Moroccan rapper Taha Fahssi, best known as ElGrandeToto, teased the release of his new mixed tape on Tuesday taking aim at Morocco’s former controversial head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane.
Benkirane had previously called Toto a “bastard.” The rapper captured Benkirane’s attention after he made controversial remarks normalizing the consumption of weed for recreational purposes in a press conference in October 2022.
The rapper said in a post on X that Benkirane’s insult is what inspired the title for his upcoming mixed tape.
“Thank you very much to the former failed Head of Government for the free promotional pitch and the idea for the name of the mixtape that will be released in the next few days,” the post read.
“I’m counting on you to listen to the project when it comes out!” the post added.
شكرا جزيلا لرئيس الحكومة السابق الفاشل على العرض الترويجي المجاني وفكرة اسم الشريط المختلط الذي سيتم إصداره في الأيام القليلة المقبلة. أنا أعتمد عليك للاستماع إلى المشروع عندما يخرج!❤️
و يحيى الشباب.#SALGOAT— ELGRANDETOTO (@elgrandetoto) November 19, 2024
Toto first came under public scrutiny in 2022 when he said: “We smoke weed, and so what?!”
The rapper added nonchalantly, “We don’t go very far to get weed, it’s just around the corner.”
The clip went viral, drawing criticism from conservatives in the country, especially the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).