On the Rise: The Hip Hop Voices That Caught Our Ear in 2026

Connan is Sudanese rap’s freshest disruptor, evident by his 2024 breakout ‘Liga.’ Unlike peers chasing pop-leaning crossovers, Connan treats Afrobeats as texture rather than a compromise, keeping his sound anchored in raw drill and trap foundations. By carving a third lane between street credibility and global appeal, he makes high-stakes aggression sound effortless.

Hala Sherif is hard to confine to a single category. The Egyptian rapper moves fluidly between Arabic and English, equally capable of delivering razor-sharp verses and carrying a melodic hook with ease. Signed to Warner Music MENA, her growing catalogue includes collaborations with Abyusif and Nada Nader, while her most recent appearance on Ahmed G’s IntoMyMind mixtape continues to showcase an artist comfortable crossing between rap, melody, and pop.

BILLY TSTRK is a Beirut-born rapper and producer shaking up the underground hip-hop scene with a chaotic, punk-tinged sound rooted in gritty beats and sharp, sarcastic lyricism. As co-founder of M7DH0N collective, he channels Beirut’s restless energy and DIY ethos into fearless tracks and the avant-garde LP 7ASHARA.

Based in Jericho, Palestine, MrF13 is the region’s newest cult favorite. Known for his playful lyricism, other times devastating, he’s collaborated with DJ GAWAD, QOW, RA, and Pierre Pepe on tracks that prove music of the fringes is still alive and well.

Songs you need to know: BO7, La7ali, 3ANTAR (ft. Ebaa Monther)

Currently performing within two monikers including Thawra, leaning rap-forward, and Shams moving closer to pop, she is a dichotomy in sync. As Tharwa, her debut track was ‘Wala Hada’, in what she described to Complex MENA as a ‘diss track, against the world and everything in it.’ As Shams, she made her debut with the single ‘Ahwak’, a collaboration with producer Kubbara. Her debut album Qalb Plastic is in the works, and meant to release soon, using samples from Asmahan to Reda and Elissa, while traveling through various emotional ups and downs.

Songs you need to know: Icecape, OKZOBA, INDICA

YOUNG GIZA is part of Egypt’s next rap wave, coming out of Giza with a sound that feels dark, charged, and built on instinct. His music leans into heavy drums, distorted textures, and a rage-rap edge, creating tracks that feel more like a rush of energy than a clean-cut formula.

After first catching attention with ‘Tashleef,’ he kept sharpening his lane through a run of releases and collaborations, including ‘OKZOBA’ with Ziad Zaza. What makes YOUNG GIZA stand out is the atmosphere he builds around his voice: raw, restless, and fully tapped into the pace of Egypt’s new underground.

Songs you need to know: Azza

It is fair to say that Omnia’s feature on Rap Shar3 “Talk About Sudan” episode is one of the most viewed and celebrated appearances in the history of the show. Although not a rapper per se, Omnia left her mark on the regional hiphop scene, and SZA seems to agree.

Songs you need to know: DAWRYA, Atmasha, Moseeba (With LUIGII & 74 ORIGINAL)

Kuwait’s rap scene has been witnessing a rapid rise as of late, with OUZII leading the charge. His tracks have achieved widespread success, with ‘Atmashaa’ going viral on TikTok in 2024, establishing him as a name to watch across the GCC. What makes OUZII’s approach effective is his ability to craft catchy, accessible rap that doesn’t sacrifice authenticity.

Songs you need to know: Bs Ant, Shabat Nar

THE DO came up in the underground, moving through small stages and experimental sets to quickly becoming a viral sensation following the trendy rush of ‘Shabat Nar’. What started as instinct slowly sharpened into intention, shaping a clear vision where music, visuals, and culture move as one.
In his recent releases, THE DO leans into restraint, trading impact for intimacy. His music is tender, protective, and quietly magnetic, marking a sharper, more controlled edge to his ascent.

Songs you need to know: EHKILY, Esh El 3amal

Born Mohamed Antar in Libya to Bedouin parents and raised between Benghazi and El Arish, El Nashmy spent years searching for his voice before finding it in his roots. After ditching Cairo slang and American rap clichés, he rebuilt his sound around classical Arabic, Bedouin dialect, and the stark realities of life on Egypt’s margins.

His 2025 single ‘Esh El 3amal’ (produced with Morocco’s 9ine and released via RAAD Records) is a perfect representation of his personal and artistic journey so far, showcasing a moody dark-trap confessional that balances raw ambition with haunted introspection.

