TROUF is a Greek rapper, producer and songwriter originating from Xanthi and based in Thessaloniki. He became involved in rap at the age of thirteen, beginning a career that would develop across MCing, beat production, songwriting and behind-the-scenes studio work.
From his earliest releases, TROUF approached hip-hop as both a vocalist and producer. His music draws from old-school rap and boom-bap but frequently expands through melodic pop writing, blues-influenced passages and more atmospheric contemporary production. This flexibility has allowed him to move between introspective solo material, direct rap performances and broader collaborative records without committing himself permanently to one narrow sound.
A particularly important part of his development came through his association with fellow Xanthi rapper Bloody Hawk. TROUF produced the majority of Bloody Hawk’s 2017 album Komplexiko, a decisive record in the latter’s rise within Greek hip-hop. Their continuing creative relationship placed TROUF among the producers and collaborators who helped shape one of the most important bodies of work in modern Greek rap.
TROUF established his solo identity more firmly with Kinitra in 2019 and Stay Trouf in 2020. These albums brought wider attention to an artist who had already accumulated years of recordings and live performances, presenting both his technical ability as an MC and his interest in blending traditional rap structures with melody and different instrumental colours.
His catalogue continued with My Life Vol. 1 in 2022 and NORTH FIESTA in 2023. The latter strengthened his connection to the rap community of northern Greece, while his wider list of collaborators has included Bloody Hawk, Joker/Two-Face, Fann and Paifann.
Kinitra II followed in 2024, returning to one of the projects that had originally brought his work to a larger audience. Rather than functioning simply as a nostalgic sequel, the album reflected the broader production vocabulary and experience TROUF had developed during the intervening years.
In 2025, he released STRADA NERA through independent distribution in cooperation with Minos EMI. The eight-track album presented a concise and focused version of his writing, combining personal reflection, urban imagery and melodic production. Its release was accompanied by dedicated live presentations and documentary material showing the process behind the record.
TROUF occupies an unusual position within contemporary Greek hip-hop because his contribution cannot be measured only through his own performances. His career extends through production, songwriting, collaborations and technical studio work, connecting the underground rap culture of Xanthi and Thessaloniki with artists who have reached some of the country’s largest stages. At the same time, his solo catalogue has preserved an individual sound built around measured delivery, musical variety and a preference for complete records rather than isolated algorithm-chasing singles.
