Rap Emerges in the Basque Country

Why this is here: The song created for Herri Urrats, a yearly event supporting Basque-language schools, has surpassed 600,000 listens on Spotify, becoming the most successful track by young artist Pisoo to date.

In the Basque Country, spanning parts of France and Spain, a rap scene is slowly gaining recognition. For a long time absent from the local music landscape, rap is beginning to establish itself through concert halls, independent studios, and local initiatives. Young artists are increasingly using the Basque language as a tool for activism and distinction.

The scene remains fragile and differs from established rap centers in cities like Paris or Marseille. Baby Neelou briefly broke through some barriers years ago, but lacked strong territorial ties. In the 1990s, the group Negu Gorriak blended rap and reggae on the Spanish side, while the French side saw early activity in the 2010s with groups like Party Sèche and 2zio, from which ØDEI emerged.

The Atabal music venue in Biarritz has been central to building this ecosystem, starting in the early 2010s. DJ Wall’s Perception studio supports emerging artists like Pisoo, who now has roughly 17,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. While the scene is growing, artists still face challenges achieving mainstream success and wider exposure, but collaborations—like Pisoo’s featuring on a song for Herri Urrats—are helping to broaden its reach.