Throughout their decades-long history, Rap and Hip Hop have seldom given female artists a fair shake. The music culture surrounding both genres has been accused of objectifying women and stifling female talent. In the MENA region, where gender issues are intertwined with political, economic, social, cultural and religious affairs, female rappers face even greater odds, but these music artists have conquered them and paved the way for a new generation of women and rappers, redefining the sounds, themes and overall atheistic of the genre and imbuing it with their unique and multifaceted heritage. Shadia Mansour An icon of Britain’s Palestinian community, Shadia Mansour is one of the pioneering women of Arab rap. Dubbed “the First Lady of Arab Hip Hop,” the British-Palestinian musician has been performing from an early age, singing classic Tarab covers at Palestinian rallies. Mansour’s music would later evolve into its current form, combining her passion for Palestinian liberation, her political identity and heritage with hardcore rap reminiscent of the genre’s 80s and 90s sound, characterized by its political commentary to highlight injustices and its irreverence towards power structures. Soultana Soultana is one of Morocco and the…
