Tag: arab hip-hop

Toast Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary With Our Special Playlist Hub, Murals, Animated Shorts, and More

August 3, 2023

Fifty years ago, hip-hop was born in the Bronx. And today, it continues to influence music and culture on a global scale. To celebrate this massive milestone over the next month, we’re creating murals in some of hip-hop’s biggest capitals, giving fans a personalized hip-hop listening experience with our DJ, and releasing a series of animated shorts. But to kick off the festivities, we’re launching the Hip-Hop Turns 50 hub.

Highlighting the contributions of hip-hop’s greats, this special destination will live on-platform over the next month and house more than 40 global playlists that reflect the various eras, regions, and trends that have shaped the genre over the last half-century. This includes many of our top data-driven and editorially curated playlists, as well as dedicated shelves for the 50 most-streamed rappers and hip-hop albums on Spotify. 

“We wanted to acknowledge the anniversary in more than one way. Three months ago, we kicked off conversations on social media with our Top 50 Hip-Hop lists and are now showcasing how hip-hop’s and Spotify’s history intersects,” said Carl Chery, Creative Director, Head of Urban Music, Spotify. “Throughout August, we’re paying homage to some of the artists that paved the way in their own cities with murals and billboards, creating an animated shorts series narrated by artists, and built out a destination on platform that features a variety of playlists from around the world. Stay tuned for more—here’s to the next 50″

Fans can dive into the best hip-hop songs of each decade with special curations for the ’80s, ’90s, ’00s, and ’10s, as well as the ’20s, where listeners can tune in to RapCaviar, our flagship hip-hop playlist, to find the best of hip-hop today. As part of the global hip-hop shelf—which features playlists like Spotify Italy’s Plus Ultra, Spotify India’s Rap 91, Spotify Korea’s KrOWN, Spotify U.K.’s Who We Be, the Spotify Middle East’s Arab Hip-Hop, and Spotify Philippines’ Kayle Hip-Hop—we’re showcasing the hottest, freshest, and most diverse hip-hop sounds being created around the world.

We’re also revisiting some of our editors’ top picks through our 50 years of hip-hop shelf, which features episodes from podcasts like the New York Times’s Popcast and Fab 5 Freddy’s 50 Years of Hip-Hop, as well as Spotify Originals like The RapCaviar Podcast, Dissect, The Ringer Music Show, and Nas and Miss Info’s The Bridge. 

You can check out more of For the Record’s hip-hop content from over the years by visiting our special Hip-Hop Turns 50 hub. 

Spotify celebrates in hip-hop’s biggest meccas

To honor some of hip-hop’s biggest game changers, Spotify is collaborating with illustrator and image-maker Raj Dhunna to design large-scale murals and billboards. These pieces will put a spotlight on artists in their respective hometowns and depict the ways rap’s most influential sounds spread from region to region. 

In New York, Spotify will unveil a mural acknowledging the history of drill as it grew from its origins in Chicago with legends like Chief Keef, and expanded into London and Brooklyn with artists like 808 Melo and Pop Smoke. A second mural will spotlight the impact of women in hip-hop and feature icons like Lil’ Kim and Cardi B. 

In Atlanta, Raj will create a mural that celebrates the evolution of trap music, which was pioneered by Atlanta’s own T.I. and cultivated into a global phenomenon by artists like New York’s Arcángel.

Raj’s designs will also appear on billboards in Miami and Los Angeles. The L.A. billboard will feature Dr. Dre and Mustard, two of the city’s musical titans, with a tagline that reads “Long live the West Coast sound. Hip-hop is everywhere.” The Miami billboard, meanwhile, will pay tribute to the provocative sounds of the region’s most influential women rap acts.

Spotify will also commemorate hip-hop’s growth in Mexico and pay homage to its current and foundational artists with a mural that features over 15 Mexican hip-hop artists, including Akwid, Cartel de Santa, Santa Fe Klan, and Gera Mx.

The party continues

In addition to the on-platform destinations and custom murals, our AI-powered DJ will provide expert hip-hop commentary all month long on Spotify, supplying aficionados with cultural context about musical legends and retracing how hip-hop has grown through history.

