Since initially releasing music videos from the comfort of her bedroom, self-taught hip-hop artist Asmae Charifi has made steady strides in the Maghreb rap scene with her first official singles. Weaving poignant, translucent vocals around airy melodies and percussion-laden production courtesy of Draganov, she shares hard-earned lessons of personal courage, perseverance and acceptance. Asmae’s light-footed latest release, “S7aba”, takes inspiration from the past two years, during which she got to know herself better—and how to protect her peace. “I usually speak about what I learn every time I go through a difficult period—trying to encourage people not to drown in their sadness, but rather to talk about it, understand the why and how of a situation and its perspectives and, of course, just accept whatever comes our way,” the emerging singer and rapper tells Apple Music. Asmae, who has a love of mountains and hiking, reveals that her latest nickname is “Atlas”—arguably referencing Maghreb’s famous mountain range as much as the book of maps, while also evoking her love of travel, discovering new cultures and panoramas. “I think my biggest ambition is to make my family happy and proud,” Asmae says, “but climbing more mountains doesn’t lag far behind.” So what first inspired her to get into hip-hop? “I remember my dad waking us up every Sunday with very loud Gnawa music, which made us angry and happy at the same time,” she recalls. “I remember the first time I listened to Adele, Justin Timberlake and [French rapper] Nekfeu; Lil Wayne has also been one of my favourite artists growing up. What I know for sure is that I wrote my first verse because of Nekfeu.” Regarding female artists she looks up to, Yebba, SZA and Raye offer the greatest insight into Asmae’s R&B and pop references. And as one of only a few of her ilk on the Moroccan scene, Asmae would love to see local female talent grow in number and become a solid community who could provide each other with confidence and validation in what they do. Asmae usually writes in the studio, discovering a sound or a melody and writing over it while the beat is in the making. “It’s how I’m sure it’s spontaneous and real. But, of course, sometimes I write at home, mainly to get something off my chest. These songs usually never make it to the studio,” she confesses, adding: “I think what I like about my music is that, when you listen to it, you know exactly what type of person I am—you get to know me and relate to what I’m saying.” To Asmae’s confessionals, rapper and producer Draganov contributes the beats, but also often the titles, such as “Lila”—another standout 2024 offering. What other Arab artists would Asmae like to work with? “I usually work with people after getting to know them and finding potential things in common. It can be anything: music, lifestyle, fashion, food, memes. I just need to vibe and feel safe and comfortable around the person. I have recently met Dawee, Danyl and TIF—wonderful people I would love to work with. But if I had to choose someone I have never met before, I would say Saint Levant and Gaidaa,” she says, referencing artists who loosely mark the vaporous creative space between hip-hop and R&B. And what would this burgeoning hip-hop talent like listeners to take away from her music? “That we are one. Situations may be different, but the feelings and emotions remain the same.”