ZAF feels like one of those names you hear once, then suddenly start seeing everywhere. Coming out of Egypt’s new rap wave, his sound is loud, messy, and full of character, moving between quick flows, strange pockets, and hooks that stick without trying too hard.

With ZAF, everything feels unfiltered in the best way possible. Tracks like ‘MABSOTA!?,’ ‘LEM EL DOR,’ and ‘EN7DAR’ don’t really sit in one clean lane, and that’s the point. ZAF is building a sound of instinct, personality, and pure momentum, making him one of the more exciting young names to keep an eye on.

Songs you need to know: Zabatna Kida, 8Ball
LullySnake’s latest release, ‘8 Ball Freestyle,’ lands like a live wire in your palm: sharp, immediate, impossible to shake. That same voltage runs back to her 2024 debut, ‘Zabatna Kida,’ where the first signal came through loud, paired with a striking visual directed by Amir Sellimi. It’s a language she keeps building on, threading cinematic flashes of nature and offbeat, almost surreal scenes across her videos.
Across it all, she moves between languages and North African dialects with ease, her delivery snapping into different gears without warning. Flow, tone, cadence, she shifts between rapping and melody like it’s instinct. It’s that control, paired with a presence that doesn’t wait for permission, that positions LullySnake as one of the most compelling new voices cutting through right now.

Songs you need to know: Asliyah, 100/100, Miskeen (ft. Hyper_249)

Mecca-born rapper Asayel al-Bishi burst onto the scene in 2020 with ‘Bint Makkah,’ celebrating the women of her city, and immediately sparking controversy. Now signed to MDLBeast Records, Asayel’s music showcases her deliberate flow laced with Hejazi slang, closer to spoken-word but dripping with charisma.

Her baile funk-inspired production choices show an artist unafraid to blend global sounds with local pride.

Songs you need to know: Loop, LEIL

Since debuting with ‘WAHAJ’ in 2025, the Jeddah-born artist has emerged as part of Saudi Arabia’s new sonic wave. Early this year, Alshaikh launched a new chapter with ‘LOOP,’ the first single from his upcoming EP, where excessive boosting is replaced with a sense of sensibility, groundedness, and a deeper connection to self and emotion.

Songs you need to know: Wassa, Jordan 1s, Telephone

Australian rapper Vv Pete is always repping her Sudanese heritage, whether through her sharp lyrics or heavy club beats inspired by North African rhythms. Known for her genre-bending raps, Vv Pete is cementing her sound as absolutely distinctive and absolutely hers.

Songs you need to know: 67, Fjaw Hwa

TWIX is among the new generation of Libyan rappers pushing the country’s hip-hop scene forward. Fusing melodic trap production with sharp, emotionally charged lyricism, his music captures the ambition, frustrations, and realities of young Libyans while embracing the polished sound of contemporary rap. As his catalogue continues to grow, TWIX is helping place Libya’s evolving hip-hop movement on the regional map.

Songs you need to know: L’TOP, MGHABESH

Rapper and producer SHBASH is known for his melancholic yet hard-hitting beats and thought-provoking lyrics, capturing life as a young artist navigating Jordan’s nightlife. His music can make you dance, and break your heart, often in the same track.

Songs you need to know: Hroob, BALALEEN, MALAHI

Laila Beshara began her career with melodic hiphop and classic R&B tunes. Most recently, she switched back to Arabic lyrics and is debuting a new persona with the release of ‘MALAHI’, a single from her upcoming EP LE3BA GDEEDA. By the sound of it, we expect something more noisy, experimental, and electronic-leaning.

Songs you need to know: Ya Malaki (ft. Fawzi & Touch)

We’re always anticipating new voices from BLTNM, and Carlo, from Nablus, is the latest addition to the crew. Alongside his trap-infused tracks available on soundcloud, Carlo was featured for the first time under BLTNM in the song ‘Ya Malaki’ released early this year, alongside BLTNM alumni Fawzi and Touch.

Songs you need to know: Tuareg, SHIN NE9DAR NDEER, SAHRAWI

Not your traditional hip-hop artist, AMAKA JAJI draws on subtle trap textures, as heard on ‘Tuareg’. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Ghat, Libya, he blends Tuareg tradition into a sound that feels entirely his own. Self-taught on guitar, his music draws from Tuareg rhythms, hip-hop, and raï, rooted in personal narrative and cultural memory. Since relocating to Egypt in 2025, he’s emerged as a quiet standout in the city’s music community.

