The Leading Arab Music Artists in Egypt Revealed
If you are a music-loving Arab living in the US and you want to discover fresh tunes to listen to at home or on the move, we have got you covered. Egypt’s music scene is a veritable hotbed of Arabic artists. It even boasts its very own category at the BAMA Music Awards. Egyptian Arab music has been around popular culture for decades and remains a firm favorite in the 21st century.
Hollywood movies based on ancient Egypt have long been a proving ground for atmospheric Egyptian-style music. The 2017 hit film The Mummy had an awe-inspiring soundtrack written by Brian Tyler. Meanwhile, the 2016 Gods of Egypt flick is also characterized by the Coronation soundtrack penned by Marco Beltrami.
There is no doubt that rhythmic Egyptian soundtracks have been the heartbeat for Egyptian-themed entertainment in the iGaming industry too, where popular titles like Cleopatra and Cleopatra Plus have become household names with leading online casino operators.
But when it comes to the Egyptian music charts, there’s a growing number of Egyptian Arabic superstars making waves not just in Egypt but the rest of the Arab world too:
Sherine: A uniquely powerful solo artist
39-year-old pop star Sherine is one of the most prominent Egyptian Arabic singers right now. At the tender age of 18, Sherine’s collaboration with fellow newcomer Tamer Hosny ensured both singers would become household names in Middle Eastern and North African music, selling over 20 million copies of their 2002 album.
Since then, Sherine has released eight solo studio albums. Her most recent, ‘Nassay’, was released in 2018. Earlier this year, Sherine teamed up with Tamer Hosny again after a 15-year hiatus to mark their early success. Sherine has been a prominent figure in Egyptian pop culture as well, having hosted her own chat show since January 2017.
Amr Diab: Successfully transcended generations
58-year-old Amr Diab has been an Arabic heartthrob in the Egyptian music industry since the early 1980s. He is lauded for developing his unique brand of “Mediterranean Music,” which Michael Frishkopf once labeled as such due to Diab’s fusion of Egyptian and western beats.
Diab had been in the music industry for over three decades when he secured a permanent place in the annals of Arabic music history in 2014. His album “Shoft El Ayam” stormed to number one in the Billboard World Album charts, becoming the first Arabic singer to reach the summit. He was also the first Arabic singer to grace a billboard in the heart of New York’s Times Square.
Tamer Abu Ghazaleh: A clever exponent of prose and slam poetry
There are very few Egyptian Arabic artists that are widely considered “pioneers,” but Tamer Abu Ghazaleh is certainly one of them. His music has rapidly become a focal point for contemporary Arabic culture.
As a talented multi-instrumentalist, Abu Ghazaleh has a unique brand of music. It borders on spoken word, with his lyrics often incredibly powerful and thought-provoking, helping to set him apart as a lone ranger in the Egyptian music industry.
Mohamed Mounir: A glittering career in music spanning three decades
Like Amr Diab, Mohamed Mounir is another Egyptian singer that has enjoyed a music career lasting over 30 years. The difference between Diab and Mounir in terms of their style and personality could not be much greater, however.
While Diab is the stereotypical heartthrob, Mounir has carved a career as a philosopher, with charming social and political undertones to his Nubian, blues, jazz, and reggae music. His 2011 hit song “Izzay” was a decade-defining moment in Mounir’s career. Having been active in the Egyptian music industry since 1977, Mounir well and truly lives up to his title of “The King.”
Cairokee: Cairo’s number-one rockers have six studio albums to their name
Egyptian rock might not be the first Arabic music genre that springs to mind, but Cairokee are certainly pioneers of this scene. Formed in 2003, it was eight years until Cairokee would shoot to prominence with their politically charged songs resonating with the Egyptian public during the 2011 Revolution.
Inspired by British bands like Pink Floyd and The Beatles, Cairokee are one of the few bands to push the boundaries and make young Arabs proud, continuing to write songs in their mother tongue despite enjoying global success beyond North Africa and the Middle East.
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