In a music scene often dominated by solo artists, thoughtful collaborations offer a refreshing shift, sparking creativity and laying the foundation for a more inclusive, community-driven music culture.
In 2024, the MENA region’s music scene witnessed a surge of genre-blurring collaborations, from the gritty energy of underground rap to the fusion of electronic and traditional sounds, highlighting the power of artistic synergy. Iconic figures like Abyusif, Marwan Pablo and Hady Moamer, alongside fresh voices from Cairo, Beirut and beyond, demonstrated that collaboration is essential for pushing sonic boundaries while staying rooted in cultural identity.
This list celebrates the standout collaborations of 2024, each a testament to the diversity, experimentation and innovation driving the MENA music scene forward.
Note: This list is organized alphabetically, not ranked, to highlight the diversity of outstanding releases from across the region.
3ala Toul - Synaptik & Freek
One of the most standout records of the year, ‘Al Taman’ by Jordanian/Palestinian rapper The Synaptik, was a collaboration-packed LP bringing many of the region’s voices together. Among its highlights was the rapper’s track ‘3ala Toul’ with UAE-based Somali artist Freek, which delivered an unexpected synergy between the two artists. Together, they delved into heavily melodic waters, propelled by Wardenclyph’s lush and dreamy instrumental.
ALLOOO - Thawra ft. Billy Tstrk
Syrian artist Thawra and Lebanese rapper Billy Tstrk’s ‘ALLOOO’ perfectly exemplifies the bold, boundary-pushing spirit of MENA’s underground hip-hop scene. On the track, Thawra’s incisive lyricism melds seamlessly with Billy Tstrk’s stark, evocative production style, resulting in a futuristic soundscape that underscores the pair’s shared vision for genre-defying innovation.
Ard Fadya - Maii Waleed & Zeid Hamdan
Making their return to the regional alternative music scene, longtime collaborators Maii Waleed and Zeid Hamdan released ‘Ard Fadya’, following a period where each artist explored different musical ventures. On the track, the duo blend chipper melodies and quirky instrumentation to present the track’s deceptively introspective lyrics, in a style that Maii Waleed has all but mastered by now.
Atta3 - Lella Fadda & Abyusif
Dropping a handful of popular releases over 2024, Egyptian artists Lella Fadda and Abyusif delivered one of the most complementary collaborations to come out of the region’s alternative music scene in recent years. While tracks like ‘Fokak Meni’ and ‘7OB BAS EH’ showed a more gritty side of the duo, ‘Atta3’ explored themes of emotional vulnerability and self-worth within the complexities of modern relationships.
Attention! - Pollution Opera & Lil Baba
Embracing avant-garde sonics, Egyptian trap and hip-hop producer Lil Bara teamed up with Pollution Opera (Nadah El Shazly and Elvin Brandhi) on the track ‘Attention!’, marking a daring foray into experimental sounds, blending noise with trap, electro-shaabi and Egyptian classical influences. Known for his roots in Egypt's rap scene, Lil Baba ventures into uncharted sonic territory with this track, contributing to its layered, dystopian energy and cementing it as a standout moment in MENA's alternative music landscape.
Berka - Hady Moamer, Tul8te, R3, Tayeb Santo
Hady Moamer’s ‘Berka’ brings together an unconventional lineup of talents, featuring now superstar TUL8TE, underground Egyptian rap icon R3, and fast-rising Algerian rapper Tayeb Santo, all tied together under Moamer's visionary production. The track was a bold preview of his 2024 project ‘Ma3koos’, blending distorted samples, intricate lyricism and seamless flows that highlight each artist’s distinct style while showcasing Moamer’s relentless pursuit of a unique sound in Egyptian hip-hop.
Clean Slate - Fadi Mohem & Ben Klock
On their joint album ‘Layer One’, Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem create a multi-layered soundscape - no pun intended - that is gritty, dystopian and interstellar. On the track ‘Clean State’, British musician and songwriter Cobey Sey delivers a prolonged monologue against the backdrop of Klock and Mohem’s minimal, haunting IDM bits and glitches. The result is a heart-pounding track that perfectly captures the melancholic essence of the album.
