The new generation of artists in the Arabic music scene continues to burst onto the global scene at a rapid pace. Whether artists are creating music in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) or are part of the Arab diaspora, Arabic songs and albums are having a moment. Sounds from the region and its diaspora are expanding beyond listeners who speak the language, and finding its way to anyone who appreciates good music.
The rise of Arabic music’s global popularity is part of a decades-long effort by the creative community to showcase the breadth of musical talent coming out of MENA. Arabic singers of the '50s, '60s, and '70s — including Lebanese legend Fairuz and Egyptian icon Umm Kulthum — garnered appreciation from audiences far beyond the Arab world. Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant candidly shared in an interview that Umm Kulthum had "blown a hole in the wall of my understanding of vocals."
Arabic pop stars of the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s became worldwide sensations for their infectious melodies and fusing Arabic rhythms with other cultural sounds. Egyptian pop star Amr Diab seamlessly blended Arab instruments with Spanish flamenco, propelling him to international superstardom for over four decades.
Some Arab artists even collaborated with their Western counterparts to create hit music. Among those collaborations include Sting and Algeria’s Cheb Mami for their 1999 smash "Desert Rose" (which was performed at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards) and Don Omar’s song with Egyptian singer Hakim "Tigi Tigi" in 2007, mixing together reggaeton production with Arab rhythms and instruments.
Read more: 5 Arab American Artists To Know In 2024: Lana Lubany, Felukah & More
While Arab pop had dominated mainstream Arabic music scene, hip-hop was becoming more prominent in the region by the mid and late 2000s.OGs like Syrian rapper Omar Offendum, Iraqi emcee Narcy, Palestinian rap group DAM, Moroccan juggernaut Don Bigg, Lebanese rap pioneer Kalash, and Palestinian lyricist Shadia Mansour laid the foundation for the success of the genre in the region.
Now in recent years, Arab artists like Elyanna and Saint Levant are performing at major music festivals in the United States like Coachella and Gov Ball. Other artists like Morocco’s DYSTINCT and ElGrandeToto and Egypt’s Wegz have sold out tours in Europe and North America. Bands like Mashrou’ Leila and Cairokee defined a generation of indie Arab artists in their heyday in the 2010s.
As the infrastructure for the new wave of Arab artists started to take more shape over the last five years, so too have the growth of local record labels in the Middle East and North Africa, helping to promote and cultivate homegrown talent. And while their presence remains fairly new, their impact has been felt on local scenes in Egypt, Jordan, and in the region almost immediately.
Many Lebanese rappers, for example, have found a home with local label Beirut Records.
"The scene in Lebanon hasn’t grown as much as it should have — despite helping to pioneer rap in the region — because there weren’t a lot of chances or opportunities for Lebanese artists," emphasizes Hiba Abou Haidar, founder and CEO of Beirut Records. "What Beirut Records is doing is giving artists these opportunities to pursue a career in music."
SVNBIRDS, which primarily supports Sudanese creatives locally and across diaspora communities, has similarly proven to be a hub for emerging Sudanese talent. "There’s not a solid industry infrastructure at all in Sudan, especially with the outbreak of the war and the diaspora scattered around the world. We act as an incubator, able to spread Sudanese music to the diaspora and beyond," says Menna Shanab, public relations manager for SVNBIRDS.
From Tunisia to the UAE and everywhere in between, here are five independent record labels in the Middle East and North Africa highlighting the musical talent of the region.
Beirut Records
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Artists to know: Bu Nasser Touffar, Sandy Henoud, Kalash
Beirut Records started in 2017 in its capital namesake as a community for underground Lebanese rappers, producers, and singers to come together and create music. The label is "on a ruthless mission to put Arabic music on the map," working first with hip-hop artists before expanding to R&B. Today, they've grown their reach beyond Lebanon’s borders.
Whether listeners are looking for the lyrical versatility of Nuj or Ziggy, or the commanding and sultry voice of Sandy Henoud, Beirut Records continues to set a standard of excellence for homegrown Lebanese talent.
BLTNM
Location: Ramallah, Palestine
Artists to know: Shabjdeed, Al Nather, Daboor
BLTNM is unapologetically Palestinian — not only in their artists, but through the themes each artist explores in their music. Formed in 2019, BLTNM prides itself on the lived experiences of its artists, striving to showcase true Palestinian identity in a way that subverts outside assumptions of what that identity means.
That subversion also shines through in their music, finding innovative ways to push Palestinian hip-hop to new levels of creativity.The hyperactive rap style of Shabjdeed intricately fills every aspect of Al Nather’s production, which is inspired by Atlanta trap music. Rapper Daboor’s confrontational and in-your-face style harkens back to the essence of hip-hop as a genre of protest.
Red Diamond Tunisia
Location: Bizerta, Tunisia
Artists to know: Samara, Amal Fathi, Tchiggy
Established by Driss Dhaouadi and Mouhammed Wadhah Kefi in 2019, Red Diamond Tunisia has quickly become a driving force for showcasing Tunisian rappers. As the country's first rap label, Red Diamond Tunisia continues to cultivate hip-hop artists across the country and put Tunisia on the musical map.
RDT boasts a roster of incredible talent that must be heard and respected. Versatile emcees such as Samara, Tchiggy, and Joujma, and pop singers such as Amal Fathi create earworms that feature elements of R&B and Afropop and nostalgic boom bap hip-hop. Throughout, these artists showcase their lyrical prowess, which is rooted in their native Tunisian dialect and colloquialisms.
SVNBIRDS
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Artists to know: Soulja, Montiyago, Big Moe
SVNBIRDS has quickly ascended since 2020 to become a cornerstone for cultivating and amplifying talent from Sudan. Founded by a collective of artists and music enthusiasts, SVNBIRDS continues to export Sudanese rhythms fused with hip-hop and Afropop to the rest of the region and the world.
Listeners can expect to hear the smooth lyricism of Soulja and the melodic raps of Montiyago, among other incredible Sudanese talent. Production at the label — led by producers 77, Khayyat, and others — incorporate aspects of groovy syncopation of traditional Sudanese rhythms with trap and R&B, creating distinctly signature sounds that define the label and its artists.
SSC Music
Location: Tangier, Morocco
Artists to know: NovaQueen, kouz1, Mocci
What grew from a recording studio to a full blown indie label in just one year, SSC Music has become a powerhouse in Moroccan music. Founded in 2020, the label has become a mainstay with the new generation of Arab artists and Arabic music, exporting Morocco’s pop and hip-hop artists across the Middle East and North Africa.
Listeners can come listen to the Afropop influences of kouz1, whose dreamy sultry hit "Love" boasts over 63 million views on YouTube and over 43 million streams on Spotify, or the R&B talents of NovaQueen, among many other talents at SSC Music.