Recorded at the historic Voice of the Streets hip hop festival in Cairo, November 2011. In the 3 hour wait while the stage and sound system was assembled, some of the greatest Arab MC's passed their time in cyphers. This one, recorded by World Hip Hop Market managing editor Jackson Allers, includes Boikutt (Ramallah, West Bank), Khotta Ba (Jordan), and El Far3i (Jordan) together with a local MC Shamsedein. 

Near the end, you can hear a conversation above moving the show. The Egyptian authorities had come in a shut down the original show, but the organizers moved to a warehouse art space on the outskirts of town and continued the festival late that night.

Voice of the Streets Cairo - freestyle cypher

This is an exclusive track from SA's own Nick Explicit produced by Pretoria-based Trompie! With guest appearances by kid Reason, and Spaceman. World Hip Hop Market premiere. Big thanks to the SA crew - Nick Explicit, Trompie, Spaceman and Reason - and mad respect to WHHM journalist Naboth 'RIZLA' Rimayi for his work!

Trompie Spaceman NickExplicit Reason-Hands Up 1

World Hip Hop Market (WHHM) presents the On the Real Interview Series. Episode 01 is with Syrian-American Producer dub Snakkr - founder of the San Francisco-based record label Stronghold Sound. The interview was conducted by WHHM Managing Editor Jackson Allers in Beirut, Lebanon before the worldwide release of dub Snakkr's/Stronghold Sound's massive 23-track Arab rap compilation called "Khat Thaleth" or "The Third Rail." dub Snakkr was the main architect behind "Khat Thaleth" - producing 12 of the 23-tracks. In all there were 12 Arab MCs from 8 Arab countries. 5 producers and as many musicians.

In the interview, dub Snakkr discusses 13th century Arab poetic traditions, the concept of the "Third Way" and the meaning of the album's subtitle, "The Initative for the Elevation of Public Awareness." As well he discusses the future of Arab rap, and why young Arab rappers are so keen on calling Arab hip-hop by a new name!

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Produced, Interviewed, Edited by Jackson Allers (World Hip Hop Market)
Interview shot on location at Metro al Madina - Beirut, Lebanon
Special Thanks to: Ahmed Khouja, Greg Schick, Metro Al Madina
Photo Credit: Jackson Allers © (In the picture are MC's - Al Sayyed Darwish from Syria (left) and El Rass from Lebanon)


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