Tag: arab heritage month

Tune In to the Hottest Arabic Playlists Spotify Editors Curate for the World

April 26, 2023

No matter where you live, music has the power to transport you home. And for those living apart from their extended families and places of origin, that feeling of preserving the culture of their roots is vital. 

“Music has always been a way to connect with my Arab culture and heritage,” said Amena Elmashni, a product designer at Spotify and leader of the Arabs@ employee belonging group. “With my living in the diaspora, Arabic music transports me back to familiar places and experiences, and helps me feel a sense of belonging to my cultural identity.” 

In honor of Arab Heritage Month, we took a spin through the varied and vibrant sounds of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with our music editors from the region. 

MENA to the world

Riyad Sansoul, an editor for the Gulf and Levant regions, walked For the Record through the major MENA playlists that combine music from the many countries across the area. “Hot Arabic Hits – Yalla يلا is a playlist that represents the musical pulse of the region, enabling fans everywhere to stay up to date with the hottest charting Arabic hits,” he said. “It covers music from across the countries in the region and is meant for both diaspora listeners and those in the MENA region.”

Riyad explained the many genre-specific playlists that exist for followers of Arab music, including Arab Hip-Hop, which covers the hip-hop scene from across the region and updates on a monthly basis with a new cover and refreshed tracklist. mint نعنع is the home for deejays from the region. Fresh Finds Arabia enables Spotify to spotlight up-and-coming independent artists and help them get their music exported globally, and our EQUAL Arabia program spotlights the women of Arabic music, giving them a platform where they can shine. 

Riyad also recommends Arab X, which supports Arab artists who make music in any language that is not Arabic, such as English or French; Arab Love Songs, since Arabs love love; Arab Party Jams, which is your go-to if you need a 101 in what Arabs play at house parties and weddings; and Arabic Coffee, for when you just want to sit and take in the day—alone or with a friend—while sipping on your coffee. 

A musical tour of the region, west to east

Each country and region within MENA also has its own distinct sound, and with it, playlists that exemplify the very best of what the region has to offer. 

Hot Hits Maghreb keeps the diaspora audience of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria in mind as it  celebrates the key culture and music moments that bring Maghreb together. “The world cup has had a profound impact on music consumption in the diaspora, especially since Morocco’s wins. This playlist enables artists to dig deeper into the Maghreb artists beyond the mainstays whom everyone knew before,” shared Maghreb editor Mehdi Zim.  

The most popular playlists in Egypt include التوب, aka Hot Egyptian Hits, which has a mix of back catalog and new releases—whatever people are listening to right now. Melouk El Scene, which we held a massive campaign for last year, is purely for the Egyptian hip-hop genre and translates to “Rap Royalty.” “Egyptians love being chill, so I have our chill playlist روقان to accompany the mood,” shared Egypt editor Alaa Ismail. One other notable Egyptian genre, Mahragant, evolved from Shaabi music and incorporates various electronic music elements. Originating from the streets, the genre is known for its high-energy rhythmic beats and distinctive vocal performances. Find the top Mahragant songs on أقوى المهرجانات. 

Our Levant editors cover music from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. They recommend the playlist Fresh Sharqi to stay up to date, noting that it can be a go-to whenever you want to know what’s new from the Levant area. It updates weekly with new Levant releases and whatever is rising. 

“Through Syrian music, I’ve been able to hold on to pieces of home,” noted Ameera Al-shaibani, a software engineer at Spotify and fellow leader of Arabs@. “Syrian artists beautifully weave stories about war, longing, and hope into their melodies. The sounds of Qanun and Ney invoke fond memories of lost summers spent with family on the jasmine-scented balcony of my grandmother’s home in Homs, Syria. Some of my favorite musicians include Maya Youssef, Sabah Fakhri, Lena Chamamyan, and TootArd.”

