27 Best Arab Rappers

There are numerous great Arab rappers out there. If you look at Youtube view counts alone, you’ll likely think they’re not as influential as their western counterparts. But with a comparable shortage of Arab rappers, the fans some of the have are very hardcore.

Here are some of the best Arab rappers ever.

Too Dope

Internationally acclaimed Arab rapper Too Dope is a Sudanese rapper who grew up between Qatar, Sudan, Saudi, and Malaysia. He broke into the rap scene in 2017 when he released “Alright” alongside fellow Sudanese rapper MaMan.

Also known as Tayeb Hajo, Too Dope continues to release controversial yet empowering tunes like “Talk About It” and “Sabbinaha.” If his past work is anything to go by, Tayeb has a track record that has no intention of slowing down.

Shadia Mansour

Women haven’t fallen back in the Arab hip-hop world, and representing them is Shadia Mansour, a daring female rapper giving renowned male Arab rappers a run for their money. The British-Palestinian may speak English as her first language but raps mostly in Arabic.

In her music, she is keen to express her opinion about political issues like injustice against women and more that are ailing the Arab countries. Her non-violent rebellion cultivates togetherness in her homeland.

Issam

Trap rapper Issam is a leading Moroccan artist who wowed people with his masterpiece track, “Trap Beldi.” The song has incredible visuals that showcase a more modern Morocco. His distinctive tone and delivery could explain why the video has over 10 million views on YouTube.

He keeps listeners at the edges of their seats with his music which integrates Darija, a vernacular Arabic language used in Morocco. He’s currently signed to Universal Music France.

Freek

Formerly known as Mustafa Ismail, Freek has a distinct sound that crosses trap music and hip-hop. The 27-year-old rapper from Somalia grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he honed his rapping skills.

“Wadha” and “Athadak” are his best-performing breakout singles that spread his name across the Arab world like wildfire. His most recent single, “Wala Kilma,” has caused an adrenalin rush in the hip-hop arena after a remix with grime artists Young Tribez and MCs Eyez.

Shayfeen

Shobee and Small X are the duo that make up Shayfeen. The Moroccan artists stepped into the music scene in 2013. However, it wasn’t until 2016 that they released “7it 3arefinni”, shocking everyone and garnering over 14 million views on YouTube.

Shayfeen is a revered player in the Moroccan Music industry with a strong connection to the young generation. They have a massive fan base that has helped propel them to stardom.

Abyusif

Abyusif from Cairo, Egypt, needs no introduction if you are familiar with Arab rap music. The rapper/producer has consistently released music since 2021 and has 12 albums and EPs.

People who label Abyusif a one-hit-wonder do not know that he put out truckloads of work before his hit songs “B7t 3aleiko” and “Azra2eel” hit the social media platforms. Regarding versatility, Abyusif has the best-sounding diss tracks to create a huge online frenzy.

Emsallam

Call Emsallam the proverbial Jack of All Rrades. Besides rapping, this Amman-based artist is also an actor born in Jordan to Palestinian refugee parents. His 2016 album, “The Last Step,” showcases his unwavering talent with hints of aggressiveness and growling that pack a punch with each bar he delivers.

His recent work, as portrayed in “Postcolonialism,” an LP released in 2018, takes a different route to incorporate mind-blowing beats and heartfelt lyrics.

roTation

roTation, also known as Tamer Siddig, grabbed listeners’ attention with singles like “Randaka,” “249’, and “Green.” This Sudanese rapper chucks out music that relates to his people by using a distinct style of slang language that only natives can understand.

While other rappers follow the western influences of trap rapping or Afro beats, roTation has carved a niche for himself by staying authentic to his Arabic roots. With mind-blowing ease, roTation merges English and Arabic to showcase his musical prowess.

Shabjdeed + Al Nather

Two heads are better than one is what Shabjdeed and Al Nather must have had in mind when they joined forces. The two created the BLTNM record label in 2017 and worked on their album “Sindibad El Ward” with Shabjeed as the rapper and Al Nather as the producer.

Upon the album’s release in 2019, the Palestinian duo introduced a new sound that gripped the airwaves from Ramallah to the international rap scene. Their music covers many topics that paint their country in a different yet positive light.

El Rass

El Rass is arguably the best rapper in Lebanon. He has four studio albums and has proven himself a worthy opponent in his quest to take over Arabic rap.

Also known as Mazen El Sayed, El Rass hails from Tripoli in North Lebanon, where he developed deep self-awareness. No wonder he can churn provoking lyrics that make people yearn to hear more. In the region, he has collaborated with fellow rappers like Mehrak, Synaptik, Sallam Naser, and Al Darwish.