It’s as if someone had their foot pressed against a proverbial water hose in Arabic music until around 2018, when – slowly, then rapidly – a flood of talent and innovation began pouring out of the region, building toward global breakouts and a revitalized regional industry.
Over the past few years, as one generation of up-and-comers rose and reached the top across the region, a new wave of trailblazers has already begun to take shape. From Morocco and Algeria’s endless raï experimentation and revival to Saudi Arabia’s unlikely club rap acts, across North Africa, down to Sudan and up to the Levant and Iraq, the drought of the 2010s is now met by an evergreen 2020s.
Delayed several times by unfolding regional hardships, Rolling Stone MENA unveils its inaugural Future Radar list – an annual franchise spotlighting 25 regional voices driving the future of Arab music. This year’s edition is curated and written by Reda El Mor.
Young Giza
Since his debut with the 2021 track ‘Tashleef,’ Young Giza has been turning heads through a series of releases and collaborations, most notably the trap bruiser ‘Okzoba’ with Ziad Zaza – a pivotal moment that saw him flexing addictive, hazy flows.
He leans into heavy, fast-paced rhythms and a dark, reggaeton-inflected rap aesthetic. His sound carries raw, street energy, delivered through lyrics that prioritize mood over linear storytelling. The result is a bold, unmistakable voice within Egypt’s new rap generation.
Mshref
Hailing from Fayoum, Egypt, Mshref developed an early interest in music at 14, though he only began pursuing it seriously in 2024. His first steps included collaborations with local producers such as 5mstashr and Le Zuz. Standout tracks include the electric rap cut ‘Bteshrab W Tgezz’ with Ghassan and the shaabi rap venture ‘Beqodret Qader’ with producer Rozer.
Mshref operates at the crossroads of multiple sonic worlds. Rooted in rap, he also pushes Egypt’s mahraganat sound toward broader pop and Eastern frameworks without abandoning its core identity. That duality shows in his beat selection and delivery – balancing rap’s direct punch with the folksy grit of mahraganat, while steadily shaping songs that can evolve beyond traditional boundaries. His upcoming work is expected to sharpen that direction further.
Burhan
Burhan began experimenting with rap in 2023, marking a turning point with the release of ‘3otared,’ which introduced a hypnotic mix of paranoia-inducing production and heavily reverbed, subtly distorted vocals that feel recorded in outer space. The track helped him identify the voice he would go on to develop into a clear artistic identity. That trajectory crystallized in his recent EP Beeny w Beeny, including a standout collaboration with producer Rashed on ‘Nasseny.’
Burhan’s music draws heavily from personal experience, transforming lived moments into tracks that shift between high-energy delivery and melodic introspection. His defining strength lies in emotional honesty – conveying feeling as it is, allowing listeners to see themselves inside the experience rather than observing it from a distance.
Amaka Jaji
Amaka Jaji – a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist – emerged in 2023 with ‘Wain,’ a track as wild and open as the endless sand dunes surrounding the oasis of his hometown, Ghat, Libya. Among his notable works is his latest checkpoint-blues ballad ‘32,’ released via the Wegz-co-founded Ra’ad Records, further cementing his role as an artist bridging different eras and sensibilities.
He blends North African rhythmic influences with pop structures while preserving a spiritual core. As he continues to refine his sound, he moves beyond overt Sufi and Tuareg references, crafting a distinctive musical identity that mirrors both his personality and visual aesthetic.
Touch
Palestinian rapper Touch started dropping music in 2020 on SoundCloud before releasing his debut EP MSEBEH, a project reflecting one of the most difficult years of his life. The record arrived with support from BLTNM Records and in collaboration with Palestinian producer Smokaholic.
Touch is defined by a sharp tonal edge he maintains throughout his projects, paired with a fluid command of flow and delivery. His writing stands out for its layered phrasing and unexpected sonic rhymes, giving him the ability to build immersive atmospheres that translate emotion with direct, unfiltered impact.
Laila Beshara
Hailing from Alexandria, artist Laila Beshara began her journey in 2023, collaborating with Nada Nader and Amr Omar before starting to roll out her EP Le3ba Gdeeda via B62 Records through a series of singles that have so far visited club rap and hyperpop tropes and come back with trophies.
