Retiring to pursue a new project, Al-Mutreb (The Singer, aka The Human Oyster, aka Ja7eem Hafezz) leaves us with the very best and last of what has jeopardized his health, sanity and a number of friendships.

An almost ten-year long journey traces some tracks like Ladyyyyy 2020 (produced by Amjad Shahrour [2017-2020] and appearing on HIZZ’s ‘Kombile 002’) morphing from a dreampop song to an apprehensive doom and gloom track overlaid with the sound of a hospital ventilator. Another track that fell under Al-Mutreb’s incessant urge to butcher is nar el ghera (fire of jealousy, produced by 1800s Internet [2020-2021] and appearing on a fundraiser comp for Gaza on Avon Terror Corps). Starting out with a song about a love ruined by jealousy, to then be devoured by Abul-Loul and 1800s Internet and spat out, mutilated beyond recognition, nar el ghera is inspired by an almost palpable hatred and a desire to self-destruct if it means taking down the enemy.

Al-Mutreb’s voice shapeshifts throughout the album; from self-indulgent romance (Sorry Habibti, produced by 1800s Internet, and appearing first on Bokeh Versions’ NTS show [April/2021]), to intimidation (nar el ghera), to provocation (Al-Mutreb [The Singer], the result of a chance encounter with Amaury [Ulan Bator,Faust] in Napoli, recorded Live at the Hermann Nitsch Museo [Sep/2021]) all the way to a slurred recitement (Uhrob Min El Hob, produced by jinjin [2022]) from two spotty livers in a cloud of tobacco smoke.

Following a long tradition of plagiarists, from Abdel Wahab and Fairouz to Serge Gainsbourg and Nick Cave, Al-Mutreb, borrowing the Mutreb status from the formers and the devil-may-care attitude from the latters, steals proudly, changing the language, context, music and -in most of them- the words to the point where if you were not reading it here you wouldn’t know.

Al Mutreb also repurposes some of his personal field recordings throughout the album; one of which in particular is the little girl we hear in the prelude, which, upon the Mutreb’s request back in 2012, sings about fear in a captivating performance following the humdrum attempts of her colleagues and mentors to do so.

The project of Al-Mutreb Abul-Loul (Abul-Loul, a nickname that translates to The Father/The King of Pearls) culminates in a bodily manifestation of a very real and very rare pearl; a case with hardly any medical literature; the development of a scrotal pearl, removed under general anesthesia, adding to the series of the many unfortunate and absurd occurrings that describe Abul-Loul’s life, and calling for the abortion of this project to make room for a new undertaking. 

Mastered by jinjin
Lyric reinterpretations by Shereen Amarin and Laith Demashqieh

The Very Best and Last of Al-Mutreb (2012 - 2022) Retirement LP

Al-Mutreb Abul-Loul - Sorry Habibti (Radio Edit) ft. Miramar Muhd and 1800s Internet

aman asm3o mozikti aman
shoutout ll cyrine

blhy zouz legere w kaaba war9a

Prod/mix: Youthbee
Lyrics:
Loving everything she do 
I barely know her 
I think about the way she move 
And then I call her 
She like how the moon glow 
Should I  let her know 
She’s everything I’m looking for 
All the hate Inside it made me runaway  
Had to go through everything and make it on my way 
She ask about me city cliques tell her I’m insane

MOONGLOW

l album hedha fhemt wala le 3ibara 3la tawla kbira fiha 100 3abd kol wahed yahki fi hkeya w lkolna nahkiw fard wa9t w nefhemou f kol chay fard wa9t w 3bed dekhla w 3bed kharja w 3bed we9fa testana fel kresi w 3bed ltaw la habtet chorb mazelt ma7ket chay 9a3da tetfarj ml b3id

INTRO: Dedicace Aziz Twil

Dryveins - Dont Cry Keep On Crying

It was a random Friday afternoon, 3Li passed by for a coffee and it so happened that my controller was plugged into the sound system. He started mixing and I directly pressed “record”. This set is more of an improvised jam session, dedicated to lovers of sampling. 

Tracklist: https://radioflouka.com/shows/drillin-with-3li-and-tthd-04-07-2023

Jerry bluues - Blueberry haze

jerry bluues