El Hachmi Guerouabi

El-Hadj El Hachmi Guerouabi (born January 6, 1938, in Algiers, Algeria - died July 17, 2006 in Paris, France) was an Algerian singer and composer of Chaâbi and one of the Grand Masters of the Algiers-based Chaâbi music.
He was born in El Mouradia (Algiers) and grew up in Bélouizdad (formerly Belcourt). Two passions occupied Guerouabi's childhood: Football and music. Being a good footballer he played with La Redoute AC football club until 1952. By then he had developed a special interest to music; in particular the music of El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, M'rizek and Hssissen.

His win in the El Arbi Music-Hall contest helped him join the Opera of Algiers in 1953, where he was engaged in music but also played several theatrical roles including the famous Haroun Errachid.After the independence of Algeria from France in 1962, Guerouabi saw the invasion of foreign music, especially from Europe and Egypt, as a threat to the traditional Algerian music. He tries to attract a younger audience by introducing fundamental changes in his compositions that will later make him a distinctive and Master of Chaâbi.Guerouabi continued his innovations and became an icon of the Algerian popular music. He was invited to perform in various occasions by prestigious institutions and notable individuals, which added to his popularity and respect among Chaâbi fans.In 1987, Guerouabi went on a pilgrimage in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) and gained the title of “El-Hadj”. He moved to Paris (France) in the late 1990s for medical treatment for severe diabetes, where he settled until his death in 2006. Despite his illness, Guerouabi continued to produce music, play in concerts around the world and play at weddings, but in February 2005 he had undergone a surgery that resulted in the amputation of his leg and his decision to quit music. However, due to a growing demand from his homeland, he gave his last concert in Algiers on July 4th, 2005 in front of a very large audience. He was admitted to hospital again in July 2006, one year exactly after his last public appearance, after a heart attack which cost him his life. El Hachmi Guerouabi died on July 17th, 2006 in Paris and left behind him a large repertoire of music, a musical renaissance but most importantly a remarkable contribution to the vulgarisation of Chaâbi.Wikipedia

Ali Hassan Kuban

Ali Hassan Kuban was an Egyptian musician. He was born in a small village in Nubia in 1929 or 1933 (sources differ on that point) and died in Cairo in 2001.Ali Hassan Kuban began his musical career as a child singing on the boats on the Nile. In 1942 he moved with his parents to Cairo where he learned to play several musical instruments.He played in several traditional Nubian bands and formed his own group which combined Western and traditional Nubian instruments and incorporated outside elements in the traditional Nubian music.Kuban quickly became a star for Nubians throughout Egypt. When he began to sing Arabian texts to Nubian melodies his fame spread to the Egyptian population in general and in the 90’s he began to gain international recognition.Last.Fm

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Koor195

Koor is one of the pioneer singers who made oriental rock music a commercial music in Arab world that is why his fans called him (King Of Oriental Rock), actually he is composing and writing most of his songs trying to make a new image for the oriental music to reach the global music classifications.
Koor had a bachelor degree in interior designing engineering and started music Professionalism year 1997 after he returned from U.S.A with a lots of English rock concerts in Egypt after that he launched his first Arabic rock album (Ayesh Amir) year 2001 and recently he released his second Oriental Rock album (DownTown - Wust El balaad) Aug 2007 and more than 7 unique music videos since 2002.sourse web KOR195

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Ramy Sabry

Before graduating from the music academy in Egypt , he had already started .His musical career by composing songs for few of the famous singers , such as Amer Moneeb , Sherine and Fadl Shaker .Ramy sabry him self is a young singer whose future is blooming.In 2005 he encountered director tarek alrian who immediately decided to adopt ramy’s talent and to produce his first album << habiby al awalany >>3 videos were shot , Two of which were directed by Tarek Alarian and one by Moussa Eissa .Having launched his first album , Ramy participated in many musical events such as : live concerts , school proms and university welcome parties
Eventually , Ramy began his success and has become a well known singer in Egypt . moreover , in the media field , he appeared in (3) biggest show programs in the middle east : taratata which was shot in paris , nagham and sekout hanghny
He was even selected to be given some movie scripts to consider which he unfortunately turned down.In Ramy point of view , he wishes that Tarek Alarian direct his first film as he would most likely present Ramy in his best image

