By It’s not a prerequisite to be fluent in French to appreciate MC Solaar. Similarly, there’s no need to have a grasp of the Arabic language to appreciate the new album from Shouly. Good music transcends language barriers, after all.
The 25-year old rising Arab hip-hop artist may have lived in Chicago for six years, but he sticks to his Palestinian/Jordanian roots and raps in his mother tongue throughout debut album The Empty Quarter – named after the sprawling desert that stretches from Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the UAE and Oman.
Arab Immigrant in the US
Drawing comparisons between the isolation and alienation of the desert and his own experiences, Shouly explores issues of fear, vice, anxiety, family and religion from his perspective as a young Arab immigrant in the US. He sets out to educate and inspire, challenging the lazy idea of the Arab experience in the West. He calls it “humanising Arabs”, a way to “defy stereotypes and explore the intricacies of our existence”.
Out now on Abu Recordings, The Empty Quarter is not only authentic, it’s brimming with energy and ambition, the infectious beats carrying along musical flavours from the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean, with on-point production throughout. There’s a smattering of guest appearances too. The hugely popular Middle East rapper Emsallam joins Shouly on Emsallam Bil Taboor. Z The People, from Shamstep electronic group 47 Soul, co-produces Qa’a Al Wad alongside Ibn Itaka. But it’s the languid, low-riding 3adi that we’ve had on repeat – our standout track from the album.
With millions of streams and sold-out shows across Jordan and Chicago, Shouly’s already been carving out a solid reputation. If there’s any justice in the world, The Empty Quarter should expand his fan base across borders and among hip-hop fans of all nationalities.
You can listen to The Empty Quarter below.
