Standing L-R: Francesca Mauri, Gianluca Guido, Claudio Ferrante (Mace’s manager), Pico Cibelli, Mace, Marco Masoli, Eleonora Rubini, Sara Daniele Sitting L-R: Mario Canu (Mace’s management), Filippo Pardini, Leonardo Luan, Riccardo Primavera
Warner Music Italy has announced the signing of acclaimed producer and DJ, MACE, also known as Simone Benussi.
MACE’s influence on the Italian hip-hop and electronic music scenes stretches back more than two decades, with production credits on releases from leading artists such as Fabri Fibra, Gemitaiz, Gué, Ghali, Marracash, Noyz Narcos, and Salmo.
MACE has developed a reputation for seamlessly merging diverse genres. His work bridges rap, indie, pop, and electronic music—an approach that has resulted in both critical and commercial success. His debut album, OBE, went three-times Platinum, while his sophomore release MAYA is also Platinum-certified. Additionally, his single “La canzone nostra” topped the Italian singles chart for seven weeks consecutively and has been certified six-times Platinum.
Reflecting on his new deal with Warner Music Italy, MACE shared, “Pico and his team are the best in the business and truly understand my vision. They’ll empower me to create new projects that fans old and new will live, so I’m excited to get started on this new chapter of my career and create some world-class music.”
Pico Cibelli, President of Warner Music Italy, praised the producer’s enduring creative impact, commenting, “MACE’s beats have been the backbone for many artists in the Italian hip-hop and electronic scene for decades, so it’s a joy to announce that he’s signed with Warner Music Italy. We’re going to hit the ground running in building on his successful artist career and take his music to the world stage.”
MACE began producing in 1999 and became widely known after forming the duo La Crème with rapper Jack the Smoker. Their 2013 album, L’Alba, is widely regarded as a landmark release in Italian rap. In 2007, he co-founded the Milanese club night and creative collective RESET!, which evolved into a group of promoters, DJs, and producers and garnered international acclaim. RESET! released music on labels including Cheap Thrills, Southern Fried, Dim Mak, and Ministry of Sound Australia.
MACE’s musical style, while rooted in hip-hop and electronic music, is driven by experimentation. He is known for blending rap, electronic, and psychedelic elements, often integrating both samples and live musicians. Albums like OBE highlight his freeform approach and his collaborations with both rappers and contemporary soul and jazz musicians.
