By Micaela Villani | Rap District
Three nights at Fabrique, seven sold-out dates across Italy and an album rooted in family, identity and the meaning of success. With MIRIA, 22SIMBA is taking his story beyond the boundaries of the Italian rap scene, bringing the boy from Saronno back to the place where his journey has grown.
In This Article
From Saronno to the Italian urban scene
The journey behind the name 22SIMBA
From V per Ventidue to La Cura: the rise of a new voice
MIRIA: an album dedicated to his grandmother
Three nights at Fabrique: the Milan dates and the sold-out Italian tour
From Saronno to the Italian Urban Scene: Who Is 22SIMBA?
In a music industry increasingly driven by streaming numbers, viral moments and high-profile collaborations, 22SIMBA has built his identity around something far more personal: his own story. Born Andrea Meazza in 2002 and raised in Saronno, in the province of Varese, the Italian rapper has emerged as one of the most distinctive voices of the new urban generation. His music moves between rap and melodic influences, combining raw honesty, emotional vulnerability and autobiographical storytelling.
Rather than building his image around an artificial persona, Meazza has consistently drawn inspiration from his experiences, relationships and the environment in which he grew up. His lyrics often explore the contradictions of growing up, the pressure of ambition, personal struggles and the desire to find a place in the world.
His artistic name also carries a deeper meaning. The number 22 is a tribute to Cranio Randagio, the Italian rapper who passed away at just 21 years old. A gesture of remembrance that gives his identity an additional layer, connecting his artistic journey to the legacy of someone who left a mark on the Italian underground scene.
His relationship with music began early. At just thirteen, he started experimenting with rap, discovering a form of expression that would eventually become much more than a passion. What began as an instinctive approach to writing gradually developed into a recognisable musical language, shaped by personal experiences and a determination to make his voice heard.
The Journey Behind the Success: From Per i Roiz to the Major Labels
22SIMBA's rise did not happen overnight. His first official releases arrived in 2021, with tracks including Amore 1, Meriti, Extraurbane and Mama. However, it was particularly through Per i Roiz and Ventidue that he began attracting attention within the emerging Italian trap scene.
His sound stood out for its combination of acoustic elements, melodic arrangements and an intense vocal delivery, often moving between singing and almost shouted rap. It was an approach that reflected the emotional urgency of his writing and helped establish a distinctive identity.
As his audience grew, collaborations became an important part of his artistic development. Tracks such as Spoiler and Spoiler 2 with Niky Savage, 20 Anni with Silent Bob and Million Dollar with Big P contributed to expanding his presence within the Italian urban landscape.
A significant turning point arrived on 31 May 2024 with Isolamento di gruppo, his first EP released under a major-label deal. In the same year, Amazon Music selected him among its three Breakthrough artists for 2024, further recognising his growing potential.
On 9 May 2025, he released V per Ventidue, his first official studio album for Warner Music Italy. The project included collaborations such as Speranza with Diss Gacha and Old Fashion with Promessa and Flaco G, marking another important step in his evolution.
His next chapter arrived with La Cura, released on 3 October 2025. The EP became a major milestone in his career, eventually achieving Platinum certification. Among its most significant tracks was Fanculo, featuring Marracash, which received Gold certification and introduced 22SIMBA to an even wider audience.
The collaboration also led him to share the stage with one of the most influential figures in Italian rap during the Marra Palazzi25 show at Milan's Unipol Forum. It was another important moment for an artist who, despite his growing recognition, continued to draw much of his creative identity from his origins.
In January 2026, La Cura, in nome di Miria expanded the original project with two previously unreleased tracks, including Girasole featuring Rkomi and 2022 Freestyle. The name that would soon become central to his next artistic chapter was already taking shape.
MIRIA: More Than an Album, a Return to His Roots
In May 2026, following a sold-out performance at Fabrique in Milan, 22SIMBA announced his next major project. The announcement marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that would ultimately become the most personal release of his career.
On 18 September 2026, MIRIA arrived as his second official studio album: an 18-track project featuring some of the most prominent names in contemporary Italian rap, including Guè, Tedua, Sayf, Paky, Promessa and 18K.
But the title is perhaps the most important detail.
Miria is the name of Andrea Meazza's grandmother, a central figure in his life and the emotional foundation of the entire record. Rather than simply dedicating an album to a family member, 22SIMBA uses her name to explore the distance between the world he comes from and the one he is now building for himself.
As he explained while presenting the project, the album is deeply connected to his need to remember where he started. His grandmother represents a different understanding of happiness: a life built around simplicity, genuine relationships and the value of everyday moments.
The record unfolds across three distinct acts, each representing a different stage of his personal and artistic journey:
Act 1 – Arricchiti: ambition, material success and the desire to achieve more.
