The 13 Best North African Songs Right Now
The soundtrack of North African summer is filled with melancholy, R&B, rap and electronic music.
Sudanese hip-hop artist Soulja, dubbed “The Humble Kind of Sudanese Rap.”
It’s a good summer for North African music lovers! Superstars are dropping bangers that are being played throughout the region and its diaspora, and newcomers are shaking up the scene with their experimental sounds.
Read below for the best North African songs right now.
Amir Eid - “Hagat Gowaya” and “Esmek Eh” (Egypt)
Cairokee lead singer Amir Eid has released the first two songs of his debut solo EP Roxi. In this first chapter, stunning black and white visuals accompany the tracks “Hagat Gowaya” and “Esmek Eh,” blending melancholic melodies with cinematic storytelling to narrate a love story. The next chapters will be released in the coming weeks, similarly focusing on Eid’s perspective on love.
Namiro - “Ya Chebba” feat. DeFame (Libya, Tunisia)
Libyan musician Wael Nemri, also known as Namiro, teams up with Tunisian rapper DeFame and highly respected Tunisian producer Ratchopper for summer hit, “Ya Chebba.” The music video matches the track’s high energy and playfulness, and sees Namiro chasing after a young woman as he repeatedly calls out for her in the song’s refrain, to no avail.
Numidia Lezoul - “Solo” (Algeria)
On “Solo,” Algerian superstar songstress and actor Numidia Lezoul sings about the pitfalls of love and the feeling of being lost, skillfully mixing French, English and Arabic in a blend of Eastern and Western instruments.
Bayou - “Haifa Wehbe” (Egypt)
On “Haifa Wehbe,” Egyptian singer Bayou takes us back to the sounds, visuals and confidence of early 2000s R&B. Blending English and Arabic lyrics to sing his yearning for a girl he’s fallen for; he compares her to Lebanese singers and actors Haifa Wehbe and Nancy Ajram.
Iguidr, DADA - “ANA OLA NTI” (Morocco)
Moroccan heavyweights Youssef Lgoudali, aka Iguidr and DADA collaborate on “Ana Ola Nti,” an energetic bi-lingual track off Iguidr’s album Tifinagh. Iguidr, the founder of the Amazigh Rap Project, uses his music and agency to represent and honor indigenous Amazigh culture from Morocco to Egypt, only rapping in his native language Tamazight.
Dua Saleh - “want” (Sudan)
After co-writing Travis Scott’s “MY EYES” and starring in their breakout role as non-binary character Cal in Sex Education, Sudanese American multidisciplinary artist Dua Saleh announced the upcoming release of their highly anticipated debut album I should call them. “want” is the second track in Saleh’s new era of R&B-infused electronic indie-pop and rock, and sees them stepping into their desires unashamedly.
Yosr - “Ghareeba Wi Eh” (Egypt)
Yosr appeared on the Egyptian music scene with her track “Kalam” in 2020, but then dropped off the radar for a few years. Now she’s making a comeback with her Reclamation EP. On track four, “Ghareeba Wi Eh,” Yosr’s voice is as dreamy as ever, singing about going through hardship and being stuck in a past love story, but eventually arriving at a possibility of happiness and hope.
Nordo - “Youm Wara Youm” (Tunisia)
Tunisian hip-hop artist Marwene Jibali, also known as Nordo, drops “Youm Wara Youm,” a heartfelt message of hope in times of hardship. Nordo rose to fame with his blend of North African rhythms and contemporary beats as well as his political lyrics.
Mustafa - “SNL” (Sudan)
Sudanese Canadian poet Mustafa makes space for Black male vulnerability on “SNL,” subverting stereotypes with his poetic lyrics, gentle voice, and self-directed visuals focusing on Black joy. The track is a teaser for his upcoming debut album Dunya, for which he collaborated with JID, Rosalia, Daniel Caesar and Ramy Youssef, amongst others.
Soulja - “Tshreen” (Sudan)
Following the release of his debut album Déjà Vu earlier this year, Sudanese rapper Soulja, dubbed “The Humble King of Sudanese Rap,” continues making himself heard throughout the region. On “Tshreen,” he thoughtfully raps over a slow beat, reflecting on emotions, identity and states of being in between.
Hala, R3 - “Ghasb 3ani“ (Egypt)
Two years after stepping onto the Egyptian music scene and after being featured as Apple Music’s artist of the month, Egyptian rapper Hala is picking up speed, steadily improving her flow and skills and asserting herself as one to watch. For “Ghasb 3ani,” she teams up with R3 to deliver yet another effortless performance over a haunting, percussive beat.
Bo9al - “Calimero” (Morocco)
In “Calimero,” produced by Masta Dn, Moroccan superstar Bo9al tells the story of a young man caught up in drug dealing. The rapper from Casablanca rose to fame through blending modern and classical styles of hip-hop with North African influences; on this track, he raps over a haunting, precarious melody.
Actra - “meli sghir” (Tunisia)
Not yet widely known, Tunisian rapper, vocalist and multidisciplinary artist Actra follows up on his Dreamy EP with “meli sghir.” This electronic lofi track impresses with eloquent Arabic and English rap flows, reflecting on the process of finding hope after escaping a dark phase. Actra is definitely one to watch!
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