Malikah's 'I am Fighting" | A Testament to Patriotism Reborn

With the people rising up in Lebanon and demanding a change in the government. Artists are also trying to be involved in what they do best. A series of unified protests against the current government have somehow restored the faith of many in their country. 

For Lebanese/Algerian rapper "Malikah" meaning "Queen" in Arabic, it has been an incredible journey. First time Malikah stepped on stage was in 2001 and she overcame that stage fright and she converted that fear to power and she has been doing it since 2001 !!

Malikah 

Malikah just released a track to show love and solidarity to her home country Lebanon, entitled "I am Fighting". The song was actually written 2-3 years ago when some "revolutions" took place in the Arab region but she never really found "her place" to talk about them but LEBANON is a different story since its her country, 
" I recorded new parts, added new lyrics" Malikah said to have it adapted to the current situation. Malikah goes on and tells Re-Volt
" I never even dreamt that something like that would happen to Lebanon, I lost faith, but this movement somehow brought back a lot of hope, and that's why I wanted to support this revolution with this song which means a lot to me..."

Check out the song on Youtube
Song was produced by Fredwreck
Video done by Raed Al Murish 

** Song is also available on Streaming Platforms (Spotify, Anghami, Deezer, etc..)

DIZASTER VS BROTHER BULL (VIDEO OUT) - THE ARENA #ArabBattleRap

Brother Bull Vs Dizaster (The Arena) 

On August 18,2019 , the Arena held a Battle between Dizaster and Brother Bull 

Video of this battle is now out and being circulated around the web with people reacting to it and even non-Arab speakers are just loving the vibe or what they feel from the visuals/actions from the scene.

I salute Brother Bull for accepting and going with this battle, it ain't easy standing in front of a Battle legend like Dizaster and actually holding your own which is really something to be celebrated. 

He Exclusively gave Re-Volt a Post-Battle Quote :-
"The battle was something I was looking forward to. I couldn’t write as much as I wanted to because it was on short notice and I was preparing for another battle already, but that pushed me to deliver a round with as little filler as possible. After the battle me and Diz talked and we both had a lot of respect for each other especially when we saw how much we prepared for each other. I think preparing for your battle opponent is the highest form of respect in this subculture." 

Giving the fact that the FIRST OFFICIAL BATTLE that took place at the ARENA was in 2015, 4 years later the league has gained popularity and a reputation. Some really amazing battles went down. I salute the grind and hustle from the Arena team , because it's not easy at all running such a platform especially that Battle Rap is not really that understood in the Arab region yet! but The Arena is for sure making a change here..

For me however, personally, I do believe that the highlight of this battle was at (9:26) - I do believe the whole battle after that changed and became in-favor for Dizaster because of what/how he said what he said.

Watch the full battle below and show love and support 
Who in your opinion won this?

Fans are now requesting a Battle Between Dizaster and Syrian MC "Al Darwish" - Will we see this battle take place?

Al Darwish , Dizaster 

DIZASTER SET TO BATTLE BROTHER BULL IN THE ARENA - BEIRUT (LEBANON)

GREAT NEWS FOR RAP BATTLE FANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST !!

THE ARENA which is The Middle East's 1st Official Battle Rap League based in Beirut, Lebanon has managed to organize a Battle Between DIZASTER & BROTHER BULL that will take place in AR_KA on 18th August as part of the SCUM Week Festival 

"We tried setting up a battle between Dizaster & Kalash , but unfortunately that didn't work due to Kalash working on his album which we respect, however, Dizaster has always been up-to-date with The ARENA Battles and he checked out the battles online and decided on Brother Bull" Chyno who is the Co-Founder of The Arena told RE-VOLT.

And when asked about how did The Arena Launch back in 2015, he said:

"... I think Im just a huge Rap Battle fan, I been watching Battles for a long time. In 2015, Dizaster contacted Edd Abbas for a battle, that was Diz idea to make that battle happen and I was working on content, doing lots of videos and this is when Edd Abbas contacted me to shoot/create video for the Battle. I did a page on FB, but the whole idea was jumped started by Dizaster and Edd Abbas inclination to accept his invitation for Battle.."

Make sure you Subscribe to The Arena YouTube Page and show love. They have lots of amazing battles and the Arab Rap Battle Culture is really taking off.

