Tagne is now part of a select group of musicians.
He is the launch artist for the Mena version of Spotify Singles, in which performers re-record songs for the platform. The hip-hop artist now joins the likes of Harry Styles and Lewis Capaldi in giving older tracks a new spin.
For the occasion, Tagne, 27, hit the studio for stripped-down takes of Niya and Liberte, two tracks from his new album Lmektoub.
The works have him replacing the shuddering trap hip-hop beats and potent rapping of original versions with breezy acoustic guitars and soulful vocals.
And, he thinks he has a hit in his hands.
“It’s a really refreshing version and new angle when it comes to these songs,” he tells The National. “It’s more chill and very melancholic and it’s perfectly suited for these tracks.
“The people familiar with my work know that I like trying new things and I am just glad they now have the opportunity to hear it.”
The songs also act as a gateway to one of Morocco’s most promising hip-hop artists.
He's been around for nearly five years and has built a solid reputation with three albums and multiple mixtapes.
Born to a Cameroonian father and a Moroccan mother in Casablanca, he immersed himself in live performances from a young age.
With his father, a concert promoter, organising events catered to Morocco’s west and sub-Saharan African diaspora, he grew up watching groups from Cameroon, Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The wave of gangsta rap, led by 50 Cent’s classic 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin', pushed young Tagne to craft his own rhymes.
Tagne's 2020 debut album Moroccan Dream marked a milestone for the country's hip-hop scene.
Not only did some of the tracks, such as Routine and C'est La Vie, reach Spotify's Moroccan charts, it also showcased the kingdom's vibrant musical genre by using guest artists including A.L.A, Kouz1 and Snor, as well as producers Ysos Beats and Nouvo.
When it comes to measuring the impact of streaming platforms on Morocco’s hip-hop scene, Tagne is circumspect.
Local artists, he says, were already making an impact long before Spotify launched regionally in 2018.
"There was a music economy for us before all the platforms arrived," he says. "There were a lot of concerts and events where we could perform, and we used the money earned to fund our albums and produce music videos. The key was to keep releasing and producing projects.”
That said, Tagne says streaming platforms accelerated Moroccan hip-hop's elevation to the mainstream.
“It's not just something you hear only in the clubs or festivals, people now play the music at home," he says. "A reason for that is that it’s no longer as political as it was before.
“Now there is more diversity when it comes to the subjects being discussed. Anyone can now listen to a style that they want."
When it comes to his own twist, Tagne keeps it fun and introspective throughout Lmektoub.
A standout is the single Fly Emirates, which he describes as more a motivational anthem than a plug for the Dubai airline.
“The title is just a phrase I use within the song," he says. "The track is about the need to work hard to upgrade your life, so you get to where you need to be.”
It is a message Tagne reminds himself constantly.
As the Moroccan hip-hop scene grows with new talent, he believes the already impressive bar will continue to be raised.
“There is no magic formula to creating a hit in Morocco or anywhere. Sometimes, it's a matter of timing and having the right melody with the right production,” he says.
“Ten years ago Moroccan rappers couldn’t live solely on their music. Now that we can, it is a great thing, but it also means we must work harder because it’s no longer a hobby. This is our job.”
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')
Chelsea 0
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%20profile
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FORSPOKEN
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Final%20Fantasy%20XVI
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Street%20Fighter%206
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Diablo%20IV
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The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%3A%20Tears%20of%20The%20Kingdom
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Nintendo%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Nintendo%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%0D%3Cbr%3ERelease%20date%3A%20September%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Marvel's%20Spider-Man%202
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20PlayStation%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PS5%0D%3Cbr%3ERelease%20date%3A%20Fall%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Assassin's%20Creed%20Mirage
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PC%2C%20PS5%2C%20XSX%2C%20Amazon%20Luna%0D%3Cbr%3ERelease%20date%3A%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Starfield
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MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')
Newcastle United 0
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Brief scores:
Newcastle United 1
Perez 23'
Wolverhampton Rovers 2
Jota 17', Doherty 90' 4
Red cards: Yedlin 57'
Man of the Match: Diogo Jota (Wolves)
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Ukraine%20exports
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