In 2008 , Rami worked hard to give us his second album But there has been a lot of problems, His musical album was leaked to websites and all his work lost in vain . Therefore, The album has bee postponed in the markets more than once .
Ramy was racing against time to make his album see the light again , he make new songs for his album in a record time. Last.FM

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Azam Ali

Azam Ali was born in Iran but spent most of her early years in India before moving to the US in the mid eighties. She is a vocalist of astonishing diversity with a range covering music from the mediaeval European to the classical Eastern - Persian, Lebanese and Indian.In November 1995, along with Greg Ellis, Ali formed Vas, producing four albums: Sunyata (1997), Offerings (1998), In The Garden Of Souls (2000), and Feast of Silence (2004).In 2002 she released her first solo album, Portals of Grace, which saw her expand her repertoire even farther and prove her to be equally as adept in singing in 13th century French-Provençal, Galician and Ladino as she is in Arabic.In 2005, Ali worked on a new project called Niyaz with solo artist Carmen Rizzo and Axiom of Choice member Loga Ramin Torkian. Its self-titled album, Niyaz features Ali’s vocals sung in Urdu and Farsi, backed up by more electronica-style music.In June 2006, Ali released her latest solo album, Elysium For The Brave, where she includes English singing in her repertoire.LAST.FM

Mohamed Nour

Mohamed Nour : Was born on January 18th in Cairo . His handsome looks and strong physique have made him very popular with the ladies and turned him into an admired heartthrob with the fans. However, his looks do not undermine his passion and talent for music. His love for the violin and the passion of his lyrics are all indications of a very talented artist. Mohamed is one of the founders of the band and is considered the vocal power behind it. His participation at an early age in international concerts, playing alongside big stars like Rachid Taha and Cheb Khaled, has added value and experience and has helped him mature into a serious artist. He looks up to Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Michael Bolton. His goal is to reach people with his music, and with it, reach the heights of fame.

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RACHID TAHA

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه‎) (born 1958 in Oran, Algeria) is an French-Algerian musician. His music is influenced by many different styles such as rock, techno and raï.Based in Paris, France where he began his solo career after his beginnings as the leader of the French rock band Carte de Séjour, he usually sings in Arabic. In 1981, while living in Lyon, France, Taha met Mohammed and Mokhtar Amini. The three of them, Rachid, Djamel Dif and Eric Vaquer would later form the band "Carte De séjour" (Green Card) and record their first maxi Album Carte De Séjour in 1983. Their first LP Rhoromanie, came out in 1984. Their second and last LP entitled Ramsa (Five) was released in 1986 and included their famous and ironic cover of Douce France, originally sung by Charles Trenet. The band dissolved in 1989.
His breakthrough album as a solo artist was Diwân, featuring remakes of songs for the Algerian and Arab traditions. His album Tékitoi, produced by Steve Hillage and released in 2004, also brought him great acclaim and recognition from other rock musicians. In 2005 he performed with Robert Plant, Patti Smith and Brian Eno.
He covered The Clash song Rock the Casbah (in Arabic, as "Rock El Casbah"), which appeared in the 2007 film about Clash frontman Joe Strummer, The Future Is Unwritten.Some critics attribute Taha's unique sound to his use of the mandolute, a mixture of the traditional oud with European fretted instruments.The song Barra Barra from his album Made In Medina was featured in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down as well as in the Games Convention 2008 trailer of the game Far Cry 2. Recently was featured in the 2007 film The Hunting Party. His song "Garab" from "Made in Medina" was used in the movie Blood and Chocolate in 2007.Wikipedia

Biyouna

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Biyouna (Baya Bouzar) is an Algerian singer, dancer, actress born in 1952 in Belcourt, Algiers, Algeria.Inhabited by a very early passion for singing, she has been a member of several groups, first in Fadela Dziria's group where she played tambourine, and another that she directed with her accomplice Flifla, and finally her own where she is the main vocalist and has become sought after for wedding receptions.At the age of seventeen she began performing in some of the biggest cabarets in the city and at 19 started dancing at the 'Copacabana'.

