Hamza

Born in Laeken near Brussels on August 1, 1994, the Belgian rapper of Moroccan descent Hamza Al-Farissi, known as Hamza, formed the group Kilogramme Gang as a teenager and recorded the mixtape *Gotham City,* Vol. 1, before embarking on a solo career. After releasing his first mixtape, Recto Verso (2013), he ceased all musical activity until he met his manager, Darkose, who encouraged him to produce a new mixtape, H-24, released online in 2015 and followed by the EP Casanova and the mixtapes Zombie Life and Santa Sauce (2016). Several singles followed in 2017, including collaborations with German rappers Summer Cem and KC Rebell, before the release of a fifth mixtape titled 1994, which earned the rapper his first gold record. After contributing to Disiz La Peste’s album Pacifique in 2017, Hamza set to work recording his debut album. The album, released in 2019 under the title Paradise and peaking at No. 2 on the sales charts, reflects on the loss of his father and features collaborations with SCH, Aya Nakamura, Oxmo Puccino, and Christine and the Queens. That same year saw the release of the mixtape Santa Sauce 2, featuring duets with Young Adz, Gambi, and Koba LaD, and including, among others, the track “God Bless” with Damso, which peaked at No. 5. Preceded by the EP 140 BPM (2020), Hamza’s third album, 140 BPM 2 (2021), consists of thirteen charting tracks, including “Réel” with Zed (No. 8), among other collaborations with the British artist Headie One, Kaaris, Gazo, and Guy2Bezbar. In 2023, he invited Offset, Tiakola, CKay, and Damso to feature on his new album Sincèrement, which reached No. 1 in France and Belgium and No. 2 in Switzerland. Released in June 2025, its follow-up, Mania, reached No. 1 in all three countries, featuring hits such as “Kyky2Bondy, ” an ode to Kylian Mbappé that reached No. 1 in France and Belgium, as well as “Dragons, ” a posthumous duet with Werenoi (who died on May 17, 2025), and “Toxic” featuring the Nigerian artist Rema. In 2026, he was featured by La Rvfleuse on the hit “Crypto,” which peaked at No. 6, ahead of the release of the EP Public Enemy (No. 39), which included the track “Blick” (No. 61).