Dario Garofalo, professionally known as Maria Duluoz, Maria Duluoz X, Duluoz, or simply M, has emerged as one of the most intriguing figures in the underground rap scene. Born February 28, 1984, in Rome, Italy, this rapper and singer-songwriter has cultivated a unique sound that bridges European and American hip-hop traditions while maintaining an uncompromising independent spirit.

Early Beginnings: A Young Voice in Rome’s Underground

Maria Duluoz’s journey into music began remarkably early. By age 12, he was already circulating rap tapes throughout Rome’s public schools, with his signature road-trip themed tracks gaining grassroots popularity among young listeners. This precocious start laid the foundation for what would become a career defined by authenticity and cultural boundary-crossing.

His formative years were spent moving between Bologna, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and New Jersey, United States—an international upbringing that would profoundly influence his musical perspective and sound. This multicontinental experience gave M a unique vantage point, allowing him to absorb and synthesize diverse musical traditions.

Rome’s Underground Scene: Building a Foundation

Throughout his career, Maria became deeply embedded in some of Rome’s most influential musical circles, including Corto Circuito, Pescheria, and Fanfulla. These venues and communities served as incubators for his artistic development, where he steadily built a dedicated following through live performances and digital platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud.

The Collective Era: Schema Posse to Desert Of The Sixxx

Maria’s collaborative spirit led him to co-found a rap collective with Massachusetts rapper Kvthrvt, an artist connected to the Jgrxxn/Schema/GBC/LilPeep scene. Together, they led the $chema $ociety a Schemaposse b-team, which emphasized diversity and inclusivity within the underground rap community. The collective was later rebranded as The Fallen Goth (TFG).

Despite the group’s eventual disbandment due to internal conflicts, its impact on the underground scene was undeniable. The collective’s influence was substantial enough that many original members eventually reunited under new banners—first as Arizona’s Desert Of The Sixxx, then as D3dboyz based in Los Angeles, California. Throughout these transformations, M remained a central leadership figure, helping establish these collectives as prominent forces in the West and Southwest US underground scene, with influence extending into Europe.

Cultural Impact Beyond Music

Maria Duluoz’s influence extends beyond his music into visual culture and media. His merchandise, particularly his graffiti art and stickers, has achieved unexpected mainstream recognition. Major news outlets have purchased his designs, which became bestsellers and were featured in investigative journalism pieces about organized crime and secret societies written by internationally renowned journalists.

In a remarkable testament to his cultural reach, M’s work contributed to a journalist winning the prestigious Premio Giustolisi in 2018, with the resulting articles climbing global sales charts. This intersection of underground art and serious journalism demonstrates M’s ability to transcend traditional artistic boundaries.

Musical Style: A Transatlantic Fusion

Maria Duluoz’s sound represents a sophisticated blend of New York City rap, trap, and various underground styles ranging from aggressive to upbeat and melodic. His musical palette draws from both coasts of American hip-hop while maintaining distinctly European sensibilities.

His influences are notably diverse, citing the Beat Generation in literature alongside contemporary rap artists like Suicide Boys and Bones (Team Sesh). This combination of literary inspiration and both East Coast and West Coast rap traditions informs his approach to independent music-making and cultural influence—creating art that shifts perspectives while remaining true to underground values.

Seven Weeks: A Breakthrough Moment

In August 2024, Maria released his third mixtape, “Seven Weeks“, a project that showcases his stylistic versatility while exploring themes of life’s dualities and revolutionary impulses. The album quickly gained traction, accumulating significant streams on Spotify within weeks of release.

The mixtape featured standout tracks including:

– “He fell in luv with a dedboi”

– “Gayhli”

– “Supreme life manners”

These songs charted on SoundCloud and generated momentum for subsequent releases like “Gayhli no week (Yg Marley diss)”, “Diesel no week”, and “Oh gothboi”, which became instant underground hits.

Discography: A Growing Body of Work

Maria Duluoz’s catalog demonstrates consistent creative output and evolution:

– “Darkday 8/12” (EP, 2025)

– “Seven Weeks” (Mixtape, 2024)

– “Woto” (Mixtape, 2022)

– “Silent Night” (Mixtape, 2021)

Each release has contributed to his reputation for honest, authentic music that resonates deeply with underground listeners who value artistic integrity over commercial considerations.

Legacy and Influence

Maria Duluoz has established himself as what many consider a street-cult figure—an artist whose influence operates primarily through grassroots channels and word-of-mouth rather than traditional media coverage. This underground authenticity has made him highly influential among artists and listeners who prioritize independence and cultural authenticity.

His success demonstrates that in the digital age, artists can build significant careers and cultural impact without compromising their artistic vision or conforming to mainstream expectations. By maintaining creative control and staying true to his underground roots while spanning continents, M has created a template for the truly independent artist in contemporary hip-hop.

Conclusion

Maria Duluoz represents a new generation of hip-hop artists who refuse to be confined by geography, genre, or commercial pressures. His journey from distributing tapes in Roman schools to leading influential collectives across two continents illustrates the power of authentic artistic vision combined with collaborative spirit. As he continues to release music and expand his cultural footprint, Maria Duluoz stands as a testament to the enduring vitality of underground hip-hop culture in the 21st century.