Code - Arsenik x Double Zuksh x Abo El Anwar
Egyptian rap and shaabi rap artists Arsenik, Double Zuksh and Abo El Anwar come together on the track ‘Code’, the title track from Arsenik’s 2024 album, to deliver a high-energy collaboration that blends Arsenik’s introspective lyricism with Double Zuksh’s catchy hooks and Abo El Anwar’s bold penmanship, all wrapped in a dynamic beat that merges trap with Egyptian shaabi influences.
Daloona - Saint Levant, 47 Soul, Shadi Borini and Qasem Al Najjar
Saint Levant, 47Soul, Shadi Borini and Qasem Al Najjar collaborate on ‘Daloona’, an ode to their native Palestine, shining a light on the powerful spirit of the Palestinian resilience even in the most challenging of times. The track is an upbeat celebratory anthem that highlights moments of joy amid hardship and suffering, reflecting the depth of Palestinian identity. The track is accompanied by a music video, directed by Cannes-nominated Gazan filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, which captures the joyful spirit of a traditional Palestinian wedding through nostalgic VHS-style visuals.
Ehna Seya3 Monharefeen - Essam Sasa & Ameen Khattab
A chart-topping collaboration with gripping Egyptian mahraganat sonics and an in-your-face attitude, ‘Ehna Seya3 Monharefeen’ demonstrates Essam Sasa’s distinctive charisma alongside Khattab’s unapologetic lyricism, touching on themes of brotherhood and the ugly reality of everyday life.
Elhelwa Di - Hello Psychaleppo & Hamed Sinno
Released as part of Syrian producer Hello Psychaleppo’s latest album ‘Cipher’, this collaboration marked a return for beloved Lebanese singer-songwriter Hamid Sinno, the vocalist of famed Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila. The track reimagines the classic Sayed Darwish’s song ‘El Helwa Di’ through dreamy minimalist production, giving space for Sinno to fully showcase his unique voice and haunting delivery.
Hadaf - Kamikazem, Ma-Beyn, Trzy, Gello, Lil Abad
As a forward-thinking collective rising steadily through Cairo’s alternative rap scene, Ka2en brings together some of the city’s freshest talents, including Kamikazem, Ma-Beyn, Gello and Lil Abad. This year, the group joined forces with Egyptian rapper Trzy to showcase their intuitive synergy on the track ‘Hadaf,’ featured on NoiseRecords’ compilation album ‘Manshaa’. Produced by Lil Abad, the track’s experimental beat carves space for seamless, intricate verses, highlighting Ka2en’s boundary-pushing approach to hip-hop with brutalist, electronic-inspired arrangements that amplify its hypnotic pull.
Jarri - Soulja & Montiyago
On ‘Jarri’, Sudanese rap stars Soulja and Montiyago teamed up with Egyptian producer 77 to exemplify the assertive energy driving the Arabic hip-hop scene forward in 2024. With trap-heavy production and sharp lyrical interplay, the collaboration thrives on the rappers’ back and forth, showcasing each artist’s unique style over the bold and bouncy instrumental.
Karma - Abyusif & Marwan Pablo
‘Karma’ from the joint EP ‘7OB&KASHAT’ is a collaboration that took the regional rap scene by surprise, uniting two of Egypt’s biggest rappers, Abyusif and Marwan Pablo, on an intricate instrumental produced by Hady Moamer. The track’s ominous yet explosive energy sets the perfect setting for Abyusif's aggressive bars and Pablo's charismatic flow. This unexpected union between the two rap stars highlights their shared ability to innovate and marks a new, more collaborative phase in the region’s hip-hop scene.
M.I.M - Dada & Don Bigg
On ‘M.I.M’, DADA reimagines the sonic roots of Moroccan hip-hop through a refreshing contemporary sound, demonstrating his full potential in clever bars delivered in assertive manner alongside Don Bigg’s raspy voice and distinct flow. Throughout the track, which is the outro of DADA’s debut record under the same name, the Moroccan rapper excessively repeats the phrase ‘Made in Morocco’, referring to himself and to music, to the extent it becomes a mantra of his own. Meanwhile, Bigg delivers a masterful verse that ends the album on a high note.