Acting career

That same year, the director Mustapha Badie and the landmark makes it turn its first soap opera, where she sings the role of Fatma, La Grande Maison (1973), adapted from the novel by Mohamed Dib. The series will make famous.For the Algerian film, it runs two films: Leila and the other Sis Ali Mazi in 1978,Neighbor Ghaouti Bendedouche in 2000 and has performed in one-woman show .
Biyouna in Viva LaldjérieAlmost more Algerian, Biyouna is the icon of a city that has never stopped moving despite political violence and the compromises of the various powers which have succeeded. His exuberant character and attitude impede frank indeed in some circles… It could be an eccentric character of Almodóvar, or one of those muses troubling that one crosses in old movies Fassbinder. Equally at home with his friends in Paris with transvestites Algiers whose special affection she is a free woman par excellence that devours the existence of all ends. She is in love with life, it emanates from it a force volcanic enthusiasm skin-deep and a philosophy epicurean. If current flows so well with his audience is that everyone, both men and women, recognizes himself in his songs that are vignettes from everyday life, small soap operas every day. The air of nothing, she slips her favorite themes, freedom, peace, hospitality, common sense. She speaks reports lovers, denounces intolerance, pettiness and stupidity, and does not rate as an opportunity to make fun of those who mingle affairs of others.In 1999, Nadir Moknèche offered him the role of Meriem in The Harem Madame Osmane she runs in France. This film will be followed by Viva Laldjéri in 2003.Blonde dans la Casbah

Music career

Meanwhile, Biyouna continues a singing career and released in 2001 an album of songs Raid Zone, directed by the composer John Bagnolett. After the success of the album Raid Zone and her participation in the role of Fellag Casbah Opera to be staged by Jerome Savary, Biyouna released a new album Blonde dans la Casbah. The idea for this album was in the air for a long time. Biyouna took her time, carefully selecting a directory franco-algérien that draws in both cultures. Around it, we must mention Joseph Racaille responsible for the arrangements, Christophe Dupouy regular partner Jean-Louis Murat in charge of mixing, not to mention her two "guardian angels": her agent Olivier Guzman, and her husband who knew Mokhtar ensure grain...She lives with her husband and four children in the suburbs of Algiers.WIKIPEDIA

Omar Souleyman

Omar Souleyman is a Syrian musical legend. Since 1994 he and his musicians have emerged as a staple of folk-pop throughout Syria, but until now they have remained little-known outside of the country. To date, they have issued more than 500 studio and live recorded cassette albums which are easily spotted in the shops of any Syrian city. Born in rural Northeastern Syria, he began his musical career in 1994 with a small group of local collaborators that remain with him today. The myriad musical traditions of the region are evident in their music. Here, classical Arabic mawal-style vocalization gives way to high-octane Syrian Dabke (the regional folkloric dance and party music), Iraqi Choubi and a host of Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish styles, among others. This amalgamation is truly the sound of Syria. The music often has an overdriven sound consisting of phase-shifted Arabic keyboard solos and frantic rhythms. At breakneck speeds, these shrill Syrian electronics play out like forbidden morse-code, but the moods swing from coarse and urgent to dirgy and contemplative in the rugged anthems that comprise Souleyman's repertoire. Oud, reeds, baglama saz, accompanying vocals and percussion fill out the sound from track to track. Mahmoud Harbi is a long-time collaborator and the man responsible for much of the poetry sung by Souleyman. Together, they commonly perform the Ataba, a traditional form of folk poetry used in Dabke. On stage, Harbi chain smokes cigarettes while standing shoulder to shoulder with Souleyman, periodically leaning over to whisper the material into his ear. Acting as a conduit, Souleyman struts into the audience with urgency, vocalizing the prose in song before returning for the next verse. Souleyman’s first hit in Syria was "Jani" (1996) which gained cassette-kiosk infamy and brought him recognition throughout the country. Over the years, his popularity has risen steadily and the group tirelessly performs concerts throughout Syria and has accepted invitations to perform abroad in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Lebanon. Omar Souleyman is a man of hospitality and striking integrity who describes his style as his own and prides himself on not being an imitator or a sellout.http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/item.asp?Item_id=57&t=Omar-Souleyman:-Highway-to-Hassake-(Folk-and-Pop-Sounds-of-Syria)

