Marracash interviews Milan mayor Beppe Sala at Milano Music Week 2018

During the Milano Music Week 2018, rapper Marracash (Fabio Bartolo Rizzo) interviewed Milan mayor Beppe Sala on stage at Santeria Social Club on November 21, 2018. The unprecedented event saw the two discuss urban development, peripheral neighborhoods, and youth opportunities. Sala cited American hip hop influences like Tupac, De La Soul, and Nas's "Illmatic" (1994) as personal favorites. Marracash, who grew up in the Barona district, pressed Sala on the disparity between Milan's skyscraper-driven growth and neglected peripheries. Sala acknowledged the challenge, noting the city invests about 1.5 billion euros in projects outside the center, but admitted progress is slow. Marracash proposed a future community initiative for Barona, possibly a school or recreational center, to which Sala jokingly suggested naming it "Scuola media statale Marracash." The conversation also touched on illegal but socially valuable spaces like Macao, with Sala emphasizing the need for balanced solutions. The event was part of the Milano Music Week, organized by the city's music festival.