Songs you need to know: Rasta, Bako, Jiddo
Mvndila is the antidote to the grime-heavy chaos of modern rap. At 25, the Sudan-born, Saudi-raised rapper is rewriting the rules by swapping aggression for a hazy, laid-back energy. By blending classical Haqeeba and country with R&B, Mvndila crafts a sound as experimental as it is personal. His standout track ‘Rasta’ defines his lane: calm, confident, and impossibly smooth, proving that emotional storytelling hits just as hard as any heavy beat.

Not your traditional hip-hop artist, AMAKA JAJI draws on subtle trap textures, as heard on ‘Tuareg’. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Ghat, Libya, he blends Tuareg tradition into a sound that feels entirely his own. Self-taught on guitar, his music draws from Tuareg rhythms, hip-hop, and raï, rooted in personal narrative and cultural memory. Since relocating to Egypt in 2025, he’s emerged as a quiet standout in the city’s music community.

Songs you need to know: HYSTERIA, ARMANI, MONALIZA (ft. Hleem Taj Alser‬)
Papii has built a lane all his own through pure sonic experimentation. His 2024 track ‘Rizz’ finds him bouncing over an Amapiano beat with an elastic flow, smart wordplay, and signature ad-libs.
His frequent collaborations with producer XTHEDESERTKID add a North African flavor to his sound, creating a bridge between the Maghreb and East Africa. Whether riding trap beats or experimenting with Afro-fusion, Papii approaches each track like a mad scientist, constantly evolving while keeping that raw Sudanese edge intact.

Songs you need to know: A7WAL, SH BDH’M MNA?, 55555

The 23-year-old chronicled survival in Gaza in his debut EP Bdl Faqed, recorded between UN camps and a solar-powered Rafah studio before it was bombed. Now displaced in Cairo, Shamaly is building Gaza’s hip-hop future through MANJAM Records.

Songs you need to know: Nafs El Hala2, Kadabeen
Hoda Sherbeeny moves like an artist still testing her edges, and that’s exactly the pull. Sliding between hip-hop and R&B with an instinct for mood over formula, she treats each drop like a new lane. On cuts like ‘Nafs El Hala2’ and ‘Kadabeen,’ she leans into raw feeling and sonic curiosity, carving out a space that feels both unpolished and intentional, but effortlessly fresh and feisty nonetheless. Hoda Sherbeeny is soon to be the region’s it-girl, mark our words.

Songs you need to know: Darja Darja, Roots (ft. Raste), Au DD

Fares Lünn is a rapper and producer sharpening his edge on the underground Moroccan scene with restless creativity and genre‑fluid beats. Blending introspective lyricism with pulse‑driven production, he bridges melodic hooks and gritty bars in a way that feels both personal and cinematic. Always evolving, Lünn’s sound hits hard while staking out a lane that’s unmistakably his own

Songs you need to know: Abgha Al Salama
DEHMEZ is an emerging Saudi rapper whose journey reflects a shift from introspective, emotional tracks into music driven by energy, movement, and joy. He made a strong impression with his single ‘Abgha Al Salama’, released in November 2025 via MDLBEAST Records, which gained wide traction among hip-hop audiences for its raw energy and authentic expression.
DEHMEZ’s music blends tech-house elements with contemporary rhythms, reflecting a constantly evolving artistic vision.

Songs you need to know: RAMBO, MI AMORI (ft. Wingii), 3ala 7saby

Al Marj rapper Begad Osama, who simply goes by Begad, has been blowing up lately, fusing classic hip-hop with drill, trap, and Arabic melodies that hit different. His 2024 breakout EP Low L!fe [Part 1] is a raw meditation on ambition and survival in his neighborhood, delivered with the kind of authenticity that can’t be faked. Whether he’s riding aggressive drill beats or slowing it down for introspective cuts, Begad’s got the range and the city’s paying attention.

Songs you need to know: XXL, SITAKI TENA

Hailing from Morocco, MXLAK has been on a four-year hiatus and makes her return with the single ‘XXL,’ released this spring. The song has garnered upwards of 250k views on YouTube so far and counting.

Songs you need to know: Game Over, PRO MAX, Wagif, Jari (ft. roTation)

Behind his enigmatic mask, Riyadh-based Sudanese rapper Tageel has become one of the scene’s most compelling figures. His debut album Kitab showcases his chameleonic range, transitioning from trap-inflected rhythmic intensity to meditative verbal craftsmanship.

Drawing inspiration from Sudanese icons like Mohammed Wardi and collaborating with a wide range of producers, Tageel’s music marries commanding lyrical prowess with trap rhythms while retaining an unmistakably Sudanese essence.

