Lella Fadda Stakes Her Claim With ‘MAGNÜN’

Earlier last year, Lella Fadda released her single ‘Fokak Meni’, signaling a shift in her artistic direction - across production, performance and aesthetic. It marked the beginning of a persona rebranding, shedding the dreamer-girl aura of her earlier releases in favour of a bold, unapologetic stance that saw her fully claiming her narrative. Backed by Abyusif’s production, ‘Fokak Meni’ ushered in a new era for Lella - one defined by a heavy rap tonality and an embrace of highly experimental hip-hop, with lyrics brimming with confidence and bravado.

In the following months, Lella began rolling out her debut full-length album, ‘MAGNÜN’, through a series of single releases. Two of them, ‘7ob Bas Eh’ and ‘Atta3’, became some of the highest-streaming hits of the year, further adding to Lella’s presence in the Egyptian rap scene and perhaps reshaping perceptions of female hip-hop in Egypt.

Though the one-year rollout may have stretched out longer than expected, the gradual buildup created a palpable sense of anticipation for what Lella had to offer on her first major project. Now, ‘MAGNÜN’ is finally here - an 11-track album clocking in at just over 24 minutes, unveiling the evolved face of Lella Fadda and putting her artistry to the test.

Upon the album’s release, Lella took to Instagram to advise fans to listen in order, emphasising the importance of tracklist sequencing and narrative flow. While the album may not fully deliver on that front - at least lyrically - Lella still unleashes her creativity with full force. Guided by Abyusif’s wildly experimental production, she navigates these eclectic instrumentals with a command that feels entirely her own.

From the outset - following the creeping instrumental intro ‘Tayeb’ that closes with Abyusif calling out “LELLA,” as if passing the torch - Lella wastes no time. Her relentless bars on ‘U8’ make it clear: she’s coming for the throne, taking shots, asserting dominance, and flexing with charisma. The beat is anything but conventional - Abyusif’s production is minimal, explosive and surreal at times. In fact, one could argue that ‘MAGNÜN’ features some of the best production Abyusif has delivered in recent years, and Lella does her best to match it, falling short at times but emerging with command in most, proving that the two have been carefully crafting this sound for some time.

Throughout the album, Lella hammers in a few key themes: this is her moment, she has no time for copycats and imitators, and she’s moving on from relationships with a mix of confidence and detachment. There are also reflections on fame and materialism - delivered with a sense of disinterest, as if she’s above it all, simply doing her thing better than ever.

‘MAGNÜN’, however, cannot be reduced to a complete shift toward expertly executed experimental rap. While that is evident in the first half of the album on tracks like ‘U8’, ‘Fokak Meni’ and ‘7ob Bas Eh’, the album takes a more personal turn midway through. This shift is reflected in both Lella’s performance and the production, as well as in the lyrics, which explore intimate and sometimes dark themes - most notably in ‘Bt7lm’. The track stands out as one of the album’s strongest in terms of composition and arrangement, showcasing Lella’s songwriting at its most mature. A haunting and ominous piece, ‘Bt7lm’ paints a bleak portrait of a romantic relationship, with Lella delivering a dynamic vocal performance. Abyusif’s beat heightens the track’s eerie atmosphere, layering creeping synths and vocal effects that amplify the intensity of Lella’s bars.

Abyusif unleashes his full production alchemy on the album, crafting industrial glitch-infused instrumentals that pull Lella Fadda into a deep, dark alley of sound. His beats set the stage for her to deliver her part of the deal. For the most part, Lella rises to the occasion, matching the top-tier production. However, at times, her performance falls short in terms of technical execution, and her lyrics occasionally feel repetitive. Still, this doesn’t overshadow the significant songwriting progress she has made - progress that is largely influenced by, and perhaps even shaped by, Abyusif himself.

Perhaps ‘MAGNÜN’ would have been better suited as a self-titled project, as it feels like a real-time declaration of Lella’s takeover. She reveals unseen facets of her persona and embraces themes rarely explored by female rappers. There’s no moralising, no advocacy or preaching - Lella isn’t positioning herself as a representative. Instead, she strikes with precision, weaving subliminal shots throughout the album, tackling heavy themes and asserting her presence with intensity.