Maradona (Remix) - STORMY, ElGrandeToto
Helmed by production by Huss and Issa & Assouad, ‘Maradona (Remix)’s’ intricate production and reggaeton-inspired up-beat tempo serves as a canvas for Moroccan rapper Stormy’s easy-going flow and raw lyricism, complemented by rap star ElGrandeToto’s explosive bars and confident delivery.
Marchadair - Abadir & Nahash
A multi-layered experimental club record, ‘Marchadair’ demonstrates ABADIR and Nahash’s diverse sonic influences, from 90s rave culture to Arabic pop and classic Eastern instruments, resulting in a unique Franco-Egyptian hybrid sound. The EP draws on linguistic similarities between colloquial Egyptian and French, with track titles like ‘Marchadir’, ‘Alaga’ and ‘Cabbout’, representing the common ground they explore both linguistically and musically. Each track experiments with varying tempos, as the duo explores different rhythmic structures, and dub-inspired techniques, and manipulates tabla percussion to craft vibrant, distorted, bass-heavy soundscapes.
Meen Ysadak - Nour & Eldab3
Released as part of the soundtrack for director and filmmaker Zeina Abdelbaky’s debut film ‘Meen Ysadak’, this collaboration marked a surprise return for Eldab3. On ‘Meen Ysadak’, the rapper-producer teamed up with Egyptian alt-pop sensation Nour to double down on the movie’s central themes through a relaxed, mellow and atmospheric instrumental crafted by Egyptian producer Kubbara. Over this evocative soundscape, the two artists engaged in a lyrical conversation throughout the verses capturing not only the essence of the film’s themes, but also highlighted the vulnerable sides of both artists.
Monw3at 2019 - Afroto & Marwan Moussa
While the second half of 2024 saw some highly anticipated rap releases throughout the region, the first half of the year saw a different reality. In the middle of the summer, right when the scene seemed stagnant and inactive, Egyptian rap stars Afroto and Marwan Moussa released ‘Monw3at 2019’, in which the artists playfully nudged some of the scene’s biggest stars, calling out some of their shortcomings in a light-hearted diss track that ended with them dissing themselves. Since the track’s release, the regional rap scene has had somewhat of a golden moment, with some of its biggest names coming together in collaborations that no one could have predicted at the beginning of the year - it’s as though ‘Monw3at 2019’ served as a wake-up call for the rest of the scene.
N7S - Ma-Beyn, Sabine Salamé, SHLTF
This three-track EP is an innovative, politically-charged sonic project that offers an insightful perspective on the broader impact of ethnic cleansing, cultural appropriation and the colonial mindset through unorthodox production that pushes the boundaries of Arabic hip-hop. Throughout the EP, Palestinian-Egyptian rapper Ma-Beyn and Lebanese rapper Sabine seamlessly trade socially-conscious verses in a commanding aggressive flow over SHTLF’s multi-layered production, which intricately weaves drum n’ bass elements within hip-hop textures, with influences from early PlayStation game soundtracks.
Nafas - El Waili & Seera
Blending soothing lo-fi electronics with ethereal psychedelic textures, El Waili and Saudi all-female rock band Seera introduced fresh compositional elements in their track ‘Nafas’, crafting a soundscape that felt both nostalgic and futuristic. ‘Nafas’ delved into themes of loneliness, relationships and belonging through introspective lyrics, with Seera’s lead singer Nora delivering mellow, dreamy vocals that floated seamlessly amidst El Waili’s signature percussion and warm basslines.
Ostaz Mahmoud Bezzawy - Abyusif & Ahmed Santa
Ahmed Santa and Abyusif joined forces yet again on ‘Ostaz Mahmoud Bezzawy’, where the two commanding Egyptian rappers exchanged wound verses over a dynamic beat, produced by Dr. Mo3geza. While this isn’t the first time the two have worked together, ’Ostaz Mahmoud Bezzawy’ checks all the boxes of an evergreen rap hit, all while capturing Santa and Abyusif’s unique chemistry and reaffirming their status as major forces in Egypt’s hip-hop scene.
