Latin reggaeton has had its moment… is it now time for Arab pop?
Sometime around 2010, we started hearing the now-familiar thumps of Latin raggaeton seep into the global top charts, skyrocketing the likes of Becky G, Rosalía or Daddy Yankee into common conscience. Now, slowly but surely, we’re starting to see much of the same happen with Arab Pop, which has started appearing in obscure fashion shows and TikTok trends. With arabic chants and eastern soundscapes, these often blend with techno and alt-pop to create groovy jams which are already populating the mainstream. If they make it to the charts soon, remember you heard it here first.
Take a peak at what artists have started to blow up and why below.
Acid Arab
Acid Arab, a music collective of exciting Western electronic and Eastern sounds, has been making rounds in the fashion world. They set the scene at Saint Laurent’s SS23 menswear show afterparty, but have also collaborated with Balenciaga in a curated playlist and limited edition-wear. The band, formed in Paris back in 2012, are fascinated with Tunisian soundscapes, and explores a mixed genre of techno, melodic chants and North African influence.
Mohamad AlShekh – Babousa Song
Babousa Song became viral on TikTok, thousands of users lip-synching and performing to the beats of a song which made it to Louis Vuitton’s viral runway show alongside Spanish artist Rosalía. The song is named after a dessert of the same name, and it is said to be a rework of an originally Lebanese song which tells a love story between two cats.
Lana Lubany
Another product of vitality on TikTok is Lana Lubany, who often videos herself showing her mother her Arab-influenced songs. The Palestinian-American’s success skyrocketed with THE SNAKE, her first arabic-english song which catapulted her into the mainstream.
Saint Levant
With Palestinian/French/Algerian/Serbian heritage born in Jerusalem and spent his childhood years in the Gaza Strip, eventually fleeing to Jordan and settling in California to pursue higher education. He’s been on the rise since 2020, but only recently has fully dedicated himself to his music, which blends a mix of French, English and Arabic.
Issam Alnajjar
Despite his age, Alnajjar has been causing success with his songs, notably Hadal Ahbek, which has topped charts in several countries. Translating to I’ll Keep Loving You, the song is a catchy pop tune which has granted the Jordanian singer a place in the musical scene.