We met Milanese rapper Promessa backstage before his concert in Milan. A severe motorcycle accident during his youth abruptly shifted his entire focus toward music. He worked a factory job at sixteen years old to afford legal representation after a serious problem with the law. These raw street experiences in the Bicocca neighborhood heavily shaped the direct sonic identity you hear on his records today. We sit down with the artist to discuss his new album Morendo ad occhi aperti and his rigid perspective of the world. You will find his thoughts on art and modern social apathy below.
You grew up in the Bicocca area of Milan. A serious motorcycle accident shifted your attention entirely to music. You worked in a factory at sixteen to pay lawyers due to a legal problem. How did these early street experiences shape the direct sound we hear on your records today?
I come from a place in Milan where people experience life fully across both the city and the provincial areas. My past serves as a continuous molding process moving forward alongside my current experiences. The resulting sound reflects a direct path between Bicocca and the life I live today.
You recently released your new album Morendo ad occhi aperti. You explore a specific way of living within a stagnant environment. You face life head on while seeing no changes around you. Which central message do you want listeners to assimilate from this worldview?
I wrote this album to bring attention to a specific modern moment where many individuals experience social nihilism or apathy. People often struggle to take certain paths or feel specific energies in their daily lives. The main focus highlights the exact situations I and other people are experiencing right now. The record ultimately offers a clear way out of static environments.
Today many people publish music and create an image. What truly distinguishes an artist from someone who simply creates content?
The main difference between art and content is the initial purpose behind the creation. This distinction depends entirely on the creator and the specific motivation driving the action. Real art stems from a personal need rather than external reasons.
What does APPARTENGO mean to you?
I do not want to give Appartengo a precise meaning because the word represents the exact reason everything started for us. The core meaning is simply the feeling of belonging somewhere alongside people sharing the same vision. The movement does not need too many rigid explanations.
Tell us about the merchandise drop you chose for these Milan dates.
We organized a new merchandise drop for these Milan dates and we feel incredibly happy about the results. I am glad because trusted friends of mine handled the entire process perfectly. We never organized something similar before in our career. Seeing people in the crowd wearing Appartengo merchandise means a lot to us.
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