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Shadia Mansour

Shadia Mansour
British born Palestinian at 21 years of age delivers her melodic voice, in both English and Arabic, blending traditional and classical Middle Eastern sounds into smooth but powerful soul. At 18, Shadia wrote and produced her own album "Incomplete" performing at various venues including the famous 'Soul Cafe' in downtown Manhattan.Opening for 'Busta Rhymes' and 'Mobb Deep' at the PALADIUM Club, NYC. She has appeared on various T.V and Radio Stations in New York City.

Lotfi Double Kanon

Lotfi was born on 06/07/1974 in Annaba, father of a worker is a mother at home.He grew up in a modest family composed of a brother and two sisters.All university graduates.Environment creation and motivation in him the thirst for knowledge.
Degrees:
BA-Mathematics series in 1992 in Annaba.
-Engineer status in 1998 in geology from the University of Annaba.
The modest income of her family motivated to take charge of her young age, so to purchase his first “synthesizer”, it had to do odd jobs for summer.
Lotfi produced models with a very archaic material to present to the local radio and make themselves known in the art.His second step will be passing Annabi on stage to present to the public this new style of Algerian music. The result was immediate and many young people as Lotfi s’identifièrent in carrying their message.DOUBLE KANON AND JUSTICE: During a live performance on stage Lotfi theater green Annaba summer 1997, he became acquainted with the intolerance of public authorities which have interrupted the show involving the texts too expressive in their words.This act ignited the crowd that met the force of law and order and who earned the label Lotfi singing “Rebel”.AND LOTFI Waheb: With his friend Waheb, lotfi formalize the group “DOUBLE KANON” by entering the studio to record the first album KAMIKAZE; opening the door of the long road that will go through the group .Last.fm

Abdy

Abdy, a recent signing to the V2 label, is typical of the young fusion generation currently emerging on the French music scene. Born in Morocco, but growing up in France, Abdy has always been plugged into two different musical cultures, so for him the mix of Western sounds and Oriental rhythms comes naturally. Abdy received a formal music training, studying at the local Conservatoire for several years before going on to form his own group, Abdy Jazzy-Raï. Abdy then launched a solo career, recording his debut album, Galbi, with the renowned musical arranger Safy Boutellah. Following in the footsteps of Turkish pop wonder Tarkan (whose 'look' has obviously influenced him), Abdy went on to launch Finek, a single aimed at the dance charts. But unfortunately for Abdy, the musical balance between East and West can be hard to find and his heavily pop-oriented album appears to be struggling to find an audience. http://www.rfimusique.com/musiqueen/articles/060/article_6605.asp

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Bigg

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Taoufiq Hazeb (Arabic: توفيق حازب‎) (born in 1983) better known by his stage name Bigg and Alkhaser, is a Moroccan rapper from Casablanca. He is considered one of the pioneers of Moroccan rap, mainly for his aggressive style and for his songs' themes, which express problems within many of Moroccans.Born in 1983 in the "Roches Noires" neighborhood in Casablanca, Bigg grew up in a middle class family. Bigg studied in "Imam Malik" high school, and after receiving his Baccalauréat, he began to study Law in the Hassan II University in Mohammedia. He is currently studying the third year (where he could receive the licentiate).Wikipedia

