo
Here’s a great example of adding a Spanish touch to American traditions. Kidd Keo blew up for his reimaging of trap from an outsider’s perspective with songs such as “Okay”, his version of “Debrouillard” by Damso. His 2020 album Back to Rockport remains one of the hardest-hitting bodies of work in Spanish rap, with features from Young MA, Kiko El Crazy and King Shooter. He’s active and hungry, so you’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the years to come.
Moving Away from the Broader Category of Spanish Rap, Let’s Now Focus on Barcelona
LEÏTI
We can’t talk about Barcelona without bringing up LEÏTI. In fact, his name has pretty much become synonymous with the city’s bustling hip-hop culture, so let’s begin here. This multidisciplinary artist has a stronghold on the Spanish rap scene and has now reached a level of international fame that has brought his region the credit it deserves. Aside from his vibrant solo career, LEÏTI founded the Cutemobb collective that is central to Barcelona’s music scene as well as this subsection dedicated to the metropolis.
Cutemobb
Though Cutemobb only has one official album and two singles out, all of which were released in 2020, they still deserve a mention. This is an exception and here’s why: Cutemobb sparked a movement in Barcelona’s hip-hop culture, and its effects linger to this day. It kickstarted so many careers, and their names are still (and probably always will be) linked to the Cutemobb label. You simply can’t get into Barcelona’s rap space without giving Cute Tapes a listen first. Think of it as homework, but homework we guarantee you’ll enjoy.
Sam Davies
Another talent who grew from Cutemobb, Sam Davies is a dual nationality musician with one foot in in Manchester and the other in Barcelona. His art, however, leans more toward his Spanish identity with a focus on hip-hop and dance. He got his start with LEÏTI and now operates primarily as a solo act. Aside from rap, he is also a skilled dancer, so this is another artist you want to experience in the flesh. His maturity in the creative space has been so fast that it’s a little tough to keep up, but it’s certainly worth tracking — we insist on it for your own good.
Enry-K
Born in Barcelona, Enry-K has the unique ability to make you see colors when he raps. He has performed at events such as Primavera Sound in Barcelona and Sonar in Mexico, with more and more prospects constantly popping up on the horizon. A solo effort in the truest sense of the word, he composes, writes and produces all his work. It’s point game, no assists and he’s going in — if you cop tickets right now, you might just be able to sit courtside.
Steve Lean
Steve Lean is a producer from Uruguay but based in Barcelona. He is central to the success of one of the biggest Spanish underground labels, La Vendicion, and rappers from across the country want a piece of him. Devoted to giving the world insight into the inner happenings of Spain, Lean works with a broad range of artists across genres to give us a better look into the current state of affairs.
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