Act 2 – Miria: the emotional heart of the project, centred on family, memories and the values that shaped him.
Act 3 – Provinciali: a return to his origins, exploring identity, belonging and the relationship with the place he calls home.
The three chapters create a narrative that goes beyond the traditional structure of a rap album. At its centre is a question that becomes increasingly relevant as an artist grows: what happens when you finally achieve the things you once dreamed of, only to realise that success alone cannot give you everything you are looking for?
The visual symbol accompanying the project is the Tree of Life, an image that perfectly reflects its central message. Its roots represent family, memory and belonging, while its branches suggest growth, ambition and the possibility of reaching new horizons without losing sight of where everything began.
Musically and conceptually, MIRIA represents a significant evolution for 22SIMBA. The collaborations with established artists such as Guè and Tedua place him firmly within the contemporary Italian rap conversation, but the emotional direction of the album remains unmistakably his own.
The response has been equally significant. MIRIA debuted at the top of the FIMI Album chart, reaching the top positions across the Album, CD, Vinyl and Cassette rankings. It subsequently achieved Gold certification, confirming the strong connection between the project and its audience.
For 22SIMBA, however, the real achievement may be something less measurable: creating a record that speaks about success while questioning what success actually means.
Three Nights at Fabrique: Milan Welcomes 22SIMBA Back Home
There is something particularly meaningful about Milan being at the centre of the next chapter of 22SIMBA's career.
Although his story begins in Saronno, the Milanese area has always been an important part of his artistic identity. It is the territory from which his music emerged, the environment that helped shape his perspective and the place where his relationship with an increasingly large audience continues to develop.
Following the announcement of MIRIA at Fabrique in May, the demand for the live shows quickly grew. What initially began with a limited number of concert dates developed into a seven-date Italian club tour, with additional performances added along the way.
The Milan dates are particularly impressive: 22SIMBA will take over Fabrique for three consecutive nights on 15, 16 and 17 November 2026, with every show already sold out.
Three evenings at the same venue represent a significant achievement for an artist who has built his career through a combination of independent beginnings, consistent releases and a deeply personal connection with his listeners.
But Milan is only the beginning.
The MIRIA LIVE TOUR will continue across Italy, bringing the new album to some of the country's most important live venues. All seven dates have officially sold out, confirming the anticipation surrounding this new chapter.
22SIMBA – MIRIA LIVE TOUR 2026
15 November 2026 – Milano, Fabrique – SOLD OUT
16 November 2026 – Milano, Fabrique – SOLD OUT
17 November 2026 – Milano, Fabrique – SOLD OUT
18 November 2026 – Firenze, Teatro Cartiere Carrara – SOLD OUT
20 November 2026 – Padova, Gran Teatro Geox – SOLD OUT
22 November 2026 – Roma, Atlantico Live – SOLD OUT
29 November 2026 – Venaria Reale (Turin), Teatro della Concordia – SOLD OUT
Seven dates, seven sold-out venues and an audience ready to experience the world of MIRIA beyond the streaming platforms.
The Boy from Saronno Has Not Forgotten Where He Comes From
At a time when much of the Italian rap scene is constantly looking towards the next chart position, viral moment or international collaboration, 22SIMBA is taking a slightly different direction. His latest project is built around a simple but powerful idea: the further you go, the more important it becomes to remember where you started.
With V per Ventidue, he demonstrated his ability to establish himself within the major-label landscape. With La Cura, he strengthened his position through collaborations with some of the biggest names in Italian rap and experiences on major stages. Now, with MIRIA, he has taken another step, putting his own identity and personal history at the centre of the conversation.
The seven sold-out dates of the upcoming tour are more than just an impressive commercial result. They reflect the relationship he has developed with an audience that recognises something familiar in his music: the uncertainty of growing up, the pressure to succeed, the importance of family and the complicated relationship between ambition and belonging.
Andrea Meazza is still the boy from Saronno who found in music a way to translate his experiences into words. The difference is that those words now reach thousands of people across Italy.
And perhaps that is what makes MIRIA such an important moment in his career. It is not simply an album about his grandmother, nor just another step towards a bigger stage. It is a reminder that personal identity can remain the strongest foundation of an artist, even when everything around them changes.
The Tree of Life is therefore more than a visual reference: it captures the entire philosophy behind the record. Strong roots, new branches and the freedom to grow without forgetting the ground beneath your feet.
On 15, 16 and 17 November, Fabrique will become the meeting point between those roots and everything 22SIMBA has built since. Three sold-out nights in Milan, and another chapter in the story of a boy who never stopped looking back to understand how far he could go.
