Snapshots
You're familiar with the reels and the rhythm. No doubt you're thinking of Flipperachi's Fa9la, the Arabic hip-hop single that Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar helped spread like wildfire. The song serves as a backdrop score to the riveting performance of Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait in the Ranveer Singh–starring film, which is further enhanced by his spontaneous, on-the-go dancing. If you've been listening to this song nonstop—we dare you to deny it—we have the perfect playlist for you.
The rise of Arabic hip hop
One benefit of modern technologies and the spread of globalisation is the increased worldwide diversity and accessibility of hip-hop. There has been a long tradition of oral storytelling in the Middle East, and the people who live there have plenty to say, both for and against the developing hip-hop culture.
Arab hip-hop artists create hybrid works by fusing the grit and bravado of rap with distinctively Arab features; this fusion has won them millions of fans and views worldwide. Consequently, regional streaming behemoth Anghami recently revealed statistics showing a consistent increase in Arabic hip-hop streams over the past year, with the genre ranking as the third most popular "vibe" on the platform in 2019.
Fa9la by Hussam Aseem
The Bahraini rapper Flipperachi, whose real name is Hussam Aseem, is widely considered to have one of the most promising voices in Arab hip-hop, and his song "Flipperachi" has gone viral, flooding social media with its infectious melody and catchy hooks. With a career that started in 2003, Flipperachi is renowned for his successful songs such as Ee Laa, Shino AlKalam Hatha, Shoofha, and Nayda. In 2024, he won the 'Bahraini Artist of the Year' award.
Shashwat Sachdev, the film's composer, used Fa9la, a piece he composed in 2024, to build the mood for the seductively dangerous Rehman Dakait. It is one of the best trending Arabic songs!
Danger by Felukah
The bossa nova and heartfelt bars of Felukah, who was born in Cairo, have been making ripples, and Yansoon is no exception. Sara El Messiry, better known as the rapper first appeared on the scene in 2018 with her debut extended play (EP). Since then, she has released two studio albums, Dream 23 and further singles. Multiculturalism, plurality, and self-empowerment are some of the themes explored in the music of the 22-year-old, who is skilled at converting between English and Arabic mid-sentence. Felukah is an inspiration since she is one of the few female Arab hip-hop artist! Yansoon is one of the best trending Arabic songs! If you like R&B- check out Danger by this artist for the perfect chill vibe!
Trap Beldi by Issam
One of the most prominent figures in Morocco's trap scene, Issam Harris (aka ISSAM), discovered Young Thug on a SoundCloud playlist and was immediately captivated by the music and its rapping style. The 27-year-old made a name for himself with the viral hit "Trap Beldi" (which has amassed well over 15 million views on YouTube). Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences in Morocco, he has mastered the art of incorporating modern Moroccan culture into his music and videos. After ISSAM collaborated with several German and American producers and inked the biggest international record deal ever signed by an Arab artist with Universal Music France, he continued to write, record, produce, mix, and direct the majority of the music on his popular YouTube channel. It is one of the most popular Arabic songs right now!
The Teacher by Saad Lamjarred
Sung mostly in Moroccan Arabic (Darija), the popular song by Moroccan artist Saad Lamjarred became the first Arabic song to reach one billion views on YouTube, making it a huge pan-Arab hit. The music video for this song—which translates to "The Master" or "The Teacher"—has 1.2 billion views on YouTube and has become a cultural phenomenon all by itself.
C'est la vie by Khaled
Every dance party has Cheb Khaled's addictive single C'est la vie, which is based on Arabic music, particularly Algerian Raï. Its infectious French chorus and contemporary electronic pop sound combine with significant Arabic lyrics (Algerian dialect) in its verses to create an earworm that will not soon be forgotten.
Taally Maak, by Amr Diab
In this year's Ba***ds of Bollywood, Aryan Khan's campy Netflix series, Parvaiz (Raghav Juyal) sang the Hindi version of the song "Kaho Na Kaho" from the movie Murder to Emraan Hashmi, which was based on the popular Arabic pop ballad "Deep, Unwavering Devotion and Intense Longing" from 2000. This is OG Arabic music at its finest!
Ejaza by TooDope
The Sudanese rapper TooDope was born Tayeb Hajo. He grew up in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Sudan. Eventually, he moved back to Sudan. His most recent work, a bilingual collaborative EP with fellow Sudanese rapper roTation, features four tracks that mix dancehall, old school jazz, trap, and R&B influences; he is known to experiment with different styles. The EP was published during lockdown. Rapper and co-founder of the hip-hop venture YoungJutus, located in Khartoum, Sudan, has become well-known for his frank discussions of modern Sudanese life; songs like "Ejaza" celebrate the resiliency and fortitude of the Sudanese people.