Cleo
Fierce Swedish rap that balances heavy-hitting social commentary with lush, melodic production. Empowering, rhythmic, and deeply rooted in collective energy.
Fierce Swedish rap that balances heavy-hitting social commentary with lush, melodic production. Empowering, rhythmic, and deeply rooted in collective energy.
Cleo delivers a sound that is simultaneously grounded and explosive. Her music carries the weight of the Swedish north, blending sharp, technical rap flows with a warmth that comes from her soul and reggae influences. The production is often thick with bass and atmospheric synths, creating a bed for her commanding yet conversational delivery. It feels like a movement in motion, never just a solo performance.
What truly sets her apart is the communal spirit of her work. As a central figure in the Femtastic and Random Bastards collectives, her tracks often feel like a dialogue between friends and activists. There is a specific grit to her delivery that avoids the clichés of commercial pop-rap, opting instead for a raw, authentic texture that prioritizes message and mood over radio-friendly gloss.
Start with the album 'Missaoui' to hear her at her most realized. It showcases her ability to weave personal history with broader social themes, all while maintaining a groove that demands physical movement. It is the perfect entry point for anyone looking to understand the intersection of Swedish lyricism and modern hip-hop production.
Nathalie Missaoui (born 5 September 1987), better known by her stage name Cleo, is a Swedish rap artist, singer and songwriter. Cleo grew up in Umeå where she started rapping with the Random Bastards collective in the early 2000s. She is one of the founders of Femtastic, a music and culture network for women in Sweden. Along with Syster Sol she runs the hiphop and reggae-workshop Tell Dem. In 2012, Cleo along with singer Jessica Folcker and Håkan Lidbo performed as an interval act, they performed Leila K's song "Electric" in Melodifestivalen of that year. In March 2013 she collaborated with the group Looptroop Rockers for the music single "Hårt mot hårt". At the 2015 Kingsizegala, she won the award for Best live act of that year. On 19 June 2015, Cleo released her second music single called "240", along with guest singer Alina Devecerski.
Shares conscious hip-hop, contemporary r&b, pop rap (subgenres); studio polished, layered dense, drum machine (production style)
Shares conscious hip-hop, pop rap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares conscious hip-hop, pop rap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, layered dense (production style)
Shares conscious hip-hop, pop rap (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, layered dense (production style)
Shares conscious hip-hop, pop rap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); empowering, confident, defiant (moods)
Shares studio polished, drum machine, analog warmth (production style); contemporary r&b, conscious hip-hop (subgenres)
Shares conscious hip-hop, pop rap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, sample based, analog warmth (production style)
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