Today's show is all about Arabic hip hop, one of the most popular and misunderstood genres in the Middle East. Arabic is a poetic language, so it works perfectly for rap music, conveying complicated ideas in short, straight-to-the-point verses. So why is it that people dismiss Arabic hip hop as a Western imitation?
The artists featured on host Yvonne Saba's playlist are all popular thanks to their wordplay on social issues, politics, and much more. They do not promote terrorism, as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s latest campaign video would have you believe; the Likud party has used the music of Torabyeh, a Jordan-based Palestinian rap group, in its controversial video showing a group of ISIS fighters stopping to ask for directions to Jerusalem - they are told to 'go left.' The band plans to take legal action against the use of their music in this context.
Playlist:
JMR - Wild Hibiscus
Alaa Wardi ft. Dima Bawab - Chandelier (Sia cover)
Tawasul - Rebel Rhymes
Asfalt ft. Mostafa & Menna - Kolo Bytla3 Fil Ghaseel
Torabyeh ft. Husam Abed - Ghorbah
Dam - I’m Not A Traitor
System Ali - Building The House Anew
El Nargisee ft. Tamer Nafar & Mahmoud Jrere - Hamilth Hilo / Bittersweet
Abojar - Solution
Heartbeat - Take My Hand
