Mahraganat, or electro shaabi, is often known as the music of the masses in Egypt—a voice to the realities of Egyptian life in the post-Mubarak era. However, there is another musical force gaining momentum among youth, which reflects a new wave of consciousness sweeping the streets with its political and socially conscious lyrics. In contrast to mainstream Egyptian music, which rarely touches upon complex topics other than romance, young Egyptian rappers dig deep to produce more artistic and conscious sounds, critiquing social norms and political life in Egypt. While there are some notable names, like Zap Tharwat, Asfalt, Y Crew, and Marwan Pablo, there are other young Egyptian rappers who have been working independently for a long time, sharing their music in their small communities and neighborhoods. Hossam Helmy, a 23-year-old living in Alexandria, or known by his stage name, ‘Hossam V’, started rapping a year before the 2011 uprising out of pure passion for the art, and also because he found that the scene lacked artists that produced for artistic rather than commercial motivations. “I like to rap about things that people don’t ever talk about, like the comparison…
