The Arab rap scene is filled with an eclectic range of sounds. Once you fall in love with a track, it hits differently. You start to know its highs and lows, the chorus like the back of your hand and, by extension, the artist. An entrancement that’s like no other. But have you paused to think about who led you to this experience?
We exclusively sat down with Egypt’s trailblazing creative women who are changing the rap scene through everything from rapping, storytelling, PR campaigns, sound engineering, and much more.
In no particular order, keep reading to find out all about Maha Hamada, Hala Sherif, Menna Shanab, Pirlanta Toubba, Nirvana Beibers, and Menna Dief.
Maha Hamada
Far from what could be described as a ‘Rap Girl,’ Maha Hamada’s eyes were first lit up by the power of rap when she attended a Marwan Pablo concert, even before she had the experience or knowledge to know that this was rap.
Fast forward years later, and she is now an artist manager and producer of four years who focuses on rebranding. With a mission of putting the money she’s made from marketing campaigns to invest in underrated/up-and-coming artists.
Having now worked with major artists ranging from Wegz to Bayou and many more, Hamada doesn’t feel like being a woman in the rap industry holds her back at all.
“Growing up seeing my mom so successful doesn’t make me feel that being a woman is a problem in any industry. From day one, to be honest, any collaboration with a man has always been respectful as they treat you and respect you based on what you bring to the table.”
Hamada highlighted how key it is to survive in this industry to put your mental health at the forefront and not spend time on someone an artist or creative doesn’t deserve. “Make sure that the person you’re giving energy to actually needs it and that you’ll both come out successful.”
Hala Sherif
Initially being an introvert, Hala Sherif, who knew her love for music was there since early childhood, would literally cover her arms with her favorite Lil Wayne or Kanye lyrics.
Deep down, she knew she wanted to be an artist, but until she was brave enough to enter the spotlight, she chose to work behind the scenes as a sound engineer.
Now, she not only writes raps, records, mixes, and masters songs but has also become known in the scene for her unique sound. Whether it’s working with PUBGM x Abyusif x 3enaba x Randar x LilBaba or her first EP, she does a little bit of everything.
When asked what her top career moment was, Sherif mentioned that it had to be sound engineering for 17 up-and-coming talents, along with hitting a total of a million listens to her music and getting to bond with fans over it.
As an Arab woman in the rap scene, the multi-talented artist shared,
“ Once you learn from your mistakes and understand psychology, humanity, and male brains (which function and are wired way differently than us). You start to get the hang of it and dominate. But to be honest, as an arab woman, you just have to double/triple the effort to make things happen. It’s not what everyone thinks.”
Sherif hammered that to make it, you have to thicken your skin and learn traits that will actually drive you forward. Having an interest in the industry won’t be enough.
Menna Shanab
Born and raised in the U.S., the taste of Hip Hop and R&B was sort of all around Menna Shanab as she grew up. But it wasn’t until five years ago that she moved to Cairo and actually put her love for music into a career.
Currently, she’s YUNG’s music editor, where she sheds light on voices from the region, interviewing a copious number of talents, music executives and many more creatives changing the face of the industry.
She also handles PR & Influence at SVNBirds, all alongside taking on PR projects for major events like MDLBeast and beyond.
Not choosing to measure her career in milestones but instead through the impact it has had on the artists she’s worked with and, by extension, the industry, Shanab discussed that the major takeaway she has learned from being in the field is:
“Be careful of pouring too much into others. Your cup needs to be full in order for you to be able to pour in the first place. So, always make sure you tend to your own creative, personal and professional needs to avoid burning out.”
The creative spoke about how working with men could teach you: “Honestly, usually I’m the only woman in the room, especially when it comes to studios and label meetings, but I find that if you hold yourself with grace and composure and allow your work to speak for you, you’ll find people to be respectful. That is not always the case, of course. I’ve personally experienced a few incidents where I’ve been put in precarious positions by some people, but I don’t know if I can fully attribute that to gender.”
Making it clear that to succeed in the music scene, you need to be fully cognizant of why you want to be a part of it.
Pirlanta Toubba
With a goal of bridging cultures through music, Pirlanta Toubba used her background in film production to not only direct music videos but also later launch her platform LSL, which aims to highlight the up-and-coming artists across the UAE.
She underscored that her key career moment is “To shed more light on artist management and its importance in the region and to curate more strategic collaborations regionally and internationally.”
Toubba further discussed the importance of flexibility in an industry like the music scene.
“ The industry has taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability, particularly in a diverse environment like Dubai. Here, professionalism is central to every project, but I’ve learned that this isn’t always the case in other cultures. As someone who navigates multiple cultural contexts daily, I’ve gained valuable insights into understanding and interacting with various personalities and practices.”
Going off the discussion of working in a diverse culture and having the capacity to adapt, Toubba shared that it might be an exaggeration when it comes to the mentality that females are being underrated in the industry.
“I really don’t think this should be a narrative anymore. Definitely, it’s not a man’s world…there’s room for both men and women to coexist and do magic together. Though there’s a lack of female managers, I am happy to be one of the few and hope to see more female managers supporting and nurturing female artists. It’s much needed.”
Nirvana Bebars
Growing up, Nirvana Bebars would spend all of her allowance on cassettes and then CDs when the Discman became a thing; track after track, beat after beat, Beibers was immediately hooked on Eminem and, by extension, the rap scene.
While she claims that her entering the music industry was no “magical story” as she never set out to work in the field, Beibers currently owns creative agency Digitent and SoundSauce, both offering solutions to creatives at all stages of their journeys.
When asked about her top career moments thus far, she shared that it had to be signing Marwan Pablo with Diesel alongside the various projects she’s worked on recently, such as Sole DXB or bringing Metro Boomin to Cairo for an unforgettable performance.
Furthermore, Bebars delved into how fighting for a seat at the table isn’t always easy, but working hard for it isn’t exclusively just about the music scene. “Take the first job you get in the field you want to get into, even if it’s not what you want, and then work towards what you actually want.”
Menna Dief
Aiming to elevate the music landscape across the region, live promoter Menna Dief worked with some of the biggest artists like Wegz and Husayn before joining Live Nation’s team.
Circling back to what started her affinity for music, Dief added, “My passion for music ignited at a young age, and I was fortunate to realize this passion early on. My journey into the industry began unexpectedly during my time in Atlanta, a city celebrated for its dynamic rap and trap music scene.”
Working Wegz’s global tour or being part of the team that brought Metro Boomin for the Pyramids show, this creative truly believes in seeking opportunities, not waiting for them to be handed to you.
“The industry has taught me that timing is everything. Things won’t wait for you to act, so it’s crucial to be strategic and always consider the bigger picture. This understanding has shaped the way I approach my work, ensuring that every move is thoughtful and aligned with long-term goals.”
Dief ended on a note, sharing her two cents on the ever-developing industry:
“The rap scene in the region is still developing. While some artists initially gained attention with rap but eventually shifted towards more commercialized styles, Marwan Pablo stands out as a notable exception. His commitment to authenticity and a clear vision for his music are what set him apart. I hope to see more artists embrace this level of originality, which will help cultivate a more vibrant and enduring rap scene in the region.”
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