Arab Womxn Rappers and Hip hop singers from the MENA region

RAP AND BEYOND RESIDENCY

From 21 to 29 May, Beirut and Beyond (Lebanon) and the World Culture Museums (Sweden) hosted a residency that brought together 8 womxn artists from the Rap, Hip Hop and Trap scene in the MENA region. Residency programme included peer learning, exchange of expertise, field visits, workshops, release of new songs, joint rehearsals and having fun. 

The residency concluded with the summer edition of Beirut and Beyond International Music Festival - BBIMF on 26 - 27 May at KED, Beirut. 

The 8 artists are: Nayomi (Iraq/Sweden), Xena Elshazli (Egypt), Sabine Salama (Lebanon), Minerva (Morocco), Medusa TN (Tunisia), Frizzy (Morocco), Laila Beshara (Egypt) and Nadine Elroubi (Sudan/USA).

Special recognition to producer DJ Noise Diva.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify with Rap and Beyond artists. 

WHY RAP AND BEYOND?

Rap opens doors for youth to express themselves and raise their voice about their dreams, challenges, gains and heartbreaks. Rap and hip hop are popular among minority groups such as people of colour, young women and non-binary. This music genre enables them to articulate a certain cultural perspective and help others understand what is going on in their minds. Through rap and hip hop music, these groups draw the reality of their lives, of the neighbourhoods around them, and of the wider social circumstances in which they find themselves.

We believe that there is an unfair gender gap in the rap and hiphop music industry in the Arab world. Therefore, Mind the Gap programme decided to team up with Beirut and Beyond (Lebanon) to challenge the gender and socio-cultural norms of this particular music industry in the MENA region. 

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @mindthegapstories

This project is organised thanks to the support of the Swedish Institute Creative Force programme and the Swedish Embassy in Lebanon.