Written by rknddn & Muqata'a (@muqataa)
Produced by Big Murk (@bigmurk)
Mixed & Mastered by Smokaholic (@smokaholicmusic)
Artwork by Khammash (@khammash96)

3awwi (feat. Muqata'a)

3awwi

rknddn & murk - 3awwi (feat. Muqata'a)

Warped and dragged through the murky underbelly of the Levantine underground comes ‘Volume 1’ the x-rated left-field debut from the pseudonymous DJ GAWAD.

Via pitched up vocals dripping with delay, DJ GAWAD takes us on a tour of the region's most urgent artists, his interjections oscillating between cocky boast and frustrated lament.

Through this new persona, DJ GAWAD pulls back the curtain to reveal himself as the protagonist of the mixtape-like album, as replete with features as it is with expletives, an enigmatic ghoul in the back of the studio with an endless supply of broken sample flips, giving the album its old school feel while still speaking to contemporary hip hop aesthetics.

A Jordanian/Palestinian Memphis gangster rap parody par excellence, the album is infused with satirical commentary on the state of the contemporary music scene, yet DJ GAWAD shows as much as he tells, expertly fashioning a sound that makes you wonder about the identity of the artist behind the braggadocious persona of the self-titled “best producer in the Middle East.”

Drawing heavily from the Memphis rap mixtapes of the mid 1990s, DJ GAWAD has clearly identified the same brooding atmosphere in his own surroundings. On Mat3’anish (feat. Bleng & Fara7) DJ GAWAD makes his most explicit reference to the Memphis sound, twisting the hallmark cowbells that defined that movement to reflect the equally raw nature of his own setting.

Similarly, in Bandana (feat. Jurum), DJ GAWAD finds the perfect tension between his romantic sampling tendencies and the brutal sensibilities of his featured artist. As if liberated by DJ GAWAD's anonymity and irreverence, his menagerie of artists appear to have been emboldened, embracing the obscene free naturedness of the album, setting their lyrical prowess free to wander.

No expense was spared in the post production treatment of DJ GAWAD’s debut, with Iraqi-American artist Mark Gergis incorporating the Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck in the mastering process, as is evidenced by the crisp saturation of the album's sonics.


▄︻デ══━一 


DJ GAWAD, the self-proclaimed “best producer in the Middle East”, is the pseudonymous persona of the Arab artist, pioneer, philosopher and lover. The anonymity grants him complete artistic freedom to pursue his creative endeavors in full. DJ GAWAD embarked on a journey from the West to the East to collaborate with local left-field rap artists in the region to produce this masterful debut, released on Drowned By Locals.

DJ GAWAD Presents: Volume 1 is his first feature album, and he will continue releasing more projects under this moniker. Stay tuned. 


Producer: DJ GAWAD
Vocals and Lyrics: Tony Bleng, Fara7, @rknddn, Julmud, Movenwomen, MrF13 @RUUQ , Twinkie, Jurum
Master: Mark Gergis
Kingpin & Executive Producer: Sukk-Leil
Artwork: 3YN
Text: Nihal El Aasar

DBL27CT

DJ GAWAD Presents VOLUME 1

DJ GAWAD - Creepin in tha Night (feat. rknddn & MrF13)

اهداء الى ارواح الشهداء الى الأصدقاء

TMHL

Mancunian and Palestinian artists unite for a truly collaborative EP with the aim of raising awareness of solidarity with the Palestinian people. 

¿Lesh La2? is a 5-track EP consisting of collaborative tracks from four innovative producers/artists from Manchester and Palestine, in partnership with Bethelhem-based radio station Radio Alhara and made possible by music development organisation Brighter Sound in Manchester. 

The EP aims to spark conversations about the role of cultural collaboration in global solidarity movements, and sees artists exchange ideas and stems to create five completely original works.  

The set begins with Wlknokia’s dark soundscapes, searing low-end and brooding calls to action from yeguachita on “Arenas”. Up next we follow the everyday life and tales of resistance from RUUQ on the title track “¿Lesh La2?”  (translating to “why not?”) over a shimmering, glowing Scytale production. Uptempo yet conscientious bubbling cut “Disbelief” featuring the Manchester pair (Scytale & yeguachita) in combination marks the halfway point as “Fatra” brings Scytale and RUUQ together once more for a laid back yet poignant head-nodder complete with a guitar solo. Final cut “KUNTUR” reunites yeguachita with WlkNokia who provides a sinister ‘LoveMusic’ beat for a tale of indigenous solidarity from Abya Yala to Palestine. 

4. RUUQ + Scytale - Fatra

30MR1 - BEAS

YAMA (Prod. Mehrak)

Yuukie - 404 Love
link band.link/404love

prod. by santana, young mooski
mix&master by lonely plug!

vk: vk.com/yuukieee
tg: t.me/eikuuy
ig: instagram.com/eeikuuy

High (prod. by santana x young mooski)

Nav - Pain Away (Fast) Dirty

Picture Perfect

Lil Asaf - Safeneh
 Prod. Bashar Suleiman & https://soundcloud.com/youngmaaal
RIP from a live set at Turbo Amman

30MR1 - BEAS

BIN ZGEB

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