With his sharp rhymes and uplifting messages, Italian rapper Rkomi emerged in the mid-2010s to become a powerful force in his nation’s hip-hop scene. • Mirko Manuele Martorana is a native of Milan. He got into music while working as a bartender and debuted with Calvairate Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2014. • Rkomi achieved breakout success with his 2016 EP Dasein Sollen. Featuring Italian stars like Izi and Tedua, the release went platinum in his home country. • True to his Milanese roots, Rkomi partnered with Berksha to release a fashion line, including plaid shirts, jackets, and acid-wash denim. • By the time he released 2017’s lo in Terra, the rapper had signed with the Italian subsidiary of Universal Records. The LP reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Italy Albums chart. • The rapper returned to No. 1 on Italy Albums with 2019’s Dove gli occhi non arrivano.