Younes Taleb (Arabic: يونس طالب, born on July 29, 1978), better known by his stage names Mobydick and LMoutchou, is a Moroccan rapper and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Moroccan hip-hop, credited for popularizing hardcore rap and introducing Japanese anime culture into the local rap scene. His music is also known for its "anti-system" or anti-government stance.
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Career
Younes Taleb grew up in the Hassan neighborhood in Rabat. Originally a popping dancer, he earned the nickname 'Younes Michael' in reference to his Michael Jackson-imitating dance skills, including the moonwalk. He then turned to rap, developing an interest in writing and music production while citing American rappers like Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer as early influences.
Influenced by French rap, especially IAM and MC Solaar, he began writing in French before adopting Moroccan Darija to reach a wider audience within Morocco. He was a member of two rap groups: first NGM (Nouvelle Génération Marocaine) in the mid-90s, and later La Sekte in 2004. He subsequently launched a solo career. Taleb claims he recorded his first song in 1993 when he was around 15 years old.