Jovanotti is not considered a rapper but a pop artist who uses rap as an element in his music.
He began his career in 1987 as a DJ on the popular Radio Deejay in Milano. Jovanotti transformed himself from his early recordings geared toward teeny boppers to more socially conscious releases. Jovanotti's early attempts to rap were in English language and were excruciating painful.
His catchy melodic hooks have marked him as an artist who creates what Felice Liperi termed, rap canzonettistico.