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Yasser Habib

Yasser Habeeb is an innovative, enterprising producer and Arabic/Gulf –Oriental crossover singer from the UAE. He started his career in 1992 and was heavily involved in studio production work for a number of local artists but it was in the summer of 2000 when Yasser approached EMI Music Arabia with his Indian influenced mystical song “Elama” that his artistic career really took off.His first album was released by EMI in January 2001 and was an immediate success helped by massive radio airplay, such that on 3rd February 2001, he was presented by EMI Music Arabia with a prestigious Gold Disc for sales of the album just one week after release. The album was self titled and produced with most of the songs composed by the artist himself and with lyrics by popular poets including Abdullah Al Shamisi, Ahmed Hijazi, Tarad and others.The songs – unusually for a Gulf Artist – vary in style, speed and influences, and range from Persian to Indian to Turkish.From then on Yasser was approached by media from throughout the Middle East including Qatar, Bahrain, and Muscat where he toured.After his huge success in the GGC countries, Yasser was invited to Lebanon and Jordan for more exposure and coverage, where he appeared on the TV’s, and was featured in all major publications.Yasser has been approached by EMI’s India office to do a duet with leading singers of India, to break into the markets of the largest Asian subcontinent and also benefit from MTV Asia coverage.The song “Elama” has been included in a number of top selling compilations including the most successful Arabic compilation of all time – NOW Arabia – which has been released worldwide and achieved Platinum status in territories as far flung as Chile.Yasser’s follow up album “Mitghayer” – again self produced – released in April 2002, includes the salsa influenced dance track “ Carnaval Mitghayer” which is the first video clip taken from the album, and the Indian influenced “Khanak Zamanak”.Last.Fm

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Cheb Mami

Cover of Dellali

Cheb Mami (Arabic: شاب مامي‎, Ahmed Khelifati Mohamed, born July 11, 1966) is an Algerian-born raï singer. His birth was in Graba-el-wed, a populous quarter of Saida. Located 170 kilometres south of Oran, the city of Saida is on the high mesas of southwestern Algeria.He sings and speaks in Algerian Arabic, French and sometimes, as on Layali, in Egyptian Arabic.Cheb Mami grew up in the city of Saida to a family of factory workers. He began singing and playing the accordion on Saida streets and by 1980 began performing at local weddings and ceremonies.
In 1982, the 16-year-old adolescent sang on the Alhan wa Chabab radio show, a singing competition organised by Radio Télevision Algérienne. He sang "El Marsam" (The Sanctuary) a classic of Oranese music from the 1920s. The audience was transfixed by the sheer emotion of his performance and by his concordant vocal intonations which captured perfectly the flavour of the song's title. The judges, who represented the government which refused to admit even the existence of raï, gave the first prize to the contestant that sang a cover version of a hit by the famous Egyptian diva, Umm Kulthum, but were forced to acknowledge the standing ovation Mami received by awarding him second prize.Cheb Mami was spotted by Boualem, the producer of the Oran label, Disco Maghreb, and the cassette waltz began. From 1982 to 1985, Cheb Mami recorded about ten cassettes, whose production varied from 100,000 to 500,000 copies[citation needed]It was in 1985 that Mami came to Paris and found his musical niche. Raï fused blues, funk, salsa, reggae, hip hop and Algerian rhythms, while integrating touches of his idols Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding and French rapper MC Solaar.Cheb Mami made his first official public appearance at the First Oran Raï Festival in 1985, which marked the official recognition of the genre by the Algerian authorities.He was in military service for two years in Algeria but was an entertainer on army bases. After that, in May 1989, Mami returned to the Paris at the Olympia, rejuvenating Rai music. He began making recordings and performing in cabarets in the Paris suburb of Barbès. He also toured the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Scandinavia and England.Mami's music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences including Turkish, Flamenco and Greek music as well as Latin music. His voice is tinged with Andalusian accents, and his music is an amalgamation of the traditional and the modern styles of singing and creation of music.In 1999, Mami topped the French pop charts with a groundbreaking duet with French rapper K-Mel, "Parisien du Nord". The song was an anthem against racism that seamlessly made the transition between hip hop and raï, and introduced throngs of young new audiences to raï. This song explores the racist issues between Arabs and French and the challenges of identity.As well as recording many straight raï songs, Cheb Mami has achieved crossover success with the hip-hop remix of his track "Parisien du Nord" on his album Meli Meli and also with the backing vocals on Sting's hit "Desert Rose" and Youm Wara Youm the title track of which is a duet with Samira Said .When Sting's album was released in 2000, the pair's duet, "Desert Rose", went rocketing to the top of singles charts around the world, fulfilling Mami's long-held dream of internationalising Raï sounds.Perhaps Mami's most successful recording is the album Dellali, produced by former Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers, which was released soon after his collaboration with Sting. The album's lead single was "Le Raï C'est Chic". This track, which opens the album, "is an energetic dance track featuring Mami's biggest fan, Sting, on backing vocals and is destined to get most of the mainstream media attention (and radio airplay)". Mami's first collaboration with Sting in 2001 on, "Desert Rose", "topped the charts around the globe, and led to television appearances on Saturday Night Live, the Today Show, Jay Leno, David Letterman, the Grammy Awards telecast and even a live performance at the Super Bowl". His international success, and namely his recognition in mainstream American popular culture, has led him to be called the "Prince of Raï".[2] Although Mami has been able to be recognized by mainstream media in the United States, Americans often equate his raï music genre with rock in the US during the 1950s and 1960s.[4] Americans believe raï to be "North African punk," a genre of music for the purpose of rebelling against the government and resembling the music of ‘young rockers’[4] in the US, when in reality this music plays a very different role in the life of the North African diasporic community in France. Although raï does include narratives of the various struggles of this community against "the Algerian state or against the forces of ‘tradition’",it is also the "music of the racialized Other" which chronicles struggles with racism and identity of North African people in France. Mami's international success is commendable and an indication of the power of his music; however, the misunderstanding of the roots of the raï music genre may allow the music to seem more relatable to international, especially American audiences.Wikipedia

