On her new film 'Meen Ysadak', up-and-coming Cairo-based filmmaker Zeina Abd-Elbaky has recruited a roster of Egyptian hip-hop and alternative artists to soundtrack her debut project as a director. The list of featured artists includes Abo Al Anwar, Lella Fadda, El Dab3, Nour, Perrie and Kubbara.
With each of these artists contributing to the film’s original score, one track has been released so far from the soundtrack: 'Meen Ysadak', the movie’s title track. The track marks a return for El Dab3, who has been on a long hiatus following his last project, ironically titled 'The Return of El Dab3'. The rapper-producer collaborates with Nour on this track, giving a musical nod to the movie’s main theme and mood through a relaxed, mellow and atmospheric instrumental courtesy of Kubbara, over which the two artists engage in a lyrical conversation in the verses.
Other tracks, such as Abo El Anwar’s 'Ana Negm W Labes Sheek' (produced by Mo3geza), Perrie’s 'Dawama' (produced by Issa & Assouad) and Lella Fadda’s 'Adena Aho 3refna' (produced by Elian), will be released in the upcoming days. The movie is set to be released in theaters in the coming weeks following its premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival on November 16th.
'Meen Ysadak' follows a current that has become more apparent in recent Egyptian cinema, with directors and film producers relying on the rap and alternative music scene to take charge of the soundtrack in order to resonate with and connect to younger audiences.This trend adds legitimacy to these growing genres and cements them as head-to-head competitors with the pop industry.