Paris - Turk, Ziad Zaza, Dabl De
Making a strong debut with his EP ‘2000GEN’, Egyptian rapper Turk brought on Egyptian rap star Ziad Zaza and Tunisian duo Dabl De for one of the biggest hip-hop hits of the year. Produced by Kingoo, ‘Paris’ is high-octane trap banger, full of visceral performances, aggressive flows, and an undeniable flair that makes the track sound just as fresh as the day it was released.
Rad Saree3 - Shabjdeed, Riyadiyat, Al Nather
As seen before in their collaboration ‘Fi Harb’, the track ‘Rad Saree3’ became one of the standout moments on one of the year’s best albums. Featuring Shabjdeed, Riyadiyat, and Al Nather, the track showcased Al Nather’s haunting melodies driving the beat, Shabjdeed’s cryptic storytelling delivered with icy flows and dynamic vocal manipulations, and Riyadiyat’s polished verse filled with sharp wordplay and clever lyricism.
Rozma - Kozbara & Nourine Abouseada
With lighthearted lyrics and a comedic music video, Kozbara and Nourine Abouseada’s ‘Rozma’ makes its way onto our list for its straightforward yet authentic take on Egyptian shaabi-pop. This collaboration showcases the distinct styles of both artists within the context of the genre, underscoring Kozbara’s talent for this style of songwriting, and Nourine’s flexibility in hopping between genres throughout her discography.
TUTA - Kairokid, MOUSV, Double Zuksh
‘TUTA’ by Egyptian artists Kairokid, MOUSV, and Double Zuksh blends the raw energy of mahraganat with the modern edge of trap, creating a track that delivers both powerful beats and a compelling message. Addressing mental health and advocating against drug use, the collaboration underscores Kairokid’s EMPWR initiative, with the combined styles of the three artists reinforcing the track's impactful anti-drug theme and mental health advocacy.
Wavy in Brooklyn - Felukah, Nadine El Roubi, Mo Stank
When speaking about MENA artists in the diaspora, few names are as pioneering and influential as Felukah and Nadine El Roubi. On ‘Wavy in Brooklyn’, the duo teamed up with producer Mo Stank over a smooth blend of jazzy hip-hop and soulful sonics. Released in March 2024, the track highlights the lyrical chemistry between Felukah and Nadine, whose introspective verses glide effortlessly over Mo Stank’s atmospheric production with elegance and ease.
Wish List - Koast & 4LFA
Released on NoiseRecords’ compilation album ‘Manshaa’, ‘Wish List’ merges Koast’s smooth RnB-inspired vocals with Tunisian rapper 4LFA’s charismatic rap flows into bop that blends austere serenity with a smooth and driving instrumental that keeps listeners gripped throughout.
Ya Chebba - Namiro & Defame
An unexpected collaboration between three Tunisian artists, Defame, one half of rap duo Dabl De, who teams up with Namiro on a beat produced by Ratchopper — a mix that couldn’t have gone wrong. The track’s engaging instrumental and the artists’ air-tight flows make ‘Ya Chebba’ a head-bop inducing blend of garage, hip-hop, and folkloric vocals, and one of our favourite singles of the year.
Zamaleky - Double Zuksh & Sho Modjozi
Egyptian rap-mahraganat duo Double Zuksh has joined forces with South African rapper Sho Madjozi on the track 'Zamaleky,' featured on the upcoming compilation album 'Chromesthesia’. Produced by Coolpix Boy, 'Zamaleky' combines South African amapiano rhythms with Egyptian mizmar grooves, layered with Double Zuksh’s mahraganat-influenced rap style and Sho Madjozi’s distinctive vocal performance. As the album's lead single, it reflects 'Chromesthesia''s razor-sharp focus on bridging cultures across the “Mangrove world.”
