Morad’s life is a constant balance between the stage and the street. On one hand, he is an urban music star, filling venues across Europe and drawing millions of listeners. On the other, he’s a guy from the La Florida neighborhood in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona) who can’t seem to escape legal troubles and police attention. A recent investigation has added a new twist to his biography: a court found that Morad is connected to one of the most dangerous Latin American gangs—Los Trinitarios, considered extremely violent in Catalonia.
On Tuesday, police detained 15 people linked to this gang, which specializes in armed assaults. Their main base is L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. The investigation focused special attention on Fujimori’s barbershop in the La Florida district, which, according to the court, is controlled by Morad (Morad El Khattouti El Hormi) himself. It was here, witness testimony and police surveillance say, that members of Los Trinitarios regularly gathered. Law enforcement carried out a court-ordered search of the establishment.
Morad’s lawyers claim that he does not own the barbershop, although they acknowledge his friendship with some Dominicans who are part of the gang. A protected witness reported that Fujimori’s serves as a headquarters not only for Los Trinitarios but also for the MDLR group, which brings together Dominicans and Moroccans and of which Morad is allegedly a member. The rapper actively uses the MDLR abbreviation (mec de la rue—meaning ‘guy from the street’) as his brand, selling clothing with this logo.
Accusations and Denials
According to case files, Morad allegedly assisted Los Trinitarios with hashish supplies. However, the defense firmly denies any involvement of the artist in drug trafficking. Morad is not among those detained and is not considered a suspect in the case. Lawyers emphasize that if investigators had real evidence, the rapper would have already been arrested. His name has come up in previous investigations against the gang, but without any consequences for him.
The current investigation by the L’Hospitalet court involves six new incidents linked to violent attacks carried out by Los Trinitarios from February to August 2025. In one of these cases, Morad’s name is also mentioned, but only indirectly.
Musical rivalries
On the night of June 25, 2025, rapper Kerlin Yubendi M., known as TheBlon02, was returning from the Can Vidalet studio on a scooter. He noticed he was being followed and says he connects this to having released a “tiradera”—a track aimed at Morad. TheBlon02 claims he started getting threats on social media afterwards and believes this led to the attack.
That night, he was ambushed by leaders of Los Trinitarios. One of them, nicknamed Vegeta, drew a gun and shot TheBlon02 in the leg. The victim managed to escape on his scooter and was then hospitalized. He also reported that the brother of one of the attackers is closely connected with Morad and had threatened him via Instagram. Morad’s defense insists the rapper has no connection to the attack, calling the conflict a personal feud between two artists.
Legal troubles
The lyrics of TheBlon02 do not mention Morad directly, though there are lines about striving for success and clashing with the police. Morad himself was recently detained for violating a restraining order against his stepfather, whom he accused of mistreating his mother. His relationship with the L’Hospitalet police remains tense: in 2024 alone, he accepted a two-year prison sentence for an incident during a video shoot in the Blocs Florida neighborhood, where he began his career.
In April, Morad spent several months in jail for traffic violations—the sentence was short, but the prosecution refused to reduce it due to repeat offenses. In October, the court lifted his ban on visiting his home neighborhood and closed the case regarding incitement to riot.
For reference, Morad (Morad El Khattouti El Hormi) is one of the most prominent figures on the Spanish urban scene. His tracks regularly top the charts, and his concerts draw thousands of fans. The MDLR brand he created has become a symbol for many young people from disadvantaged areas. Despite frequent run-ins with the law, Morad continues to perform actively and release new music, remaining a visible figure in Spain’s music and public life.
