How can rap become a lens through which to interpret literature? And how can the Italian language continue to tell the story of the world through forms of expression capable of speaking to younger generations? These are some of the questions that Murubutu, the stage name of Alessio Mariani, one of Italy’s best-known rappers and, at the same time, a philosophy and history teacher at the Matilde di Canossa High School in Reggio Emilia, seeks to answer.
Murubutu is the much-anticipated guest of a lecture-performance scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Institute in Miami. The event will serve as a preview of the 26th Week of the Italian Language in the World (SLIM), an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to celebrate Italian and the Italian-speaking community as vehicles for sharing Italy’s culture and vision abroad.
The event offers a journey through literature, music, and education, exploring the influences and connections between literary tradition and rap, one of the most widespread musical genres among young Italians over the past few decades. Drawing on his dual experience as a teacher and an artist, Murubutu will guide the audience in discovering rap’s expressive and educational potential, tracing its evolution in Italy from the 1990s to the new linguistic codes of trap.
At the heart of the discussion is one question: Is rap literature? Starting from this point, the talk will explore rap’s role in school education, the importance of its message, the relationship between artistic freedom and ethical responsibility, and the connections between music and contemporary society. It will also examine the genre’s contradictions and its future prospects as a form of storytelling and literary expression.
The conversation will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience and a short live performance. At the invitation of the Italian Cultural Institute in Miami, Murubutu is also scheduled to hold two additional meetings with Italian-language students: one at the International Studies Preparatory Academy (ISPA) in Coral Gables on October 1, and another at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton on October 2.
Alessio Mariani has been teaching since 2001. Alongside his teaching career, he has built a significant presence in the Italian hip-hop scene, becoming one of the most original voices in a style of rap distinguished by its strong narrative and literary elements. Over the years, he has developed an artistic career in which music and literature are constantly intertwined. His work, strongly focused on storytelling, is often associated with the idea of “literature-inspired rap,” in which words play a central role. His discography currently includes eight studio albums devoted to storytelling, including La vita segreta delle città (The Secret Life of Cities), released in 2025, and Infernvm, created in collaboration with Claver Gold and dedicated to the first canticle of The Divine Comedy.
Murubutu photo credits: Malì Serena Aurora Erotico
Reservations: iicmiami.segreteria@esteri.it