Desert Heat

Desert Heat is an Arab hip hop group originating from the UAE (United Arab Emirates). Formed in late 2002, Desert Heat consists of two Emirati brothers Salim Dahman known as ‘Illmiyah’ (eel-mee-yah) and Abdullah Dahman known as ‘Arableak’.
Desert Heat primarily rap in English, but the majority of their songs contain some Arabic language content. They speak about their own struggles, what it is like being an Arab youth.Desert Heat's first public performance was in an audition for Akon in Dubai. The band became so popular, Desert Heat actually was one of the opening acts on launch of MTV Arabia in November 2007 alongside Akon, Ludacris and Karl Wolf.
Shortly after Desert Heat released their first video "Keep It Desert" . Their debut album "When The Desert Speaks" released on June 22, 2008. WIKIPEDIA

K'naan

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in the district of Wardhiigleey ("The Lake of Blood") during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most famous singers. K'naan's grandfather, Haji Mohamed, was a poet. K'naan is also a Muslim. His name, K'naan, means "traveller" in the Somali language.K'naan's father, Abdi, left the country, along with many other intellectuals to settle in New York City and work as a cab driver. He mailed money home to his family. As the civil war continued and the situation in Somalia continued to deteriorate, K'naan's mother, Marian Mohamed, petitioned the United States embassy for an exit visa. In 1991, on the last day the US embassy remained open as the government of Mohamed Siad Barre collapsed their visa was approved, and they boarded the last commercial flight out of the country.They joined relatives in Harlem, New York City, before moving to the Toronto, Ontario neighbourhood of Rexdale, where there was a large Somali Canadian community. His family still lives there. In his new country, K'naan began learning English, some through hip hop albums by artists like Nas and Rakim. Despite speaking no English, the young K'naan taught himself hip hop and rap diction, copying the lyrics and style phonetically. He then also began rapping. He dropped out of school in grade ten to travel for a time, rapping at open mic events, and eventually returned to Toronto.Wikipedia

Intik

INTIK - Soldat from zoomalgerie on Vimeo.