Her work reveals a bolder, more progressive attitude toward production and vocal experimentation. Moving between R&B, techno, and drum and bass, she writes with a directness rooted in lived emotion.
Skotty1
Mehdi, known as Skotty1, is a rising Moroccan artist who made his first appearance in 2022 with ‘Massira,’ a song instantly defined by silk-smooth vocals tucked behind compressed instrumentals. Collaborations – including work with Obito – helped solidify his presence and sharpen his style within Morocco’s new wave.
Skotty1’s style pairs a distinctive flow with a sharp lyrical instinct, blending clever wordplay with introspective depth and crafting narrative lyrics that can lift a track on their own. His agility in shifting between high-intensity rap and more reflective melodic verses gives each release a sense of completeness.
Noise Diva
Born in Syria as Yara Said, the DJ, producer, and artist known as Noise Diva has become a prominent force in the region’s electronic music landscape. Late last year, she stepped into vocal territory with the release of ‘Ah Ya Wad’ alongside Tunisian producer Ratchopper, a rosy exploration of what an Arab interpretation of Latin cumbia-pop can sound like. Her collaborations include Maurice Louca, Lynn Adib, Thawra, Kelman Duran, and Krampfhaft, alongside her affiliation with Bloc C and B-62 Records.
Noise Diva blends experimental, lush rhythms with subtle Arabic textures, pairing them with a soft, contemplative vocal tone, while her visual aesthetic leans into emotional minimalism.
Lhaj
Lhaj hit the ground running in 2021 with his debut single ‘13,’ a kinetic, stylistic trap cut that remains his most-streamed release to date. Born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, he has since released several tracks, including ‘TRASH’ with Smallx, ‘Denbi Ana’ with producer Ramoon, and his latest release, the EP UNDERDOG. He has maintained a distribution deal with Believe Arabia since his first release, helping broaden his reach.
Lhaj gravitates toward emotionally charged spaces, balancing optimism with uncertainty through a relatable personal lens. His sound carries an Afrobeat-driven emotional edge with subtle raï undertones, weaving pop sensibilities into a contemporary Moroccan rap tradition.
Daro
Daro, an Egyptian artist from Giza, started releasing music back in 2018. Recent collaborations with producer Mohaimen on tracks such as ‘El Gheiba’ and ‘Leh Mokhtafi’ – released via Drop Records – saw him establish his footing in the scene with warm, captivating vocals and production that tiptoes along the border between R&B and trap.
Most recently, Daro released ‘Yama,’ a trance-inducing number that captures the recent wave of Mouled revival in Egyptian releases across rap and indie pop. Lyrically, the song sees Daro reaffirming his belief that lived experience forms the core of artistic expression, channeling real moments and unfiltered emotion. His music invites listeners inward – toward reflection, honesty, and connection without affectation.
Haya Zaatry
Haya Zaatry is a Palestinian singer, songwriter, composer, and producer from Nazareth, currently based in Haifa. She began her career in 2013 with the release of her low-key viral debut single ‘Manakir,’ and now works under Tawleef Records.
Her forthcoming second album Atlal arrives three years after her widely praised debut Rahawan. Zaatry fuses Levantine and Western influences within electronic production, incorporating field recordings and archival material that give her soft-sung, indie-rock ballads a historical depth rooted firmly in contemporary reality.
Seif Mrdeny
Seif Mrdeny stands among the emerging voices shaping Egypt’s hip-hop new wave. He officially launched his career in 2023 with ‘Shaghalin Halal,’ later drawing attention through a series of deliberate collaborations. His partnership with producer Riff marked a defining shift, particularly on the EP Zaman El Fan El Gamil, which presented a more mature offering from his take on shaabi rap.
Other notable releases include the tightly produced ‘El Donya Yaa,’ which comes with an ambitious music video that doubles its impact, while his recent track ‘Sibi Aasabi’ with 5mastashar keeps up this momentum. He also previously appeared alongside Riff and Mahib on ‘Mahragan Mohamed w Ahmed’ from the album Welad Khalty.
