From the Ground Up: Rappers’ Early Tracks VS Their Biggest Hits

From humble beginnings to breakout hits, we take a look back at the journeys shared by some of the region’s biggest rap stars. Success stories are a cornerstone lyrical theme of hip-hop, reflecting the nature of rap culture and its roots. Some might say that the genre itself is a success story, born in often-overlooked and marginalized communities before rising to prominence over time, overtaking the mainstream music industry to become the world’s leading sound. Rappers frequently discuss and celebrate their rise, taking pride in the struggles they’ve overcome to beat the odds. If you were a hip-hop head back in 2016, navigating Egypt’s sparse rap scene and bumping Dama and Abyusif on SoundCloud, it wouldn’t have occurred to you that these artists – recording in their bedrooms with humble equipment and delivering unfiltered messages – might one day become some of the biggest stars in music. A track exceeding 200,000 plays on SoundCloud was considered a major hit within the rap community. Music videos were a rarity, and when they existed, they were often poorly shot due to limited resources. There was no PR, no media support, and no polished image to rely on. What arguably propelled Egyptian rap...