Right Wing Olympics
Ghali Under Fire Ahead of Winter Olympics Over Pro-Palestine Stance
Italian rapper Ghali faces backlash ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics over his outspoken pro-Palestine stance.
NEWS
Music First
Our Pocket List of Can’t-Miss Balad Beast Sets
Balad Beast returns in its 4th edition with a line up combining global headliners with regional rising voices.
NEWS
Built from the Ashes: How Hell Comes Home Is Turning Pain into Power
Heavy metal has long served as an outlet for unrest—a place where intensity, conflict, and emotion are shaped into sound.…
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.
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.
Beyond Borders
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.
RS MENA Afterparty
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.
Mahraganat vs. Syndicate
Eslam Kabonga Suspended for Six Months by Musicians Syndicate
Eslam Kabonga suspended for six months as Egypt’s Musicians Syndicate renews its crackdown on mahraganat amid controversy.
Political Rap Odyssey
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.
Album Debut
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.
Sonic Activism
Fake Lines Defies Borders with a 36-Track Compilation for Gaza
Fake Lines brings together 36 artists from the Levant and beyond in a cross-border compilation raising funds for Gaza Farmlands.
Ballads & Bullets
Chart-Topping Fadel Chaker Turns Himself In to the Lebanese Army
After 12 years of controversy, one of the wildest arcs in Arabic music is approaching its final act.
