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Aug 06, 2025

Meet Salmo: The rapper behind Ranch and Italy’s new sound

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How Salmo, Sardinia’s genre-defying rapper, blends hip-hop, rock, punk, reggae, and performance to rewrite Italian music

Who Is Salmo? Italy’s Most Creative Rap Artist in 2025

Not just an Italian rapper, but a boundary-pushing storyteller. Born in Olbia, Sardinia, Salmo—whose real name is Maurizio Pisciottu—has become a game changer in the Italian music panorama, giving rap competitors a hard time.

Salmo performing with the italian artist Zucchero

To label him merely a “rapper” would be an understatement. Salmo sings, plays guitar, and spins the decks; he’s a musician and creative force in every sense of the word.

We’ve highlighted the key elements that make him truly one of a kind. Enjoy the read!

Salmo and Sardinia: Roots, Identity and Musical Legacy

Folk meets hip-hop: Maria Carta’s legacy in modern rap

Early in his career, Salmo faced an environment that simply didn’t appreciate rap—his hometown in Sardinia leaned heavily toward punk and metal, leaving little room for hip‑hop. In his words, the city “preferred punk and metalheads.”

Yet as we know, love often comes full circle, and that’s exactly what happened with Salmo and his island. Throughout his rise to fame, he has dedicated entire songs to Sardinia, most notably “The Island,” released in 2013 as an ode to Sardinia’s beauty and contradictions, delivered with fierce emotion.

"Salmo Unplagged" is a special mini-album released by Amazon music, featuring 10 acoustic reinterpretations of Salmo’s most iconic songs, all recorded live in Sardinia with a band

Today, the story feels complete: his latest album Ranch, which was mostly recorded in Sardinia, embodies that connection. Salmo returns to his roots—not just geographically, but also creatively—infusing his music with the spirit, sounds, and stories of his island.

A standout feature of the album is the opening track “On Fire”, which begins with an unprocessed sample of Maria Carta’s “Ave Maria Catalana.” The voice of the Sardinian folk legend meets aggressive rap energy, merging local heritage with a sense of rebellion.

Teaser of "On Fire" song, featuring Sardinian artist Maria Carta

Salmo the Actor: From Blocco 181 to Gangs of Milano

Cinematic Rap: Acting, Music Production, Soundtracks, and Storytelling

Beyond rap, Salmo has also made a name for himself by appearing on the small screen in the Sky Original series “Blocco 181” and its sequel, “Gangs of Milano.” More than just an actor, he took on the role of both creative and music producer for the shows.

His foray into acting led to the release of “Blocco 181 – Original Soundtrack,” an ambitious album featuring 11 tracks and contributions from 21 artists, including singers, musicians, and Italian producers. The result is a vibrant cross-genre soundscape that blends hip-hop, rap, and reggaeton into a cinematic musical experience.

Salmo during the Release Party of the italian series "Blocco 181" produced by Sky Original

San Siro Milestone: How Salmo Changed Italian Rap

A stadium concert that redefined live hip-hop in Italy

“Please, take your seats—the show is about to begin,” Salmo raps in “90min,” and that’s exactly how it felt. In 2022, he made history as the first Italian rapper to headline the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan, drawing an electrifying crowd of over 50,000 fans.

Video of the San Siro concert experience

The event was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a massive stage setup illuminated by dazzling lights, 3D visuals and fireworks that created an immersive atmosphere. Accompanied by a powerhouse live band and joined by a line-up of special guests, Salmo delivered an unforgettable performance that transcended a typical concert experience.

More than just a milestone for Salmo himself, this performance represented a turning point for Italian rap, solidifying the Sardinian artist as a leading pioneer in the country’s music scene.

Salmo’s Signature Sound: Mixing Rap, Rock and Electronic

Since the beginning of his career, Salmo has consistently shown a strong inclination toward genre-blending, fusing rap with rock, electronic music, punk, and singer-songwriter elements. Only a few albums truly stand out for this kind of combination.

 Salmo painted as a pope in Milan by the italian street artist Tvboy

Midnite (2013): The Dawn of Electronic-Infused Rap in Salmo’s Discography

Salmo merges electronic music with Italian rap, blending styles such as hardcore rap, electronic, and industrial rock. In the track “Russell Crowe”, aggressive rap collides with heavy, distorted electronic beats, laying the groundwork for a new kind of experimentation within the Italian scene.

Hellvisback (2016): Rock and Reggae Merge into Italian Hip-Hop, a True Genre Fusion

From alternative hip-hop to rock, with touches of electronic and even reggae influences, this platinum-certified album delivers tracks built to move crowds.

Take “Io sono qui”, for example—hip-hop fuses with digital and futuristic sounds, producing a bold, genre-defying vibe that has become Salmo’s signature.

Playlist (2018): Salmo’s Rap Meets Hardcore, Indie, Mainstream, and the Italian Trap Scene

With this album, Salmo successfully climbed the charts and reached a broad audience while staying true to his identity and refusing to be confined by strict genre rules. The Playlist album is infused with hardcore sounds, trap beats, as well as indie and pop music.

Notable tracks include “Il Cielo in una stanza” and “90Min,” as well as significant collaborations with artists from the Italian music scene, such as Fabri Fibra, Sfera Ebbasta, and Coez.

Flop (2021): Vulnerability and Artistic Maturity in Salmo’s Music

Salmo has evolved profoundly as an artist, and with “Flop”, he exposes his deepest vulnerabilities, confronting dark moments and fighting with themes of failure.

The album also showcases powerful collaborations with Milanese rap artists, featuring heavyweights like Marracash, Noyz Narcos, and Gué Pequeno.

Ranch (2025): Rap, Electronic Sounds, and Sardinian Wildness in Salmo’s Latest Work

What can we say? It’s a masterpiece. The “Ranch” album encapsulates every aspect of Salmo’s artistry—from his sensitivity as a singer-songwriter and his electronic experimentation to the country influences that reflect his wild and untamed Sardinian roots. “Ranch” becomes a sanctuary, a haven where identity can be freely expressed.

One standout gem, in our opinion, is the brilliant blend of rap and gospel found in the track “Mauri.” To capture its unique spirit, Salmo even flew all the way to California to record this song.

Salmo flew to America to record "Mauri" together with a gospel choir and the american singer Big Boy (stage name of Sergio Sylvestre)

Silvia Tarini
Editor, Milan