In this week’s edition of Rap of the Week (March 31st – April 7th), the post-Ramadan drop wave is in full swing. The MENA rap scene unleashed a mix of venomous flows, shaabi-infused anthems, cinematic visuals, and left-field surprises—setting the tone for an explosive Eid.

Leading the charge is Alexandria’s own Marwan Pablo, who made an unexpected return with ‘En7raf’, a 4-track EP that dropped without warning. The project’s lead single ‘BONO’, released on the first day of Eid, pairs razor-sharp bars with a brooding beat and a gritty, lo-fi video in true Barbary-style. Pablo followed up a day later with ‘Ghanima’, a menacing cut produced by Hamadaboi, hinting at a potential trilogy still unfolding.

Cairo staples Arsenik and Abo El Anwar also re-enter the chat with ‘Fomanshi’, a playful nod to the iconic El Hassa El Sabaa character. The track leans into character-driven delivery and scene-heavy references, paired with a no-frills garage-and-café visual packed with cameos from familiar faces in the underground.

Meanwhile, Ziad Zaza finally delivers on his long-teased ‘Ana Ayesh West Modmnen’, a shaabi banger produced by Ot Karmoz that dives into themes of addiction and self-destruction. The track arrives with a high-octane animated video by Saddam and Ashraf Samy, cementing it as one of his most narratively potent drops yet.

Elsewhere, Daboor teams up once again with Al Nather on ‘Amina’, a poetic and politically layered track that continues their streak of soul-baring collaborations. And El Joker taps into Ramadan storytelling mode with a special release from his ‘Welad El 3am’ series.

Tracklist:

Daboor, Al Nather - Amina