Thirteen Peter: «The surname Morandi? More an advantage than a disadvantage “

A tavern of Bolognaa crew of friends and a beat “daring“. These are the ingredients of the video of Usual place, Usual troublethe title track of the new album by Thirteen Peterpreviewed on VanityFair.it. “My first physical disk», The young rapper, the fourth son of, is keen to point out Gianni Morandi‘Which comes after four years of liquid, digital music“. Inside the seven songs of the previous EP, X This Nightthe single How I left And two unpublished, including the song that gives its name to project. “This track was born in the studio, listening to the beat that I knew of the hustle and bustle», Reveals the artist born in 1997. “As if there were a chase. At the same time, however, it transmitted me sunshine: from there the imagery that I wanted to give developed, including The cover“.

What if I asked you to choose a verse that represented the record more than the others?
“In I smoke thinking of you I say “I don’t believe, I see and I don’t hear. Don’t take me as an example but just hold me tight“. Which is what I would like to push through with my music. Often the show business places artists as models, I say not to take me as a teaching, but simply to hold on to me. A verse that tells my personality, not just this record “.

Here, in fact, is his personality. Can you tell me the earliest memory that he linked to music?
«I try to imitate Paolo Carta, who was the session guitarist at my father’s concerts. I was a big fan of him, I pretended I had a guitar and strummed ».

But then in middle school he started writing rhymes and never stopped. When did he become passionate about music other than the one he heard at home?
«I was a child, I must have been seven years old. On MTV I saw the video of some very famous American rapper: I was struck by the clothes, they were all in white, it looked like a wedding (laughs, ed). And what was happening seemed so real to me, different from the feelings to the nth degree that pop tells.

Also a way to make music and differentiate from his father, perhaps.
“No, it has nothing to do with it. There is nothing studied. In the subjects of rap I immediately recognized myself, it was me. Something visceral: I thought I wanted to do that, after all I didn’t give a damn ».

And he did it great. But do you think that surname is more of an advantage or a disadvantage?
“Plus an advantage, I’d be a hypocrite if I said otherwise. Because at the beginning it gives you a visibility that few have, already when you are born you make news. Of course, there are also downsides: it’s easier to be seen, but it’s harder to be liked. I didn’t dare put my face up until I at least felt like I was respecting the rap and rapper standard. If you are just looking for attention, the risk is that you will come back like a boomerang ».

The great problem of the children of art, not only in music.
“When you are wrong, you are twice as wrong. When you do well, you do half well. Having already a name, if you fall the thud is louder. Because there is a comparison, albeit a distorted one. I think this is the disadvantage, but I repeat: on a scale, I think the advantage weighs more ».

How do you see the situation of rap in Italy? And is there an artist you would like to collaborate with?
«It is a flourishing moment for European rap in general, it is doing crazy numbers and I think it has had the courage to erase a sort of sense of inferiority compared to the American one, which is an integral part of a culture. There are many artists with whom I would like to collaborate, I don’t know how to choose one: it is certain that Madame and the Psychologists, with whom I have already worked, are at the top for me ».

The recent duet between Marracash and Vasco Rossi tells the dialogue between two genres. Have you ever thought about a duet with your father?
“I’ve been asked this question before, when it seemed I said absolutely no. The point is that I would be very happy to do something with him, but first I prefer to find my way as an artist. Then of course, even with Vasco I would have gladly done a piece (smiles, ed) “.

And in Sanremo, on the other hand, do you ever think about it? Or has he already thought about it?
«The speech is the same: I have to find my identity first. The people I work with, who rightfully aim for the top, pointed out to me that I had some tracks that might be right for the festival. But I have always refused to try, I don’t think it’s the right time: I don’t know if I will try in the future, I certainly want to have more backgrounds behind me ».

Step by step. On its own way.

Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you

Thirteen Peter: “I make music to live (even after death)”
Paky, in balance between light and dark
Luchè: “My ambition, beyond numbers”

To receive the other cover of Vanity Fair (and much more), subscribe to Vanity Weekend.