Salma Mousa

The Self-Defeating Prophecy of Being an Iconic Cool Arab

In Bad Taste

The Self-Defeating Prophecy of Being an Iconic Cool Arab

In her latest column, Salma Mousa dismantles the myth of the “cool Arab” and its uneasy dependence on validation.

A still from Saad Elsoghayar’s performance of “Bahebak Ya Hmar” in Alayya el Tarab Biltalata (restored)

Donkey > Habibi

Donkey Pop And The Labor of Listening

Salma Mousa takes aim at Donkey Pop, the latest trend of music meme-ification collapsing socio-cultural context into absentminded catchphrases.

FEATURES

Why Column? Why Opinion? Why Bite?

Why cultural writing lost its bite, and why criticism with teeth still matters. Introducing Rolling Stone MENA’s new column: In Bad Taste.

Commentary, MUSIC

An Ode to Arabic Music’s Rebel Years

From subversion to pop, the rise and fade of alternative Arabic music.