‘In Between’ Ethnic Heritage and Italian Identity: The Global Hip-Hop of Mahmood and Ghali

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article contributes to broader debates about transcultural practices of social acceptance in contemporary Italy. Second-generation musicians Mahmood and Ghali utilise elements of global hip-hop to construct ‘in between’ identities that are representative of Italy’s increasingly diverse youth generation. Both young men hail from immigrant parents, absentee fathers, and urban poverty. Rather than attempt to minimise these purportedly unsavoury qualities, Mahmood and Ghali accentuate their multiethnic heritages in their music and artistic philosophies. By sharing their experiences of navigating ethnic heritage and Italian identity, these musicians not only invalidate xenophobic policies of belonging and national homogeneity, but also cultivate an image of authenticity that resonates with the diverse youth that mirror, and will ultimately shape, the future of Italy.