Ghali

Ghali, whose real name is Ghali Amdouni, is an Italian rapper, singer, and songwriter of Tunisian descent, widely considered one of the most influential voices of contemporary Italian hip-hop and a leading figure for a new generation of artists shaping the sound of modern Italy.

Ghali was born on May 21, 1993, in Milan, Italy, to Tunisian parents. Growing up between two cultures — Italian and North African — has been the defining thread running through his work, both musically and politically. His lyrics consistently navigate the tension and richness of dual identity, immigration, and what it means to belong.

Beginnings with Troupe D’Elite: Ghali first emerged in the early 2010s as a member of the Milanese rap collective Troupe D’Elite, alongside artists like Ernia and Maite. The group earned a strong underground following and helped seed a new wave of Italian rap rooted in raw, street-level storytelling.

After the collective disbanded, Ghali pivoted to a solo career and quickly broke through with a string of viral records — most notably “Ninna Nanna” in 2016 — which made him the first Italian artist to top the streaming charts with an entirely independent release. The song became a cultural phenomenon and signalled a shift in the Italian rap landscape: Ghali had proven you could go mainstream without major-label gatekeepers.

In 2016, Ghali co-founded his own label, Sto Records, an artist-first imprint that allowed him to retain creative and ownership control over his output — a rare move in Italian music at the time. The label has since become a reference point for independence and artistic autonomy in the country’s hip-hop scene.

His debut studio album, “Album” (2017), debuted at number one on the Italian albums chart and was certified multi-platinum, producing hits including “Habibi,” “Happy Days,” and “Wily Wily.” He followed it with “DNA” (2020) and “Sensazione Ultra” (2022) — both commercial juggernauts that further cemented his place at the very top of the Italian charts.

His track “Cara Italia” (2018) became one of the most iconic Italian songs of the decade, a love letter to the country that simultaneously confronted xenophobia and reaffirmed the legitimacy of Italian identity in all its forms. The song made Ghali not only a chart-topping artist but a cultural and political voice for an entire generation of second-generation Italians.

Sonically, Ghali blends Italian rap and trap with melodic hooks, Arabic and North African textures, and global pop sensibilities. His collaborations span the Italian rap elite — Salmo, Sfera Ebbasta, Marracash, Madame, Ernia — and he has continued to push his sound through high-profile moments such as his appearance at Sanremo 2024 with “Casa Mia.”

In 2023, Ghali brought his live show to Paris for a sold-out night at Le Bataclan — La Pépite 47 covered the show on the ground, capturing the energy, the visuals, and the cross-cultural intensity of one of the most distinctive voices in European hip-hop today.