Intik (Arabic: أنتيك; pronounced: [æn.ti:k]) is an Algerian rap group consisting of four MCs. The group raps in both Algerian Arabic dialect and French and often drawing upon the violence all four experienced while growing up in turbulent Algeria during the 80s and 90s. The name Intik in Algerian dialect means “everything’s going great”, which is ironic considering the Algerian political unrest which the Intik focuses upon. Intik's front man is the rapper Youss (short for Youssef) with the other members being Reda, Samir, and Nabil.The four started rapping after experiencing the violence in Algeria in 1988, specifically at one protest in which the military opened fire on the assembled crowd of Algerians which included the to-be members of Intik. In an interview Youss discusses the moment when he knew he wanted to rap, "Because I saw [the events in Algeria October 5th, 1988]... I was scared I saw virulent violence with a capital 'V'. It was state terrorism as it's called. A military that shoots the people. And I witnessed it. I even have scars from that... I was young in '88... beaten by the police." This state-terrorism inspired Youss to write about the government. He asked questions and he states that “the more you asked questions, the more you discover. And when you didn’t ask questions, you discover nothing. As soon as you begin to reflect, you begin to have answers.” It’s from these answers that he got his lyrics from and then expressed it in rap. Reda, was already into rap. He was writing rhymes in Arabic as were Nabil and Samir as well. Youss was more into the reggae and ragga scene.The group Intik was founded when Algerian artist [Youss] (who was determined to leave Algeria at the time) joined with the group and just “buckled down and worked”. At the time, Youss was actually just trying to help these men “make a better life for themselves” by getting out of Algeria and heading to France. When Youss knew that he would be coming to France, he said that he wasn’t alone, and that he was a part of a group “just to get the visas”. The group rapped in both French and Arabic. In terms of obtaining rap to listen to when Youss was just beginning his rapping career, he said, “it was really difficult but we had ways of getting hold of the music. There was always someone in England or in France who'd send us cassettes”. The group was discovered by a successful French rap group IAM (band) after they heard them at a festival. Due to the talent, a few well known artists wanted to be featured on their first album; however Intik wanted to create their own success without using already famous artists to help them.Wikipedia

Lowkey

Lowkey (via last.fm)

Lowkey (born Kareem Dennis, 23rd May 1986) is a British musician, poet, playwright and political activist of English and Iraqi descent. He first came to fame through a series of mixtapes he released before he was 18, before taking a hiatus from the music business. He would return in 2008 with wider music coverage, featured on BBC Radio and appearing at various festivals and concerts including the Electric Proms, Glastonbury, T In The Park and Oxegen in the build up to his first solo album, as well as collaborating with other famous British musicians to form a supergroup.Lowkey was born in London to an Iraqi mother and an English father. From the age of twelve he began to rap, initially imitating American rappers but soon using his own accent. He began attending the open mic sessions which took place at the Deal Real record shop on Carnaby Street, Central London. The first time he went he introduced himself as Lowkey and was told there was already a regular there by that name; the two had a battle rap over the use of the name which Kareem won.WIKIPEDIA

Doctor Phreaker

Doctor Phreaker -Also Known As :Sha3er el Vicodin -Born: 10 June 1987 -Occupation : Rapper - Music Producer & Song Writer -Education: School Of Medicine -Cairo University - -Genere: Hardcore Rap -Doctor Phreaker "aka" Vicodin Poet is a Song Writer, Hardcore Rap Performer , Music Composer and Producer. -Began Rapping at the Age of 15 With Performing the Hit Rap songs By Rappers LikeIce Cube, Mobb Deep, Tupac -Started Performing His Own Lyrics at the age of 17 on the beats of Tupac and Mobb Deep. -Wrote Over 200 Songs during the past 3 Years. -The First Album " Nazareyet el Dokhool Shemal " was a Collection of some Old Tracks. -The Second Album called " Dysphoria " was released on 1 October 2008. The Album Music was fully Produced and Arranged by Doctor Phreaker. -Most Of the Songs Criticize Reality and Problems That Face Average Normal People, Political Issues, some Off Limit Issues. -An Experiment To Mix Shocking Lyrics With Up to Date Musical Beats To satisfy an Average Listener even if he's not into Hiphop Music. -Doctor Phreaker Writes All his Song Lyrics and Produces all His Music Beats.http://doctorphreaker.blogspot.com/