Mrdeny’s style extends beyond sound into imagery, design, and visual identity, positioning him as a well-rounded creative force. With a keen ear for beat selection, controlled delivery, and socially aware lyricism, he stands out as a name worth watching.
Ot Sygma
Hailing from Marrakech, Morocco, Ot Sygma spent the first five years of his career putting out one – or on rare occasions two – releases per year, slowly and deliberately honing his craft away from industry pressures. He picked up the pace last year, releasing his standout debut album Janvier alongside three other double releases.
Ot Sygma stands out for his deep, rich vocals and smooth delivery, coupled with a strong ability to build immersive musical landscapes from sparse elements – check ‘AMOUR’. His lyrics reinforce that holistic approach, granting him a distinct identity within Morocco’s new wave.
Dina Amine
Collaborating almost exclusively with Sulisizer and releasing one or two singles per year, Egyptian artist Dina Amine arrived on the scene in 2022 and has been adding something new ever since, whether with her early Mouled-fused cut ‘El Shawaream’ or later numbers like ‘Beya,’ ‘3al Hawa,’ and ‘Fakret El Saher.’ She started releasing more frequently in 2025, leading to one of her most complete works, ‘Yally Betfakkar,’ which came out via B62 Records early this year.
Dina draws from folkloric and Eastern musical traditions, particularly the loop-heavy, trance-like Egyptian Mouled sound, while reimagining these influences through a contemporary framework that blends modern electronic textures with alternative Arab pop. In a time when shaabi rap is taking over Egypt, Mouled-pop sounds like a natural next step.
Som3a
Som3a is part of Iraq’s new wave of rap. Born Ismail in Baghdad, he began making music in 2021 before committing to it fully as both an artistic and professional path in 2023. During that time, he collaborated with several prominent regional artists, including Egyptian rapper L5VIVE on ‘NINJAS,’ Tunisia’s DE FAME on ‘JHNM,’ and Kuwaiti rap heavyweight Vortex on ‘SARMATA.’
SOM3A blends traditional Iraqi maqamat and melodies with hard-hitting trap production. Moving fluidly between trap, mumble, and dancehall, he crafts a hybrid sound that bridges local aesthetics with global rap formats.
Hassan Yasser
Hassan Yasser was warmly welcomed into the Egyptian rap scene in 2020, collaborating with heavyweights and earning his place among them on tracks like ‘El Shanta Feeha Eh,’ featuring Abyusif, Abo El Anwar, 3enba, and Lil Baba, from his EP Mesh Aaref Bansa Wala La. He revisited that tour de force with his recent collaborative hit ‘Mafeesh Meno’ from the EP Medyoneer.
Yasser has attracted attention for his futuristic visual aesthetic and versatile musical output, blending various shades of hip-hop and trap with mature shaabi influences. More often than not, you’ll see him shedding his skin and wearing a new one – in step with the shapeshifting Egyptian rap scene.
Msh3al
Msh3al is a Sudanese-Saudi artist born and raised in Saudi Arabia who started releasing music in 2017. Standout tracks include his feature appearance on the Afrobeat-driven ‘Redah’ with Colo and Veto, produced by ninety three, and his latest solo release, the tightly produced, sharply delivered ‘KRT.’
Msh3al’s frequent movement between cultural environments shaped his sound into something layered and adaptable. He absorbs each experience and reshapes it through an instinctive, emotionally grounded lens.
Zad
Zad is a rising Egyptian singer who broke out with her very first single in 2024, ‘Ana Meen,’ a release that quickly gained traction and topped charts. After a brief hiatus, she returned with ‘Khesert Nafsy,’ and most recently appeared on ‘Meen Samaana,’ the title track off producer Omar Kaif’s latest double release.
Despite a limited catalog, Zad maintains an air of mystery. Her music leans toward darker, melancholic tones, carried by emotionally candid writing and a vocal delivery shrouded in reverb-heavy mystique that gives her work a deeply personal resonance.
