Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Here’s What to Attend at XP Music Futures

XP XPLORED

Here’s What to Attend at XP Music Futures This Week

Rolling Stone MENA’s top recommended sessions and showcases to catch at this year’s XP Music Futures in Riyadh.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

‘Lebs El Habayza’: Vemto’s Punk Take on Society & Teenage Life

Zagazig’s Green Day

‘Lebs El Habayza’: Vemto’s Punk Take on Society & Teenage Life

Vemto release ‘Lebs El Habayza,’ a punk track exploring teenage identity, self-expression, and social judgment in Zagazig.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

NEWS

Beirut & Beyond Returns With Cross-Regional Lineup and Industry Track

Beirut & Beyond returns to Metro Al Madina with a cross-regional lineup and expanded professional program spotlighting independent music.

NEWS

Rolling Stone MENA Joins Khaleej Times for a KT+150 Afterparty

Rolling Stone MENA is bringing the global RS Afterparty brand to Dubai, celebrating the inaugural Khaleej Times KT+150 list.

FEATURES, MUSIC

PREMIERE: Bahjat Turns Backlash Into A-pop Banger on ‘Maybe I’m the Villain’

Libyan A-pop innovator Bahjat turns recent critiques into fuel for his new banger, “Maybe I’m the Villain.”

NEWS

Post-Assad Syria’s Most Crucial Trial Isn’t About Assad’s Crimes

Trials begin in Syria over sectarian and state violence, raising questions about transitional justice and the country’s fragile transition.

Album and Single Reviews

Wegz and Mounir’s ‘Kalam Forsan’ Is a Turning Point for Aqareb

On paper, a Wegz and Mohamed Mounir collab should define the year - but how does “Kalam Forsan” actually land?

Commentary

Omar Kamal Survived Mahraganat: Leaving It Might Hurt More

Omar Kamal steps away from Mahraganat on new album Kasban Rehan, embracing a polished pop sound that reflects his true taste.

Album and Single Reviews

Double Zuksh’s ‘Kol 7aga Ok’ Asks What’s Next for Mahraganat

Double Zuksh’s Kol 7aga Ok reveals both the ambition and uncertainty of a genre still negotiating what comes next.

NEWS

El Rass Drops Awe-Inspiring Album Sikket El Rouh

El Rass’s Sikket El Rouh is a two-sided rap odyssey blending sharp political commentary, nasheed-like cadences, and monumental production.

(Sub)Culture

Egyptian Creator Suzy Sentenced to One Year in Jail Over ‘Inappropriacy’

One of the Arab world’s most influential creators, Suzy faces a one-year prison sentence in her second trial.

NEWS

On ‘Kol 7aga Ok,’ Double Zuksh Trace Mahraganat’s Evolving Sound

Double Zuksh release their debut album Kol 7aga Ok, a record that reflects Mahraganat’s ongoing evolution.