BEIRUT: When Moroccan producer Ramoon began work on “101,” his genre-blending new album with rapper 7Ari, he knew the project needed an equally boundary-pushing partner. That vision led him to Mass Appeal — the US-based production house co-owned by legendary rapper Nas.

“I think us and Mass Appeal, we were aligned. We saw things the same way — especially when it comes to Western inspiration and the sound we’re building,” Ramoon said.

The partnership underpins an album that refuses to be boxed in. “For me as a producer, I don't put myself in a box and I don't like to limit myself,” he said. “Whenever I’m making music, I go by feelings.”

Though music production is often seen as a solitary craft, Ramoon’s studio is anything but. As he speaks, the energy of collaboration still lingers — a reminder of the creative force that shaped “101.”

“As a producer, you're not just making beats — you're shaping the vision, guiding the lyrics, the themes, everything,” he explained.

That vision came alive through his chemistry with 7Ari. “From the start, I knew Harri was like me — super versatile. He just needed a producer to push him,” Ramoon said.

Unlike many Arab projects that lean heavily into politics, “101” takes a more universal approach, blending global sensibilities with subtle Moroccan influences. “You can't just start with heritage up front — people won’t listen. You’ve got to mix it in, subtly,” he explained.

For Ramoon, Morocco’s sound is inherently undefinable. “We're a mix of Africa, the Middle East, Europe — even the US. That’s what makes the Moroccan sound unique.”

The result is an album that embraces the messy, layered beauty of Morocco’s — and the Arab world’s — many influences, inviting listeners everywhere to step inside its sound.