What Rap Music is the Middle East Listening to?

We often like to talk about the universality of music, but there are arguably no genres more universally enjoyed than hip-hop. In fact, beyond appreciation for the music, one could argue that no genre has translated around the world as seamlessly. Good rap and hip-hop is no longer confined to New York and other pockets of the US. There are bustling, evolving scenes all across the world, each with their own take on it, including right here in the Middle East.

From Morocco to UAE, and everywhere in between, there are burgeoning local scenes that are constantly evolving and honing a unique sound. It’s something that regional streaming giant, Anghami, has picked up on, with stats revealing that overall streams and streams-per-user of Arabic hip-hop have been rising steadily over the last year or so. In fact, 'Arabic Hip-Hop' was the third highest trending 'vibe' on Anghami in 2019. Not bad for a genre that is still often demonised. Anghami responded to these insane numbers by curating even more playlists – and the numbers speak for themselves. A special Algerian Hip-Hop playlist, for example, was created nine months ago. Between November 2019 and February 2020, the playlist amassed over 60,000 streams and in the following three months, that number increased by 33%. Meanwhile, rap from Egypt and the Maghreb region as a whole racked up almost 1.5 million streams through Anghami’s Arabic Hip-Hop tab alone. In short, the demand is high and, thankfully, the supply is plentiful.

This got us thinking. After teaming up with Anghami to see what music fans in the Middle East were listening to in the worlds of dance, techno and electronic, we simply had to find out what hip-hop and rap music is being listened to in the region, both in regards to regional and international artists.

The results are a mixture of solid choices that will have even the purest of hip-hop fans nodding in approval of the general public’s taste in music, and a few curveballs that will raise more than a few eyebrows...

TOP 20 MIDDLE EASTERN/ARABIC RAPPERS

1. WEGZ (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/4055088/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
2. SHAHYN (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/258862/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
3. ABYUSIF (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/2676302/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
4. SAM37 ALBASHA (Syria)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/4844778/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
5. SANFARA (Tunisia)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1452695/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
6. ZAP THARWAT (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/180679/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
7. LBENJ (Morocco)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/2143009/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
8. MARWAN PABLO (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/3718025/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
9. EL JOKER (Egypt)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/2236058/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>

10. AYOUB AFRICANO (Morocco)

11. MOHAMED RAMADAN (Egypt)
12. MORTADHA FTITI (Tunisia)
13. DYLER (Saudi Arabia)
14. IHAB AMIR (Morocco)
15. MADD (Morocco)
16. TEAM NGOOM MASR (Egypt)
17. ELGRANDETOTO (Morocco)
18. PHOBIA ISAAC (Algeria)
19. MANAL (Morocco)
20. THE SYNAPTIK (Jordan/Palestine)

TOP 20 ARABIC HIP-HOP/RAP SONGS

1. MARWAN PABLO - DYNAMIT<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/73181243?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
2. ABO EL ANWAR - SCOO SCOO
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/64910398?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
3. WEGZ – NOSSEIN
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/68977625?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
4. SHAHYN - SOUT BAGA3
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/64753409?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
5. WEGZ - 3ALA RAHTY
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/61218377?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
6. WEGZ & SAVAGE PLUG - ASYAD EL BALAD
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/72941573?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
7. SHAHYN – ELVARANDA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/58747009?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
8. MARWAN MOUSSA - SHERATON
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/77134483?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
9. WEGZ – ATM
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/60104394?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
10. ZAP THARWAT - LAW TESMA3INY (HUDZ REMIX)
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/65933478?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>

11. MUSLIM - CABALLERO
12. SHAHYN - EED HOON
13. MUSLIM - MY LADY
14. WEGZ - EL ZAR
15. WEGZ - HOREYA
16. WEGZ - KAN NEFSY
17. ABYUSIF FT. ABO EL ANWAR - BASHA E3TEMED
18. DADJU FT. KALY, SOOKLING & AYMANE SERHANI - DADJU
19. MORTADHA FTITI - RAYDA

<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/playlist/13359091/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>

TOP 20 INTERNATIONAL RAPPERS

1. POST MALONE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/898202?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
2. EMINEM
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/47392?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
3. DRAKE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/48825?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
4. TRAVIS SCOTT
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/932761?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
5. XXXTENTACION
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1758215?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
6. RUSS
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/2146787?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
7. TYGA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/53466?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
8. NF
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/280084?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
9. FUTURE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1647/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
10. LIL NAS X
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/4612270?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>

11. TEKASHI 6IX9INE
12. A BOGGIE WIT DA HODDIE
13. NICKI MINAJ
14. JUICE WRLD
15. FRENCH MONTANA
16. RODDY RICCH
17. SAINT JHN
18. Y2K & BBNO$
19. LIL UZI VERT
20. KANYE WEST

TOP 20 INTERNATIONAL RAP SONGS

1. Y2K & BBNO$ - LALALA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/53631112?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>

2. TRAVIS SCOTT - HIGHEST IN THE ROOM
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/59407043?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>

3. RODDY RICCH - THE BOX
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/63476202?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
4. TREVOR DANIEL – FALLING
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/72057859/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
5. TYGA - AYY MACARENA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/61805100?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
6. POST MALONE FT. FUTURE & HALSEY - DIE FOR ME
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/57640321?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
7. LIL NAS X - OLD TOWN ROAD
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/53316423?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
8. EMINEM FT. JUICE WRLD – GODZILLA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/66649248?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
9. ARIZONA ZERVAS – ROXANNE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/62023963?bid=/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>

10. POST MALONE - HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING
11. POST MALONE - CIRCLES
12. POST MALONE FT. 21 SAVAGE - ROCKSTAR 
13. DRAKE FT. RICK ROSS - MONEY IN THE GRAVE 
14. TENTACION - CHANGES
15. RUSS - PSYCHO, PT. 2
16. POST MALONE FT. YOUNG THUGGOODBYES
17. RILÈS - SHOULD I
18. DON TOLIVER - NO IDEA
19. POST MALONE - WOW
20. HIPPIE SABOTAGE - DEVIL EYES

<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/playlist/6929765/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>

Check out more music on Anghami.