Nadine El Roubi & Nory Capture the Diaspora Experience on 'NUCLEAR'

American-Sudanese artist Nadine El Roubi has linked up with Saudi artist NORY on a collaborative EP, 'NUCLEAR', mastered by the renowned Egyptian sound engineer Heba Kadry. 

Spanning five tracks, the EP dives into themes of identity, authenticity and emotional survival in an increasingly fractured political climate, blending punk aesthetics with hip-hop sensibilities. Rooted in the experience of navigating the global rap landscape as Arab artists, 'NUCLEAR' feels both deeply personal and outwardly confrontational.

Lead single ‘Enemy of the State’ flips a traditional Iranian song into a punk-infused protest anthem, pushing back against the way diaspora communities are often framed as liabilities within the United States. ‘U Can’t Tell Me Shit’ is unfiltered, loud, abrasive and unrelenting, driven by distorted guitar riffs and pulsating synths. Though it opens with rap verses, the track ultimately erupts into a full-blown punk anthem, elevated by Nadine’s explosive vocal performance. 

The title track, ‘NUCLEAR’ - featuring Iraqi artist NARCY - veers further into experimental territory, pairing warped synth textures and stuttering drums with thick basslines that echo the maximalist edge of contemporary East Coast hip-hop. On the track, Nadine and NORY trade verses that unpack the realities of being Arab artists in New York, touching on cultural polarisation, racism and systemic alienation. 

Meanwhile, ‘Light Beam’ reveals a softer side to the project, with Nadine delivering syrupy, almost weightless vocals over fractured choir samples and glitch-heavy production that creates a lingering sense of unease. Closing things out, ‘Remedy’ strips the intensity back in favour of a laid-back R&B groove, layered with soulful guitar melodies. 

Across the EP, both artists lean into their distinct creative instincts. NORY brings his signature hustler mentality and self-taught musicianship, while Nadine sharpens her trademark biting cynicism and socially charged lyricism - crafting a raw, stylistically fluid body of work that moves effortlessly between rap, melody and punk-driven aggression.