Lebanese hip hop

Lebanese Hip Hop is a pioneering movement in Arabic hip hop as Lebanese youth were among the first to be affected by hip hop culture.
Arabic hip hop has received Western media attention, but most Lebanese rappers think that there is still a lack of local interest in their music. Hip hop in Lebanon is both an art form and a stage for artists to voice their alternative discourse in the public sphere.

In 2001 a lebanese rap band called RHAB RECORDStook the rap scene to the streets and started the gangster rap. Rapper and producer AREDfounder of rhab recordsgathered rappers from the streets and the jails of Lebanon. AREDhad big ambitions to make the Lebanese rap scene unique and outstanding from other Arab scenes, he established a studio in Lebanon's central prison oumieh The Lebanese rap scene witnessed the only album in the world to be recorded from inside jail n wara l7adeed

Roots and Significance

The hip hop culture is grounded in African American oral tradition, but, as communities around the world tend to do, the Lebanese hip hop scene is accommodated to the local context. According to member of local hip hop band Fareeq el Atrash,

" ip hopalways existed in our traditions but we never paid attention to it. It’s a modern style of poetry – hip hop… It’s not about forming a hip hop culture in Lebanon, it exists in Zajal and Atabah… hip hop already existed in Lebanon." – MC Edd Abbas”Scratch the Past – this is OUR Soundtrack” Angie Nassar, Arab Youth, Nov 19, 2012.

Atabah ( Arabic: عتابة) is a form of improvised Arabic poetry that uses the lyrical nature of the Arabic language in its performance.

Modern Lebanese hip hop artists have a different view on the significance of hiphop to the Lebanese culture specifically. "it highlights the message. It provides a framework to show the way, a notebook. It is not only a song, it is a framework." – Jamul

Chyno with a why?, a pioneer in the Middle Eastern hiphop scene states that hiphop in the region has accomplished a very important role in regards to youth dissilusionment, he states that hip hop "reduce pressure and stress”, in addition to “empower young people that do not fit in the society.” – Chyno with a why

Accompaniment

The music underneath the lyrical portion of songs in Lebanese hip hop varies widely. African drumming is prevalent, along with the sound of bombshells and other street noises. Lebanese rapper Rayess Bek even includes a full orchestra with traditional instruments like the udand ayin a recent album. Other influences include swing, jazz, reggae, and acoustic guitar tapping.

Popular Artists

* Abou Layla Lzir
* Basbous
* Boo Omar
* Blue Fiefer
* Bu Nasser Touffar
* Chyno with a why?
* Dizaster
* Edd Abbas
* El Rass
* El Shai5 S3aibess
* Fared
* Jaafar al-Touffar
* K.A.R.L
* Kalach
* Mad Hurtz
* Jamul (Formerly known as M.O.E Jammoul)
* Muhandas
* Nizar Zgheib (ABS)
* Raji 88
* Rayess Bek
* Salloum
* Samarani
* Shaba7
* Ziggy Stoner
* Mano
* Charbel
* Lana Force
* Empera

See also

*Arabic hip hop

References

{{hiphop