The Arabic hip-hop movement celebrates another big achievement as it is attaining more public attention, listeners and constructive criticism. The spotlight is on an Egyptian based hip-hop group called “Arabian Knightz”, who has been working on an album for quite some time now. Despite the obstacles they have faced, they put together a well-fused album that rivaled a blazing governmental attack.
The Arabic mainstream media don’t support any underground or revolutionary movements, portraying the Arabian Knightz as just another group that opposes a governmental system. To many others, the group has broken social barriers and gave people the opportunity to elevate their minds through a rich and real view on life.
Arab News sat down with Sphinx, a member of Arabian Knightz, talked about the new album.
You have just released your highly anticipated album Uknighted State of Arabia. Was it difficult to get the album out? What does it mean to you that your lyrics and hard work can now be shared with the world?
It’s taken us about four years. We have overcome so many obstacles pre and post revolution. Pre revolution we were told the message of Arab Unity was an ‘old idea and would cause a lot of problems’ and some things were too political for that time. We were to leave politics to the politicians and we should just be artists and do art. Whatever that meant.
Then post revolution we thought it would be easier and it seemed so for a while. So many distribution companies wanted to push the album. We had even come to a pretty good agreement with one of them. All that was left was to get approved by the censors and we were good to go. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. After months of the runaround with paperwork, we’re still fighting for freedom of speech and expression. We decided to release the album ourselves. We posted the issue on social networks and the love and support we received from young Egyptian hip-hop artists as well as the more seasoned hip-hop ultras was amazing. They wanted to help get the album out to the people. So we met with them and put together a street team of young artists to spread the album throughout their cities. It’s an amazing feeling to get that kind of support.
What is the core message of the album?
The title of the album, UKnighted State of Arabia, says it all. Unity is our only way to overcome the oppression that the region has been put under for decades. That’s why this album's title track "UKnighted" features 30 of the regions sickest MCs. Keep in mind that this track was recorded over four years ago.
The content of the album is rather heavy. Do you believe people would still go for heavy, elevated lyrics?
I believe so. The industry is already is flooded with "light music". We’re just offering an alternative to all the same old music that people hear.
Tell us about the amazing collaborations you have on the album?
We have so many. It was a shock to have Latifa (Tunisian pop artist) working with us. That someone of her stature would even want to make music with a new group, let alone a hip-hop group. It was a blessing, that when she heard the guide track, she instantly wanted to be a part of it.
Then we got the MCs on this album, it’s crazy how many real spitters (rappers) we got. We’re talking MC.Amin, Omar Offendum, Shadia Mansour, The Narcicyst, DAM, Qusai, Malikah, Boikutt, Deeb, Omar Boflot, Gad, Michael Arkangelo and so many more artists that we respect and we hugely support their music. When we approached them with the idea, they all were down with the movement and sent over what is my personal favorite on the album.
Hip-hop is a voice for the voiceless. How has hip-hop culture helped you in expressing yourselves, especially during everything that Egypt went through (and still is)?
Some heavier content has been allowed to break through to the people but there still are limits on freedom of expression. Hip-hop has allowed us to reach the youth through social networks and we’re seeing a lot of the same messages being rapped about in music by the younger MCs. The hip-hop movement has ridiculously grown from the time we started to where we are now. At least a couple of thousand MCs have come out in the last three years. Not to mention the break-dancers and graffiti artists.
What is your message to people who believe hip-hop is a tool that ruins and degrades minds?
My message to them is simple. That mentality is purely based on ignorance. They just don’t know what real hip-hop is and what it is capable of. I would ask them to listen to the album and to read the lyrics and really hear what’s being said. A lot of the people that have told us they hated hip-hop until they heard our music or that of other Arab hip-hop artists. They were amazed that our generation felt the things we rapped about. So, just listen to the music and I'm sure their opinion would change.
Will the album be available in hard copy?
So far only in Egypt, since we didn't get the distribution deal. But we’re definitely working on it and hopefully we will be able to have some hard copies available in the rest of the Middle East soon.
Until then, people can always get Uknighted State of Arabia on iTunes.
What would you tell hip-hop artists in the Arab world who get no support from the media?
I say forget the media. You don’t need them either. You just need to unite and join forces with a good network of MCs from the region and expand all of your audiences together. Its what we’ve been trying to do with Arab League Records and what we hope will happen for the whole movement.
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