Songs you need to know: Taffy Nary, BE ODRET AADER

At just 21, Mshrf is one of the few emerging voices putting Fayoum on Egypt’s hip-hop map, bringing a perspective beyond the country’s dominant Cairo and Alexandria scenes. His music cuts across hip-hop, shaabi, with a tinge of pop, weaving Egyptian melodic and rhythmic textures into his developing sound. His latest single, ‘Taffy Nary,’ marks his debut on Raad Records, signalling an artist steadily expanding his sonic language.

Songs you need to know: Law Hatemshi, WAYAK

Nada Nader interprets NYC drill in her very own way. No matter how hardcore any given beat is, she will make sure her voice remains angelic and soothing without missing a single beat. But don’t mistake her presence for a lack of edge, Nada Nader will bring it on if need be.

Songs you should know: BTLT AHEB, Anyab

Rapper and co-founder of Vent Records, Bshndy can cruise on any given beat. Trap, alternative trap or oldschool beats, the Gazan rapper is Gaza’s very own hybrid gem.

Although set against literal rubble, Bshndy’s music is not confined to tragedy, rather a tapestry of shared human emotions. From politics, to love and heartbreak, to loss of motive, bshndy is the voice of Gazan youth in all of its complexities.

Songs you need to know: MARRA, Gowa el Goyoob

Known for his introspective lyrics and commitment to the non-commercialization of rap, Logical Da9ud is one of Egypt’s most evolving Soundcloud rappers. Constantly exploring varied BPMs, genres, and approaches, Logical Da9ud does it for the pure love of the game.

Songs you need to know: JEDDAH BOYS (ft. Alyoung), Waqt Al Jid, FLEX

MOHAMEDMEM is considered by many as one of the youngest vanguards of Saudi Arabia’s underground rap scene’s sonic evolution. After crashing into the underground with his 2024 debut album Ma Naset, MOHAMEDMEM quickly established a signature delivery style equally monotonic and mesmerizing.

MOHAMEDMEM traded generic tropes for raw, introspective storytelling over dense cloud trap and experimental jerk rhythms, cutting across old-school grit to experimental subgenres.

Songs you need to know: El Shanta Feha Eh
Hassan Yasser has drawn attention for his futuristic visual style and diverse musical output, blending different shades of hip-hop and trap with a more evolved take on shaabi, giving him a distinct identity within Egypt’s music scene.
Among his standout releases is ‘El Shanta Feha Eh,’ from his album Mesh Aref Bansa Wala La, featuring some of Egypt’s biggest names including Abyusif, Abo El Anwar, 3enba, and Lil Baba. He revisited that same momentum with his latest release ‘Mafeesh Meno,’ from the EP Madyoneer.

Songs you need to know: Yo Bniti, Must Be Dumb

Known for mixing Moroccan Darija with UK Drill, British-Moroccan Ermaine went viral with his song ‘Yo Bniti’ where he used the adlib “Bayd”. Since then, he appeared on The Breakfast Club, Bootleg Kev, and On the Radar Radio alongside his longtime collaborator Yasin.

Songs you need to know: MAFIA, ‘ESH TEBA

Still bubbling beneath the surface, S6oner has quietly built momentum since his first YouTube release, ‘بلاه بلاه’, in 2021. His catalogue leans into dark, grimy trap, a lane he continues to sharpen on recent releases including ‘MAFIA’ and ‘ESH TEBA’, a collaboration with Dehmez and RAG. While he’s yet to break into the mainstream, his steady output suggests an artist carving out his own corner of Egypt’s underground.

Songs you need to know: Msh Balomhom, Amara (ft. Abyusif), Malha Di

Taffy is one of Egypt’s first independent rappers and songwriters. Blending Arabic and English bars, she pairs sharp confidence with global rap influences and local edge. Raised around music, Taffy flips bravado into empowerment, challenging norms and making noise in a space that wasn’t built for her, but now has to listen.

Songs you need to know: LABASH, MASHY BE3LAG, KAZA MADA

Following the Afroto and Marwan Pablo blueprint, Giza native Khaled Rossia doubles down on hard-hitting flows and melodic hooks while others drift. With producers Mvrslino and Hellboy, tracks like ‘Giza Loca’ prove raw lyricism still reigns supreme.

Songs you need to know: Cali 2 Morocco, Maroc Boy

Moroccan-American rapper Yasin is making waves both regionally and globally, with his appearance on On The Radar Radio solidifying his place as one of Morocco’ s rising stars.
In 2025, he co-founded MAROC BOYZ, a collective uniting Moroccan diaspora artists, including LostBoy, Ermaine, and bassist 48ᵀᴴST, to amplify their shared heritage globally.