This month has seen a flood of hip-hop releases from across the region, many of which were of exceptional quality and pure fire-spitting. In SceneNoise’s Verse of the Month column, we combed through the numerous December releases to highlight one standout verse. Our selection goes to Marwan Pablo’s verse on Karma, featuring Abyusif.
Earlier in December, Marwan Pablo and Abyusif shocked the rap scene by unexpectedly dropping a joint EP of five tracks. A collision between two of Egyptian rap’s most influential figures, the EP, titled 7ob & Kashat, leaned heavily into pure hip-hop, boldly disregarding current industry trends. Instead, the two rappers embraced hard-hitting beats, fiery bars, commanding flows, and punchy songwriting, creating a 14-minute feast for rap enthusiasts. The EP delivered several standout moments, verses, and quotable lines.
Our pick, Pablo’s verse on Karma, stands out for obvious reasons. Pablo returns in top form, rapping with the intensity of an artist treating the track like a demo. He fires off one-liner after one-liner with his signature finesse and commanding delivery, effortlessly switching flows with a dynamic range. While the verse may not be the most profound, it is exceptionally well-written and performed, with Pablo reflecting on his status, influence, relationships, and the impact of money, fame, and heartbreak. Balancing assertiveness and vulnerability, Pablo showcases his range in a single verse that harkens back to the early Pablo era of El Gholaf and Sindbad.