Shams
After releasing rap music under the moniker Thawra, the Syrian singer launched her new indie-pop-leaning project, Shams, last year with the stellar debut track ‘Ahwak,’ produced by Kabara – a breezy and refreshing take on Levantine pop. She more recently collaborated with Mabayn on ‘Watan’ under their label Ra’ad Records.
Her music centers on nuanced feminine storytelling and emotional intensity – navigating love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with a raw, expressive tone. She blends nostalgic ’90s and 2000s pop influences with traditional Arabic rhythms and modern vocal styles, creating a sound that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
Obito
Moroccan rapper Obito made a strong impression on the local rap scene during his debut in 2025 with the celebrated album Bebetoo. A string of subsequent releases further highlighted his raw, gritty style, including the industrial-textured hard-hitter ‘Wlah M3reft.’ He has also collaborated with Deimi on ‘Code 13’ and with Khtk on ‘Eyeliner.’
Obito’s sharp and forceful delivery, often propelled by rapid-fire flow, drives his tracks forward and draws from tight rhythms and progressive beats, incorporating unconventional sonic references that give his music an abrasive, shadowed edge.
Lullysnake
Lullysnake is a Tunisian-Algerian artist who gained attention in 2024 with ‘Zabatna Kida,’ a track that fused rap with shaabi-inflected aesthetics and showcased her versatility across Tunisian, Egyptian, and broader Maghrebi approaches to rap. Another standout release is her latest freestyle, ‘8Ball,’ boasting a gloves-off vicious flow that further cemented her as a bold, innovative presence in the North African landscape.
Lullysnake represents a new generation of rappers that belongs to the entire North African soundscape at once, treating itself to a more diverse and dynamic menu than any single country’s rap scene, and exploring synergies that can take North African rap to new heights.
KOAST
Since her 2019 debut EP B-Town Vol. 1, KOAST has been following her own path through the Tunisian scene, blending the salt-air influence of her coastal hometown, Monastir, with a multi-layered, hybrid sound. She navigates effortlessly between Tunisian dialect, French, and English, weaving a soulful narrative that is both lighthearted and cathartic.
She leans into a fusion of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, all while staying anchored in the emotional weight of classical Arabic tarab. Her latest release, the 2026 EP 1609, showcases this signature blend with even greater clarity, drawing its strength from urban poetry, haunting melodic flows, and a newly sharpened Tunisian sensibility.
D7Z
D7mez (D7Z) is a rising Saudi rapper whose career trajectory reflects a shift from introspective, emotionally driven songs toward high-energy, dancefloor-ready cuts. He drew significant attention with ‘Abgha El Salama,’ released in November 2025 via MDLBEAST Records, a track that resonated widely for its vitality and explosive approach to club rap.
With a style shaped by slick delivery and a knack for tapping into the cultural zeitgeist – blending techno beats with localized flows – D7Z is projected to become a poster boy of the Saudi rap scene.
Boshra
Boshra, a project by Moroccan-Egyptian singer Dina Boshra and her two production collaborators Raf and Ben Cyran, is an exploration of roots and identity through a female lens. The project spans four languages – Egyptian Arabic, Moroccan Darija, French, and English. Its first single, ‘Home,’ follows a young girl leaving Morocco in search of belonging, only to discover that home is not a place but a feeling carried within – giving voice to a new generation of young Arabs navigating lost and retrieved connections to their homeland.
Her second release, ‘The Game,’ explores the emotional weight of constant correction, scrutiny, and the quiet exhaustion that comes from trying to conform to others’ expectations, resulting in a blend that translates Billie Eilish’s brand of dark teen pop into a language third-culture Arab kids are fluent in.
Rita L’Oujdia
Rita L’Oujdia is a versatile and independent Moroccan artist working as a singer, songwriter, producer, and sound engineer. Her music is an experimental blend that bridges her classical training at the conservatory with her cultural roots in Oujda, resulting in a signature sound that fuses reggaeton, raï, chaabi, and house.
Her work often explores themes of Moroccan identity in the diaspora and female empowerment, exemplified in her standout collaboration with producer Zouj on the track “2choufat.” Accompanied by a music video filmed in her hometown of Oujda, the release highlights her sharp vision and her ability to merge visual storytelling with global-south minded rhythms.
