From 18 to 23 May 2025, the city of Seville vibrated to the rhythm of European hip hop.
In the heart of Andalusia, the Soundroutes International Bootcamp, organised by the Marmaduke collective, brought together 25 artists from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Algeria, Mexico and the United States for a week of writing, music production and intercultural exchange.
Led by Ramón García ‘Polako’ and Hamid Nureddin Nehring, two central figures in the Spanish hip hop scene, the experience transformed the city into an open laboratory, crossing the symbolic places of urban creativity — from the Factoría Cultural to the CICUS, to the Polakoteka and the Sala La2, where the final concert was held.
🎧 In the early days, through presentations, freestyle and track exchanges, the group began to build a common foundation: not only musical, but political and emotional.
Under the guidance of the coaches, the participants wrote, composed and recorded a collective song and a cypher video (link to video), an expression of a dialogue between languages, experiences and worldviews.
The days alternated between writing workshops, audio and video recording sessions, and informal training sessions based on peer learning and co-creation.
There was also a connection with the city: a walk through the history of graffiti in Seville with the artist Tinto247 allowed the group to intertwine musical practice with urban memory and the rebellious roots of hip hop culture.
‘Hip hop is a language that knows no boundaries,’ says one of the participants. ‘In Seville, we learned that revolution can start with a verse, a shared beat, a moment of mutual listening.’
The Bootcamp ended with a powerful live performance at Sala La2, where the audience was treated to the debut of the collectively created track: a song that blends personal stories and social tensions, transforming difference into strength.
In addition to artistic growth, the programme left behind a solid human fabric, based on trust, solidarity and cooperation.
Among the challenges — such as language barriers and tight studio schedules — the strength of intercultural collaboration emerged, capable of overcoming obstacles and creating a common language.
The Seville Bootcamp confirmed Soundroutes’ mission: to use hip hop culture as a tool for social justice, connection and collective self-determination.
An experience that does not end with a concert, but continues as a living network of artists who believe in music as a form of resistance and transformation.
Watch the aftermovie here
