Middle Eastern hip hop
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Middle Eastern hip hop is hip hop music and culture originating in the Middle East. It is performed in many languages such as English, local Arabic dialects, Hebrew, Persian, and French. It is highly influenced by American hip hop.
Hip hop music has a high popularity almost everywhere in the Middle East. It is played on radio stations and shown on TV stations, but performing it has begun only recently. Many hip hop groups are still underground, because their views and criticism of politics could lead to government censure. Therefore, the internet has been a major outlet for most groups.
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[edit] Saudi Arabia
The first Saudi Arabian Hip Hop Artist, Qusai aka Don Legend the Kamelion, began singing in the early 90's and released his first solo album, "The Life of a Lost Soul," in May 2002 which included the popular single "Jeddah". After his journey in the United States with "Urban Legacy" and fellow rapper D-Light, he is expected to release a new album in early 2008 with his new group "Jeddah Legends." For more info, check out: (http://www.donlegend.com) (http://www.myspace.com/urbanlegacy)
[edit] Bahrain
In Bahrain, there's DJ Outlaw.
[edit] Egypt
More recent and very popular hip hop performers are MTM from Egypt, who have been using Egyptian Arabic in their songs. JAFFA PHONIX, founded in 2003 by two Palestinian refugees in Egypt, is an electro/hop band using Palestinain Arabic. The Arabian Knightz&Asfalt have also been gaining popularity. Egyptian underground rap is now growing rapidly, due to the feeling of injustice that mainly affects youths in Egypt,There is many underground rappers in egypt (Mc.Amin-Black Bulletz Band-UG Bound Band-Mody Rap-Mc.Vostix-Ismailia Soliderz Band-Ahmed Rock-Hood Boyz) There are two web-sites concerning Egyptian rap, ShababRappers www.shababrappers.com (Means: Youths Rappers) and there is a two rap groups called egyrap school and black bullets who are popular in Egyptian hip-hop/rap society and also you can find a lot of Egyptian rap on www.egyrap.net www.myspace.com/blackbulletz
[edit] Iran
[edit] Iraq
TIMZ is an Iraqi American rapper mostly known for his controversial rap song "Iraq". His debut album "Open for business" is available online. He has gained recognition through his political messages in his music, and he has been featured on Fox News, MTV News, and Al Jazeera and has been nominated for "Best Hip-Hop Album" at the 2006 San Diego Music Awards.
The Narcicyst is a well known Iraqi-Canadian hip hop artist and former frontman to hip hop group Euphrates. Sandhill was also a part of Euphrates, that now produces hip hop beats and often works with The Narcicyst.
[edit] Israel
[edit] Kuwait
There is a popular Kuwaiti hip hop band called Army of One, who perform in English. They released an album called "Reprezentin", in 2006, which received much success around the region. In 2007, their second album was released, which was the first to be released in Kuwait. This was due to the Ministry of Information, which is the one responsible for publicity of T.V and Music Businesses.
There are also many unsigned artists and bands who also perform in English. like HOT-C who's considered to be one of the best unsigned artists in Kuwait. A website dedicated to all underground rappers in Kuwait and from the middle east is www.hiphop-crib.com
[edit] Lebanon
AKS'SER, an Arabic hip-hop group from Lebanon, was formed by two Beirut-based rappers whose music is a discourse about a society marked by civil war. Rayess Bek, one of AKS'SER members, has gone on with a solo career, releasing a widely acclaimed album, Aks'ser was recently signed by EMI. Clotaire K, another Lebanese rapper, recently released an album. Ashekman (Lebanese rap crew) and Clotaire K are also from Lebanon.
[edit] Palestine
Palestinian hip hop supposedly started in 1998 with Tamer Nafar's group DAM. These Palestinian youth forged the new Palestinian musical sub-genre, which blends Arabic melodies and hip hop beats. The group, based in Israel was founded in 1998, and is made up of three Palestinian men (who are also Israeli citizens): Tamer Nafar, his brother Suhell Nafar, and Mahmoud Jrere. The group's name is the Hebrew word for "blood" and the Arabic word for "blood," (دم) but can also be an acronym for "Da Arabic MCs." or Arabic verb for "eternity",(دام) The group's lyrics often deal with the frustration at the feeling of being second class citizens in Israel, as well as other issues familiar to hip-hop fans around the world, including drug-related violence. Despite not having a formal recording contract, DAM's 2001 single "Meen Irhabi? - Who's the Terrorist?" - was downloaded more than a million times from their website. The group has also delivered their message outside Israel and the Palestinian territories on four European tours. DAM's latest single "Born Here" is in Hebrew and they are hoping they can bring the Palestinian message to an Israeli audience. "Arabs already know how they live - we have to educate Israelis on what's going on." On the 17th of November 2006 they released their first album: "Dedication".
Other Palestinian rappers include MWR, DAM, Arapeyat and Jabbar (rapper & producer) [1], the Palestinian Rapperz, the N.O.M.A.D.S [2], and the Philistines [3], and JAFFA PHONIX, founded in 2003 by two Palestinian refugees in Egypt, is an electro/hop band using Palestinain Arabic.
[edit] Other
From other Arab nations, Arab Legion, Iron Sheik, Patriarch Son of a Refugee, Euphrates, h2Z, and Adam A. Shoucair also known as (A.M.A) all.mighty.ameer [4].
Other successful rappers, producers and DJ's of Arabic origin are Cilvaringz (Wu-Tang Clan), DJ Cut Killer (France), DJ Abdel (France), Freeman (IAM), Isam Bachiri (Outlandish), producer Fred Wreck (Snoop Dogg, G-Unit), DJ Lady S (Belgium), and all.mighty.ameer (Detroit). www.palrap.net
[edit] External links
- WWW.HIPHOP-CRIB.COM #1 Middle eastern hiphop website
- شبكة الراب الفلسطيني .. الموقع الرسمي للراب الفلسطيني:
- WwW.ShabaRappers.CoM All About Egyptian Hip-hop More info about Egyptian rappers.
- Official Arabic Rap Website
- The home of amateur Arabic Rappers
- Slingshot Hip Hop - a documentary film on the life of Palestinian rappers living in Gaza
- Rayess Bek Website
- Clotaire K Website
- The Narcicyst of Euphrates official website
- The Narcicyst of Euphrates at MySpace
- Sandhill at MySpace
- The Official Website of Salah Edin
- The Official Website of Arabian Knightz
- Subliminal's label including Shy 360
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