Ouenza يفتح قلبه: عن الحبس.. الغربة والندم – مغرب ستارز

Ouenza identifies primarily as a rapper but acknowledges his versatility in other fields like acting due to the necessity of doing 'everything to live in this society.' He emphasizes that being an actor doesn't detract from his identity as a rapper, pushing back against the notion that a rapper should only stick to rap. He believes that society, particularly some in Morocco, resists change and success, wanting artists to remain as they were initially known. Ouenza states that he has always been transparent about his diverse artistic pursuits from the beginning.

Ouenza discusses his diverse fanbase, noting that he currently has more female followers on Instagram, a phenomenon he doesn't mind as long as it doesn't compromise his masculinity. He links this to societal norms, reflecting on the difficulty many Moroccans face in expressing affection like saying 'I love you.' He attributes this to generational trauma and an evolving understanding of mental health and emotional expression in Moroccan society. He also explains how rapid growth in followers, especially after viral challenges, affected his engagement with his audience, making it difficult to maintain the original connection.

Ouenza started rapping in 2017, after writing rap tracks and singing from a young age. He acknowledges that his career's success was rapid, making it challenging to manage initially. He recounts significant jumps in his follower count, from 20,000 to 200,000 in a month, and later to 600,000 in another month. This quick growth created a disconnect with his audience, as he felt he hadn't changed but the audience he was interacting with was vastly different. He stresses the importance of not imposing expectations on artists and allowing them to be themselves.

Ouenza recounts the most difficult moment of his life, an incident involving legal issues where he felt wronged by a specific individual. He describes feeling 'humiliated' and states that he will never forgive that person, despite the law ultimately siding with him. He hints at deeper issues that he cannot fully disclose but expresses his strong resentment towards the person who caused him harm, affirming that divine justice will prevail.

Ouenza discusses turning down acting roles that he felt would not be appreciated by his parents or would negatively impact his image. He adheres to a principle of not doing anything that would displease his parents. He emphasizes that an actor's role should not define their personal character. He admits to continuously striving for improvement in his acting and is cautious about accepting roles that might exceed his current abilities or prematurely push him into bigger roles.

Ouenza offers a strong critique of the Moroccan rap scene, describing it as a 'toxic cycle' fueled by lack of self-confidence and excessive ego. He explains that for 30 years, Moroccan rap has fallen into the same pitfalls every decade, driven by a desire for individual dominance rather than collective growth. He states that metrics like streaming numbers can be manipulated, and the focus on 'who is number one' hinders collaboration and the industry's overall development. He advocates for rappers to unite and demand better recognition and financial compensation, similar to how other art forms have grown.

Ouenza reflects on the integration of rap into festivals like Mawazine, acknowledging the mixed response to combining rap with other music genres. While some prefer a dedicated rap stage, he sees value in exposing rap to a wider audience, breaking down stereotypes that rap is only about 'bad words.' He believes this exposure can help mainstream audiences appreciate rap as an art form. Regarding his own works, he expresses dissatisfaction with certain aspects of his participation in 'JamShow' due to production constraints rather than content. He also reveals upcoming projects, including two TV series and a mysterious musical collaboration set for release in an album.