British Rap Meets Club Music on DJ Gawad & James Massiah’s Joint EP

Since emerging in the underground rap scenes of Palestine and Jordan, masked producer, DJ Gawad, has captivated hip-hop purists with productions defined by experimental soundscapes and biting satirical lyricism. His music was a fresh gust in a region awash with West Coast-inspired gangster rap, where flash often outweighed substance.

His 2024 debut album, Volume 1, boldly labeled with the self-proclaimed title 'the best producer in the Middle East', offered a cohesive, richly textured homage to 90s Memphis hip-hop, injecting the region’s scene with something both nostalgic and groundbreaking.

Now, after two years off the grid, the Amman-based Palestinian producer has retuned with Contact High, a collaborative EP with London poet and MC, James Massiah. The four-track project charts new territory, blending jerk, trap, and dancehall rhythms with sharp bars straight from London’s underground rap scene, all marked with DJ Gawad's signature experimental flourishes.

Thematically, the EP departs from Gawad’s usual satire of regional music scenes. Instead, it offers an unflinching portrait of youth in unforgiving London, where Massiah’s spoken-word verses probe sex, hedonism, ethics, and delusion. On the title track, Control High, his opening lines ride atop a pitched-up Arabic vocal sample, layered with video-game-like distortions and swooshing synths, conjuring dystopian, brooding textures. The track seamlessly flows into Visa, maintaining a fluid, cohesive arc across the record.

While thematically tied, Visa leans harder into trap and dancehall percussion, spiked with fractured sub-bass, scratchy segments, propulsive hi-hats, and fleeting sonic blares, all nodding subtly to the socio-political challenges of immigrant life. Meanwhile, 'All Out' is more upbeat, featuring Massiah's rap-fire bars bouncing off relentless hi-hats, and brooding soundscapes.

Some might see Control High as a departure from DJ Gawad’s Arab-focused repertoire, yet the EP is a cohesive, meticulously executed work that underscores his versatility. Beyond showcasing his refined production skills, the project signals a collaborative bridge, potentially expanding his footprint across European hip-hop and electronic scenes.