Arab Underground Artists Advocating for Justice and Politics
The local and regional independent music scene often offers music and lyrics that beat with the hearts and minds of Arab youth, and it is no surprise that this scene is now at its peak in a region angry for expression.
Here are some examples of underground groups that are considered a way for the Arab youth to express themselves both politically and socially:
The band was formed as a music workshop at the American University of Beirut and is known for causing controversy due to its critical lyrics on Lebanese society, sexuality, and politics.
On their first album, the song “Fasateen” talks about a couple broken apart by poverty and religious conflict. Another song titled “Tayf” was a tribute to a gay bar in Beirut that was shut down by Lebanese Authorities. They also have many political satire songs including “Lil Watan” (For The Motherland).
This Lebanese Hip-Hop artist targets Islamic clerics, the West, Arab regimes and social inequities in his provocative song lyrics, with “Arab revolutions” being a topic prominently featured in his work. His single “Ali” is a great example in which he references everything from the Lebanese War, to a known controversial TV personality.
Cairokee is considered as the sound of the January 25 Egyptian Revolution with many expressive songs such as “Ya El Medan” (The Square) and “Matloob Za3eem” (We Want A Leader). Their first major hit was “Sout Al Horeya” (The Sound of Freedom) which has millions of views on YouTube and was ranked a world record as one of the most-watched videos in the shortest period of time.
Ramy was considered the voice of the Egyptian revolution in 2011 when he performed in front of millions at the Tahrir Square his anthem “Irhal” (Leave), which was named by Time Out as number 3 in their “100 Songs That Changed History” article. His song “Segn Bel Alwan” (Prison in Colour) released in 2016, offered a duet dedicated to the activist Egyptian women imprisoned during the revolution, as well as their sisters around the world.
5. Nos-Tofaha, Syria
One of the important bands who emerged from the difficult situation in Syria. The band takes the Syrian revolution as a scene for their songs such as “Wilada” (Birth) and “Mahal Saghir W Msakkar” (A Small And Closed Space). Modaa Al Maghrebi, founder of the band, says “Syrians are dying while they try to get democracy and justice. Art tries to present what they are suffering from”.
Rasha is a Syrian singer-songwriter. She is primarily known for singing Arabic theme songs for popular cartoons but has also wrote songs that encourage revolution such as “Sakru Shababik” (Close The Windows) which she describes to be an angry song on the world being silent about crimes that occur in several countries today.
He is a Syrian Producer and rapper currently exiled in Amsterdam. Most of his music addresses the harsh reality of his country, the pain of leaving it, and how all Syrians are struggling with war memories and the harshness of immigration, like in his song “Jouwana” (In Us).
8. Fish Samak, Palestine
Jowan Safadi, founder of “Fish Samak” was arrested previously for his songs “Ya Haram Al Kouffar” (Poor Oh Infidels) and “Tira Ababil” (To Be an Arab). He tells that “in the Arab world we cannot sing about religion, nor about the ruling party, nor about sexual frustration, without having our lives in the balance.”
Fish Samak has many songs that express the Palestinian reality, such as “Fi Hodn Al Ihtilal” (In The Arms of Occupation).
DAM’s lyrics are largely protest-driven, and their songs center around fighting oppression, Israeli occupation, racism, poverty, drugs, and women’s rights. Their recent album “BEN HAANA WA MAANA” tackles the darkness Palestinian and Arab people live in but with a more hopeful attitude, as in their song “Hada Yidi’e Sitna” (Someone Call Our Lady).
Jadal’s themes are rooted in the life of Arab youth, dissecting the difficult situations and problems they face in their country. Their song “Sotko A3la Min El Samma3at” (Your Voices Are Stronger Than The Speakers) narrates an experience the band had trying to give a concert in Amman but the authorities, as well as private event organizers, found them to be “too provocative.”
