The hip-hop scene seems to be most dominant in Egypt, with singers such as Marwan Moussa, Wegz, and other artists topping the Spotify wrapped status. However, long before these artists were in the picture – as far back as 12 years ago – the hip-hop scene was flourishing in other countries in the MENA region. The emergence of Arab hip-hop is often linked with Palestine, as it was Palestinian artists who first adopted the Western beats to produce tracks centered around resistance against the Israeli occupation. When the Arab Spring erupted in 2010, spilling into 2011, the scene blossomed with local artists using their talents to produce revolutionary tracks, some of which went on to become anthems to local youths. The pattern of Arab hip-hop artists using their music to rally people and speak to them about resistance efforts is still prevalent today. Here is a list of seven hip-hop artists from the Middle East worthy of mention. Shadia Mansour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21OXQ4m1-Bo Shadia Mansour is the ‘OG’ of Arab hip hop. The British-Palestinian activist and performer was born in London in 1985 to Christian Palestinian parents who hailed from Haifa and…
