Gennaro Amatore, known as Samurai Jay, a 27-year-old rapper and musician from the Naples area, will perform for the first time at the prestigious Sanremo Festival. In the competition of the 76th edition, he will present the song 'Ossessione', which he describes as a healthy obsession, a driving force for growth. The artist, whose previous single 'Halo' achieved gold record status, emphasizes that the mere fact of being on the stage of the Ariston Theatre is a personal victory for him.

Debut on the big stage

Samurai Jay, real name Gennaro Amatore, has been selected for the first time by artistic director Carlo Conti to participate in the 76th Sanremo Festival.

A song about the power of motivation

His competition song 'Ossessione' has a Latin character and is described by the artist as a 'healthy obsession' that motivates him to constantly improve.

Artistic roots and style

Samurai Jay's musical beginnings go back to playing in punk and metal bands. He now combines this 'noise' with Latin melodies, which is his signature style.

Previous commercial success

The artist gained popularity with the single 'Halo', which achieved gold record certification and was streamed over 70 million times on streaming services.

Samurai Jay, a Neapolitan rapper and multi-instrumentalist, will take the stage at the Ariston Theatre on Saturday, marking his debut in the 76th edition of the Sanremo Festival. The artist, whose real name is Gennaro Amatore, was born in 1998 in Mugnano di Napoli. For the competition, he submitted the song 'Ossessione', characterizing it as a song about motivation and the positive power of striving for a goal. „'Ossessione' è un'ossessione sana, la spinta che ti porta ad andare avanti e a fare meglio” ('Ossessione' is a healthy obsession, the push that makes you go forward and do better.) — Samurai Jay. His style, described by the media as the 'Latin soul' and 'reggaeton quota' of this year's festival, will bring a distinct Latin accent to the competition. For the 27-year-old artist, qualifying for Sanremo is a dream come true, and he considers it his greatest success to date. „Arrivare all'Ariston è già una vittoria” (Just getting to the Ariston is already a victory.) — Samurai Jay. His musical journey began with playing guitar in punk and metal bands, which, as he admits, shaped his taste and allowed him to appreciate the contrast between aggressive sound and pure melody. His current stage project, in which he is accompanied by two guitarists, aims primarily at having fun and making music together, often turning into spontaneous, collective karaoke. The Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo, held continuously since 1951, is the oldest and one of the most important music competitions in Italy. Its winners often represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the festival itself has set trends and launched stars of Italian popular music for decades. Before the festival, Samurai Jay is already recognizable thanks to the huge success of the single 'Halo', which achieved gold record status and surpassed 70 million streams on streaming services. In media interviews, the artist emphasizes that at Sanremo he represents 'music made with lightness', and in case of victory, he would fulfill a promise to take his family on a cruise. The Italian news agency ANSA also mentions audience anticipation for a potential duet between the artist and trumpeter Roy Paci and singer Belen, although details of this performance have not yet been officially confirmed by the organizers.

Mentioned People

  • Samurai Jay (Gennaro Amatore) — Italian rapper and songwriter, debutant at the 76th Sanremo Festival.
  • Carlo Conti — Artistic director of the 76th Sanremo Festival, who selected Samurai Jay to participate.
  • Roy Paci — Italian trumpeter, with whom Samurai Jay may perform a duet during the festival.
  • Belen — Italian singer, mentioned as a potential participant in a duet with Samurai Jay.