Ali Boubacar Bonkano (born 1 January 2001) is a Nigerien songwriter, and music producer who began his career in 2018.

There’s an intensity to Ali Boubacar Bonkano’s music that immediately caught our attention.

His hip-hop moves between introspection and aggression, often within the same track. At one moment the delivery can feel measured and reflective; at another, the emotion comes rushing to the surface. There’s passion behind it, but also vulnerability, his music isn't afraid to deal with pressure, frustration, doubt and the weight of trying to move forward.

What we particularly like is the way his tracks develop. They don't simply establish a beat and stay there. Vocals build, the mood shifts and the intensity rises, giving the songs a feeling of progression and purpose.

There's a rawness to Bonkano's music too. It doesn't feel overly polished or designed to make everyone comfortable. The harder edges are part of the character, while underneath them there's often something considerably more personal going on.

We’ve chosen Good News as the track to introduce him. It's a strong example of that balance: reflective and vulnerable, increasingly forceful, but ultimately carrying a sense of resilience and hope.

Ali Boubacar Bonkano makes hip-hop with passion, weight and something to say. That's why we think you should hear him.

E · EXPLICIT : Ali Boubacar Bonkano's music contains strong language and potentially offensive language.