To close out the month, Spotify will debut editorially curated animated shorts that underscore hip-hop’s influence in over nine countries, featuring narrations from artists. 

Our celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary will let fans discover and connect with artists of the past, present, and future. But this is only the start. Stay tuned for updates throughout the month as we commemorate one of the most beloved genres in the world. 

Hit play on our flagship RapCaviar playlist and discover the artists who are making their mark in hip-hop’s history books. 

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.

Spotify’s New SAWTIK Initiative Shines a Light on Emerging Arab Women in Music

November 17, 2020

From Umm Kulthum to Latifa, Arab female artists have played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s music. The goal of Spotify’s new SAWTIK initiative is to re-ignite the flame and help the next generation of female creators carry the torch. 

While SAWTIK is Spotify’s inaugural women-in-music initiative for the region, it’s not the first time we’ve worked to help creators and promote diversity. Spotify’s Equalizer Project highlights female and non-binary creators in the Nordic music industry, and Sound Up supports podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds in the U.S., UK and Ireland, Germany, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil. Now, with SAWTIK, we are extending our efforts to female artists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

SAWTIK means “your voice” in Arabic, and with the initiative, Spotify is hoping to raise the voices of female artists in the region, making it easier for labels and fans to uncover these talented stars. Through education, networking, and on- and off-platform marketing support, these artists will have a chance to shine like never before as fans are introduced to the rich and diverse music they have to offer.

First, to see what the experience was like for women in the region’s music industry, Spotify partnered with Nielsen, a global data and insights company, to conduct market research with artists, listeners, and music experts. We also sent a separate, anonymous survey to MENA-based music labels. The results helped us better understand the landscape and the type of support these artists needed.

For example, the Nielsen insights showed that in MENA, 60% of aspiring female artists feel stigmatized for pursuing a career in music. Those who do choose to move into the industry have a hard time finding label support. In fact, responses from MENA-based music labels showed that female artists make up less than 13% of label signings in the past five years. There is, however, hope for a brighter future—that same survey showed that 86% of the labels agree that there is a demand for Arab female artists; it’s just that finding this talent remains a challenge. 

“As an Arab female artist myself, I have witnessed how difficult it is to pursue a career in music,” shares Lynn Fattouh, Spotify Consumer Marketing Manager in Middle East and Africa. “Our journey to create a more inclusive creative ecosystem in MENA’s music industry has just begun, and we hope that these initial steps and actions will help push these conversations forward and lead to positive and lasting changes for female creators.”

To celebrate the arrival of SAWTIK, Spotify launched a regional campaign highlighting the musical and cultural contribution of female artists through a series of activities and experiences, including female artists taking over the covers of 18 flagship playlists, such as Arab X and Arab Hip-Hop. Each of these playlists will lead with a song by a female creator. Listeners will also get to know these women through our digital billboards in Cairo, Casablanca, Amman, and Riyadh. 

How American Hip-Hop Culture Inspired Today’s Breakout Saudi Rappers

December 9, 2019

Hip-hop has proven to be one of music’s most customizable and popular genres around the world, with both beats and bars that reflect the unique characteristics of an artist’s background. In this series, we’ll follow the genre around the world, showcasing how hip-hop has been brought to life in different regions, countries, and cultures.

A major turning point in Saudi Arabia’s hip-hop culture came with 2007’s Hip Hop Na (“Our Hip-Hop”), a rap-centered talent search co-hosted by Saudi rapper Qusai Kheder, a.k.a. Qusai. The show lent an American Idol-esque accessibility to the region’s up-and-coming players, culminating in a grand finale in Dubai.

“Hip Hop Na boosted the art of hip-hop majorly,” says Kheder, who’s been dubbed “The Godfather of Saudi Hip-Hop.” “It exposed and connected the talent around the region. It was the first flagship hip-hop show in the Middle East.”

Kheder, who discovered hip-hop through American rappers 2Pac and LL Cool J, has released three albums, as well as a wealth of singles and EPs. His 2009 track “Any Given Day” is an anthem of self-empowerment, with verses in English and the chorus in Arabic, as well as samples of traditional Arabian instrumentation. It’s also indicative of a wider trend in hip-hop from the Middle East: rappers expressing themselves in both Arabic and English, often mingling the two in a single track. 

