Boef Essentials

Boef translates as “thief” in English, which seems appropriate—since his 2015 debut EP Gewoon Boef, the French-born MC has been stealing hearts with his slinking Dutch hip-hop sound, dripping in dazzling rhymes, smoky synth lines and melodies that burrow their way deep under your skin. Inspired by emotive American rap titans like Fetty Wap (who Boef named a track after in 2017), he cuts a commanding presence on anthems such as “Paperchase”, “Habiba” and Lil Kleine’s “Krantenwijk”, to which he lends a scintillating guest verse.