Top 5 (Lyrical) Reality Checks

Suggested by Big Hass

Real Arab hip-hop artists that don’t forget the street.

Egypt: With his mellow, direct style Deeb’s social commentary goes straight to the heart of popular issues. He affectionately mixes folklore with a modern political message of equality.

Palestine/UK: Shadia Mansour matches strength with grace to make an unflinching stand for her people and culture. Her fierceness in calling out hypocrisy is layered with a soulful wake-up call for change.

Iraq/Candada: The Narcicyst is a humanist in lyrical clothing. He mixes global issues with local faces, weaving a sweeping spiritual questioning about Arab and Muslim values into his witty tracks.

Lebanon: El Rass is a poet of defiant ironies backed by relentless rhythms. He orchestrates lushly packed lyrics that push stinging visions, and his intelligence is liberating.

Palestine/USA: Suheir Hammad is a spoken-word poet with coolly electrifying elocution. Suave and tough, she delivers dagger-sharp points while praising the ties that bind.