The genre’s international angle has brought lots of overseas attention to Saudi hip-hop in the past few years. On Spotify, some of the artists have been included on playlists Urban Gulf and Arab Hip-Hop. Media heavyweights, such as Vogue have profiled rising Saudi artists like Majeed and weighed in at length on the evolving scene there.

While Hip Hop Na provided a sizable boost in awareness for artists, Saudi Arabia’s first hip-hop show on FM radio—hosted by Hass Dennaoui, a.k.a. Big Hass—“Laish Hip-Hop?” (“Why Hip-Hop?”) helped develop a surrounding culture by combining new music with industry updates and personal discussions about the genre at large. The show exudes Dennaoui’s voracious appetite for different kinds of hip-hop, which makes it popular with people from all over the world. As for his own introduction to rap, Dennaoui says it came from the Notorious B.I.G. track “Juicy”— famous for its inspiring message about  hip-hop’s incredible power.

“Those lyrics impacted me in a great way,” Dennaoui recounts. “Back then my English wasn’t that good, but I remembered what I felt. His vibe, his flow got to me. [I started doing] my own research . . . and the rest was history.”

That’s a stark contrast from when Dennaoui started his radio show in 2011. “It took a lot of work from many people—rappers, producers, and rap lovers—to push forward,” he says. “When rappers started making music that was relevant to the people and also commercial, that broke lots of barriers. Rappers matured, producers started emerging on the scene, [and] people started to get the hang of what rap was.” Spotify has contributed to that push into the wider consciousness, he adds: “Spotify has offices in the region, [so they] can reach out to rappers on the ground.”

The same sentiment is echoed by young rapper Blvxb, who, like many Saudi rappers, blends Arabic and English lyrics; he calls on his first impression of hip-hop, 50 Cent’s American supergroup G-Unit, for inspiration. Aside from “Laish Hip Hop?” he says many commercial radio stations still won’t air shows featuring Saudi rap, which makes streaming all the more vital. 

“Spotify helps local artists to reach more [fans] by promoting more new artists,” he says. “Everyone loves and listens to Spotify’s playlists, even while gaming.”

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Outlaw Productions has offered services ranging from music recording  to video production since its founding in 2003. One of the breakout artists in Outlaw’s stable is Lil Eazy, a rapper of Somalian heritage born and raised in the Saudi port city of Jeddah. He cites 2Pac’s “Ambitionz Az A Ridah” as one of the first tracks that drew him to the culture: “I gravitated towards hip-hop more than any other genre because of the music and the content.” While he agrees that hip-hop remains relatively new as a commercial format in the country, he and his team have done three major shows in Jeddah and Riyadh in the past year.

For Saudi business strategist Molham Krayem, who also performs and records as Molham, his introduction to hip-hop culture came with Eminem’s triumphant “ Lose Yourself.” Krayem, who is now based in both Saudi and UAE, launched a school-wide talent show during his senior year of high school that culminated in his first performance of an original song on stage. Krayem grew up in an Arabic-speaking household in Canada, which makes it natural for him to rap in a combination of English and Arabic.

“They are both my native languages,” he says. “That’s how I naturally speak, and I want my music to express my truest self. [It’s] similar to the appeal of combining Spanish and English nowadays: it blends cultures. It also allows me to connect more deeply with the millions of people—especially third-culture kids—around the world who speak both Arabic and English.”

Alongside the rapid changes to culture and infrastructure that Krayem has observed, Saudi Arabia is overflowing with a new generation of artists just starting to make a name for themselves. Hass Dennaoui cites Lil Eazy, MT9, and underground star Shiboba as ones to watch, as well as female rapper Moon, whose self-titled 2019 EP marries her slow, hypnotic trap bent with almost psychedelic production.

As for Qusai Kheder, whose role cohosting Hip Hop Na still stands as a pivotal moment for hip-hop culture in the region, he sees no slowing down for Saudi rappers. “If they take this art seriously and are smart about it,” he says, “the sky’s the limit.”

Fans around the world can check out hip-hop from Saudi Arabia and beyond on Spotify’s Arab Hip-Hop playlist.