The Best of Palestinian Hip-Hop

Image via Complex Original

DAM are a trio with social causes at the heart of their music. Championing women's rights and attacking oppression, they've always aimed to use their songs to uplift and encourage people to do the right thing in hard times. Through hits such as "Born Here" and "Innocent Criminals," DAM have become the face and primary voice of Palestinian hip-hop and have been internationally recognized through tours of the U.S. and Europe. Initially inspired by Tupac Shakur, DAM have grown from Palestine's first hip-hop act to cultural torchbearers, and much like their idol, they are determined to highlight the plight of their people through music. 

Dubbed the "First Lady of Arabic hip-hop," Shadia Mansour has been causing waves for a while now. Born in Britain, but thoroughly involved with Palestine, her lyrics mostly concern the liberation of Palestine from Israel, meaning she's attracted quite a deal of controversy in the Middle East, U.K. and even the States. Often seen performing in a traditional thawb (a long-sleeve, ankle-length garment similar to a robe), Mansour is outspoken, and in addition to her emphatic support of Palestine, she frequently challenges gender stereotypes in both hip-hop and the Middle East. In 2011, a collaboration with the equally political M-1 of Dead Prez further raised Shadia's profile in the global hip-hop community and brought her a new level of international respect and popularity. Despite being an active protestor since a very young age, Mansour's fire has not yet dampened, devoting most of her time to social causes and fighting injustice through both her music and her organization, Existence Is Resistance. 

A member of the band the Philistines, Ragtop is the Palestinian master of spoken word. Born in Palestine but based out of Los Angeles, Ragtop incorporates hip-hop into his music not unlike Gil Scott-Heron. A jack of all trades, he's tried his hand at screenwriting and is also a renowned producer, forging tracks for the likes of Omar Offendum and the Narcicyst. Ragtop initially formed the Philistines with his brother, B-Dub, with the intention of presenting a positive image of Arabs and Arab-Americans while also addressing issues such as racism and stereotyping. 

Palestinian-Syrian group Refugees of Rap have faced more personal turmoil than most. Having lived in a Damascus refugee camp for the better part of their lives, the foursome have seen first-hand the Syrian uprising and consequent civil war, and their experiences of the conflict are reflected in their lyrics, as well as their duel Palestinian-Syrian identity. It has been a fight for Refugees of Rap just to have their music heard; they've been together for a decade, and after some early success that included a performance at the Cairo Opera House, they became the victims of death threats from security officers. Subsequently, they were forced to flee the country after their studio was destroyed and death seemed a very real possibility. Now based out of France, ROR produced The Age of Silence—a 20-song opus about the chaos and horror they've experienced with their own eyes, and a damning indictment of the current Assad regime. Further insight into their work can be seen in a BBC documentary.

From the Gaza Strip itself, Palestinian Rapperz formed with the intention of resisting the Israeli occupation through peaceful and musical means, and despite not being allowed to leave Gaza for many years due to border restrictions, they have gained quite the following. Through collaborations with DAM, Palestinian Rapperz have seen their fanbase rapidly increase, and the turmoil surrounding their traveling abilities has only increased their cult status. Using the power of the Internet to reach people from all over the world, no border restrictions can stop PR pushing for change through their art. 

14 years deep in the game, MWR are not only one of the first Palestinian hip-hop groups but also one of the very first Arab hip-hop groups. Their lyrics reflect life in Palestine and the troubled relationship between their land and Israel, which is a recurring theme. MWR's "Because I'm an Arab" was a chart-topper in their country and, over the years, they've evolved from a raw and angry group of men into a fully operational rap unit with smart rhymes and hard beats. MWR have often been called on by CNN and MTV to represent their community, being questioned about various happenings in the Middle East, which boosted their international profile as a result. 

Female duo Arapyat sit in an awkward position. As Israeli Arabs, they're shunned in their homeland and looked down on as Palestinians, and the Arab radio stations and music channels don't play their music either because they're considered Israeli. It's a mess that has prevented Arapyat from really getting off the ground; they get zero radio play or air time anywhere in the world, but they still carry on rapping and keep day jobs in the meantime.

Despite making mostly apolitical music, Arapyat are always left out in the cold—playing at small clubs but rarely in Israel. Even with major co-sings from DAM and MWR, it's still a hustle for them to be heard. Inspired to rap after listening to hip-hop tapes from the '80s, Arapyat formed after one of the members—​Safaa Hathot—was banned from performing with MWR by her conservative parents, and so she decided to create a girl group with her friend, Nahwa Abed Al'Al (who still works in a perfume shop). Hopefully, one day soon, this outfit will be able to show exactly what they're made of. 

Hip-hop visited Saz early on in life. He began writing rhymes in the third grade (8-9 years old) and performed live for the first time when he was just 16. By now, he is considered a seasoned veteran, and it's reflected in his mature lyrics. Real name Sameh Zakout, Saz credits hip-hop music with saving his life and forcing him to turn his back on drugs and crime. In recent years, Saz has gained worldwide prominence—​thanks mostly to his playing of the festival circuit, the highlight of which was his performance at Glastonbury in 2013, where he dazzled the crowd with his mix of rhymes in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. Saz has the ability to blend pop rhythms with hard-hitting political content in ways most can only dream of, and now that he's broken down the language barrier, he is on the verge of big things.