In the Gulf area (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman), a particular genre has taken shape. شيلات (pronounced as “sheilat”) has evolved from being a performance of poetry to being one of the most popular genres in this part of the region. Its popularity is largely due to its powerful lyrics and heavy percussion that enrich two popular experiences among the youth of the Gulf: desert drifting and gaming.

“From the powerful rhythms of Arabic drums to the poeticism of the lyrics, there’s something immersive about Arabic music that pulls you into a feeling or memory,” noted Dina Zaher, a policy specialist and fellow Arabs@ lead. “Listening to it always brings me back to time spent with my grandparents in Egypt listening to classics like Umm Kulthum or Abdel Halim Hafez;  it keeps my connection to my heritage grounded!”

Head to the Arab hub for Arab music year-round.

7 Artists and Creators to Stream During Arab Heritage Month—and Year Round

April 19, 2019

April marks Arab Heritage Month in the U.S. To celebrate, we’re featuring Arab American artists, comedians, and actors in our key Yalla Araby playlist. We kicked off with a message from comedian Mo Amer, and will be continuing with several other artists and actors, including French Montana, who released the first single to his upcoming new album this week.

Our playlists builds on the excitement of our Arab hub, which unites the full spectrum of Arab audio culture and creativity, past and present, in one place. It launched this past November, with playlists like Women Wa Bas (Arab female artists); ’90s Arabic Hits (big at Arab wedding parties); and Arab Indie (emerging Arabic tracks and artists), to name just a few. Listeners all over the world have used the hub to connect to the music of Arab culture.

Get to know some of the Arab-American creators featured on the playlist. And don’t worry if you can’t get to all of them in one month—their stories and sounds are available to stream year-round.

  1. Bazzi – Bazzi, whose father is Lebanese, learned from a young age to play Arabic instruments such as the oud and guitar. “Growing up with a Lebanese family, you really learn the importance of having a good base,” he says. The singer-songwriter has built a true musical foundation, touring with Camilla Cabello and Justin Timberlake, as well as several K-Pop groups. Stream his “Beautiful” remix featuring Camilla Cabello.
  2. French Montana – The Moroccan-American rapper has collaborated with everyone from Swae Lee to  Drake. “I want to share the things I love the most about my heritage,” he says. “Tajin (a type of stew), baghreer (Moroccan pancakes), karmous (figs), kora’en (sheep legs), and barkook (dried prunes), you know what I’m saying?” Stream his hit, “Unforgettable.”
  3. Mo Amer – “One of my favorite instruments is the tabla,” says Mo. “Tabla gets everyone moving, a little Dabke going on, it can break out at any moment.” He’s toured with Dave Chappelle and Jon Stewart, and now you can check out the Palestinian-American stand-up comedian’s brand-new Netflix special, The Vagabond, which details his life from refugee to citizen.
  4. Abir – The Arab-American singer-songwriter from Fez, Morocco, says, “My Moroccan heritage influences everything I do, from the colors of Morocco to the sounds of Morocco, to the Moroccan mint tea, which is so good, and influenced my last project, Mint. I’m so happy to be celebrating the culture.” Stream her album, Mint.
  5. Massari – Massari is a Canadian-Lebanese singer who is known for combining elements of Western and Arabic culture in his music. He has credited Syrian singer George Wassouf with being a big musical influence. Stream his hit, “Number One.”
  6. Faouzia – This teenage Moroccan-Canadian pop singer has a commanding voice with a rich tone beyond her years. “My heritage has played a huge role in my career,” she says. “When I was younger, my parents would play Arabic music. I’d listen to the artists and push myself to practice the trills and runs that they did with their voices. To this day, I still use these trills and runs in my music.” Stream her hit single, “This Mountain.”
  7. Ramy Youssef – Prepare yourself for the comedian/actor’s debut Hulu series, Ramy, about an Egyptian-American millennial balancing his cultures, faith, family, dating and friendships. Tune in to the first episode, out on Hulu today.

Let’s go – stream Yalla Araby below.