Negros Tou Moria, also known as Black Morris, is one of the most remarkable and unique hip-hop artists to emerge from Greece — and it feels like the right time for more people to discover him.

A few years back, before the COVID era, I caught Negros Tou Moria (real name Kevin Zans Ansong) live in Kypseli — the vibrant Athenian neighborhood where he grew up. Over the past few decades, Kypseli has become home to many refugees and immigrants from Africa, and it’s one of the key places where Greek hip-hop was reborn, fueled by a mix of cultures and sounds from Africa, Middle East, Albania, Georgia, France, and beyond.

Back then, Negros Tou Moria wasn’t a huge name yet. But his clever rhymes, heavy beats, sharp social commentary, and infectious humor made that night unforgettable — and made it obvious he had something special.

Now, for those outside Greece, there’s something about his stage name that’s important to understand. “Negros Tou Moria” is a bold wordplay referencing Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the heroes of Greece’s 1821 War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. So imagine the reactions — especially from white nationalists and the far-right — when a Black artist with Ghanaian roots reclaims that legacy in his own name. In Greek, we call that kind of daring move “θράσος” (“Thrasos”): pure audacity.

Negros Tou Moria’s other big love from Greek culture came later: listening to Markos Vamvakaris and Vassilis Tsitsanis, while reading books of Elias Petropoulos (Greek author, folklorist, and historian mainly of the underground life in Greece). Rebetiko and bouzouki came to his life and mixed with his modern view of music. It all came together in what he calls “Trabetiko” — a fresh mix of trap and rebetiko that feels both ancient and futuristic.

His new album “Marvin Ellada” (“Μαύρη Ελλάδα”), meaning “Black Greece”, contains 14 songs that blend hip-hop, trap and greek folk sounds, a fusion that made even the Guardian write a review about his new work. It’s an album that deserves to break borders — and it’s already doing just that.

The record feels adventurous and alive, with standout collaborations from artists like Idra Kayne, Melow, and Bloody Hawk, to name a few, who each add their own voices and colors to the project.

As for his lyrics and the topics that presents with theatrical flair, mostly dive into heavy topics like racism, identity, and political aggression.

Negros Tou Moria isn’t just a remarkable Greek hip-hop artist, he’s unique and a new kind of Greek storyteller.

Stream “Mavri Ellada” LP on Spotify.

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Negros Tou Moria on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.

Photo credit: @giannis.redlight at @redlightstudiogr