A little over a year ago, junior producer Louis Amoeba shared a meme showing him and rapper Hoke playing chess in the middle of an auditorium filled with people waiting for their moves. The crowd represented the media, graffiti artists, rappers, independent artists, and music professionals scouting for new talent. In the altered photo, the setting appeared different in two ways: first, the sounds of distortion; second, the idea of smoke.
Here is a clear summary of the moment and the working method that was stripped back to essentials: no tags, no promotions, no admins, no press, and with top secret activity in networks. The result was a quiet launch. Hoke and Louis Amoeba released their joint album BBO in September, turning it into one of the strongest Spanish debuts of the year. The rapper even voices a line from a Speedrun sketch that signals his own bold stance.
The pair faced the algorithm with minimal resources, and the album quickly surpassed ten million plays on streaming platforms. This momentum drew attention globally, challenging the push toward overexposure and the relentless pace associated with social media platforms like TikTok. Talent alone proved enough to make a lasting impact, a sentiment echoed by Carlos of Los Xavales who notes how the group reacts to music news across YouTube and Twitch without heavy fuss.
Cover of Hoke’s album BBO is shown as a visual anchor.
Until BBO was released, the project had moved forward at a deliberate pace, punctuated by a few singles and live performances. Aleix Mateu, co author of Getting the Flu Urban music a generational change, remarks that the project follows a strategy focused on quality over quantity. He explains that there is a genuine artistic standard at work, alongside a cultivated hype and a devoted following around the artist.
Many Spanish artists publicly celebrate and welcome the release of BBO on social media. The project grew into a touring schedule that expanded from a planned dozen dates to twenty three appearances across cities including Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao, Zaragoza, and Madrid. The tour footprint reflected a strong regional footprint and a sense of anticipation that kept fans engaged. The opening night in Barcelona drew enthusiastic recognition for the performers.
A year after the meme, the Valencia duo released BBO a piece that stands apart in its history. The work feels like a living document of a new generation of rappers who take careful care with their flow and the craft of rhyme. Aleix Mateu describes the album as a milestone for this generation, noting the presence of guest voices such as Ergo Pro and Ill Pekeño. The success rests on a meticulous yet flexible approach, with eleven tracks that feel deliberate, versatile, and full of personality. Mateu highlights the cohesion of the project and the way its sonic world is built.
BBO blends multiple short tracks into a cohesive whole, drawing on Olympic imagery in its visuals and layering a continuous game between sport and the city. The street, graffiti, and the tension of law enforcement are recurring motifs, with Hoke at the center of a universe that includes references to city life and sport. The title BBO even incorporates the five Olympic rings as a graphic cue. A fellow member of Los Xavales notes that the Olympic motif helps define the project’s identity, while some lines nod to classic hip hop lines that resonate with fans.
The album opens with a track described as Hawkeye, which sets a pace that mirrors a journey through neighborhoods and streets where ambition meets everyday challenges. The lyrics also touch on global icons, including a reference to a famous swimmer and a nod to practical realities of life, such as the costs that weigh on an artist as they grow. Sneakers dangling from power lines are described as a social signpost within the urban landscape.
Praise for Hoke’s delivery notes a striking balance between calmness and intensity. The performance style is polished, with a focus on clean production and a confident vocal presence. BBO represents a moment in which a young artist negotiates rapid growth, addressing both personal experience and broader social dynamics. In the track Corbo real, the urgency of climbing higher is clear, with lines about time, ambition, and the pressure of everyday expenses. A Valencia observer compares Hoke to a grounded storyteller who speaks from lived experience, a trait that resonates with listeners and with peers in the scene.
The closing track returns to the album’s sonic opening, creating a sense of circularity that mirrors a repeating track and a continuous loop. Louis Amoeba’s production work receives particular praise for aligning with Hoke’s rap style without relying on contemporary gimmicks. In Barcelona, the first concert of the BBO tour was greeted with applause as soon as the show began, signaling strong support for the new generation of Spanish rap. Fans continue to look forward to what comes next from the duo.
My little brother and I did it, says Hoke, underscoring the shared effort that went into the project and the journey that followed. The team behind BBO is seen as a group committed to careful craft, a refusal to flood the market with noise, and a belief in the power of steady development over flashy moves. The album’s trajectory demonstrates a careful balance between artistry and audience engagement, with an emphasis on artistic integrity and a shared sense of purpose that marks the emergence of a new voice in the scene.