Qusai Kheder
Over the last few years, the popularity of hip hop in Saudi Arabia has grown rapidly, thanks in part to the World Wide Web. Artists from the Kingdom and the region have taken control of their art, broadcasting their work online (mostly through YouTube), making a name for themselves, garnering likes, and building a solid fan base.
Many point to the 1990s in Jeddah as the start of hip hop in Saudi Arabia, with its popularity really growing some 10 years later. Today, the Kingdom’s most renowned hip hop artists include Slow Moe, Moh Flow, Majeed, Abz, Abadi, Klash, and Qusai Kheder, a singer, songwriter, record producer, rapper, television personality, and DJ formerly known by his fans as Don Legend the Kamelion.
Moh Flow
“When I express myself, I have to respect my heritage, my culture, my ethnicity,” explained the 39-year-old artist in an interview on CNN last year. “Once people hear what I say, they might get influenced by it.”
The Kingdom’s rappers produce a unique blend of the genre, merging Khaleeji music and lyrics with conventional hip hop beats. Artists touch on country-specific issues, from love and acceptance, to equality and a shared future. And what is even more distinct is the lack of profanities and vulgarities in the songs.
Recently, however, there has been a movement by some towards producing works with explicit lyrics. According to Arab News, figures such as Saudi hip-hop guru Big Hass, have spoken against the use of profanity and terms such as the n-word, pointing to the lack of knowledge and understanding of the meaning and history behind it.
Slow Moe
The MC, founder of the online Re-Volt Magazine, and radio host of the popular Laish Hip-hop (the country’s first and only hip-hop radio show), said, “Our culture will not allow profanity in the music we listen to. We will shut it down. It doesn’t sum up Arab hip-hop, it’s the power of the word that makes it important. The n-word is not for us to use and, frankly speaking, we haven’t struggled to use it.”
Following a wave of reforms aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy and developing its entertainment, tourism, and sports industries, public concerts featuring international artists were held last year for the first time. US rapper Nelly, Greece’s Yanni, and Algerian Cheb Khaled were amongst a few select musicians chosen to perform.