Who do you think will do better in that Dizaster Vs Brother Bull Battle? Leave your comments and Tag @BIG_HASS & @THEARENAME on Twitter 

BEIRUT STREET | Hip-Hop In LEBANON By Salim Saab | Documentary

Lebanese/French Radio Host/Rapper/Filmmaker Salim Saab aka Royal S who hosts "Aswat El Madina" on Radio Monte Carlo Doualiya has put together and directed A Documentary about Lebanese Hip-Hop. 

What I personally appreciate is his efforts, I believe it was only him shooting the scenes. The "dialogue" and what the rappers/Graffiti/Dancer say is very interesting. Lebanon is known to be very vibrant and lots of amazing young talent are starting to pave their own path. There's a nice eco-system in Lebanon at the moment.

He's on the verge of applying to few festivals, hence the FULL Documentary is not online yet, but I was given private access and I salute him for his efforts. 

"...I made this documentary to put the light on all those amazing artists we have in Lebanon. To show a good side of my country thru Hip-Hop. And It's also a tribute to the city of Beirut. And I wanted to show that people can be united thru music and art." Salim told Re-Volt Blog 

Check out the Teaser below and support a brother..

Lebanese/Canadian Artist "Mougleta" releases a video for "YA MAMA" & It's DOPE!!

Mougleta

I first heard of Mougleta from "Rayan" !! and I was blown away with her voice & amazing talent. Interviewed her and we had a great/cool chat.

She just released a video for her track "Ya Mama" and I loved it. I really love this song. Check out the video. Salute to Mougleta, Rayan & her team. 

This is what she had to say about the song "Ya Mama" 

"The Song is portraying my struggle as an independent artist trying to break through, in such a beautiful way. Thank you for everyone who's been part of the past year, for the good & the bad" 

Track Produced by "Rayan"
Video Directed by Omar Hamadeh

Lebanese Rapper N1yah Drops a Video for "Die Alone"

Lebanese-Dubai based rapper N1yah dropped a video for her track "Die Alone" & I for one wants to support her. We don't have many female MC's in the region and we really need to start pushing our sisters out there to get on the mic and start representing..

"We're born alone, we die alone and I want to people to let go the negative incidents that happened to them and live the moment" N1yah says abot the track

I will be interviewing N1yah this week and will hopefully post the video interview on my Youtube page, till then go show love!

** Put in mind that this whole video was shot by an iPhone 7 !! Shout out to SG 

ASHEKMAN Honors Lebanese Legend Fairuz / Beirut Mural

Lebanese Graffiti duo ASHEKMAN keep on impressing me with their positive mindset. Their latest mural in Beirut was for the Lebanese legend "Fairuz" which of course is an icon in the world and the fact that her songs resembles love and peace is what ASHEKMAN wants to portray. 

It took them approx 3 days to complete this and yet again add color to Beirut city. 

Mad love and respect to the ASHEKMAN Brothers.. wishing them nothing but success and I can't wait to see what they do next.

Arabic Rap | Muhandas X Asifeh - Neuron/نيورون

With a beat that allows you to vibe and some dope scratching by TAKO, Lebanese MC "Mohandas" & Palestinian MC/Producer "Asifeh" explode on a track that will sure teach you a thing or two. It also has some great punch-liners. Love the vibe for this. Been a fan of Asifeh for quite some time and I love Muhandas vibe and flow. Can't wait to have them rep on a RE-VOLT CYPHER !

Beat produced by Asifeh. 

Listen 

فونكي فيكن || ألبوم راب عربي من انتاج دي جاي جودمان Funky Fikon | Rap Album produced by Dj Goadman

What I respect the most about Lebanese/Armenian Dj Goadman is his work ethic, he keeps pushing himself and somehow also empowering the Arabic rap scene. He has a certain love and feel to authentic sounds, he was lucky enough to open up to acts like Tech N9ne, Bone Thugs, Ghostface and many others along playing in a lot of clubs.

Funky Fikon is his latest project and it is something worth checking since it has 17 rappers all spitting on beats PRODUCED by Goadman himself. The album has a very cool/fresh sound; something we really need in Arabic Hip-Hop and for people to not always associate Arabic rap to revolutions and always hardcore beats.  This album includes some of the best rappers in Arabia and also some of the upcoming ones. I love how each track has Goadman's scratch on it, adding his touch to it. The album has tracks collected since 2014 and was just released a week ago.

These are the rappers involved in the project, Bu Kolthoum (Syria), Malikah (Lebanon), Edd Abbas (Lebanon), Hamorabi (Lebanon), Rushzilla (Egypt), Bill Amaliyeh (Lebanon/US), Black Drama (Saudi), Satti (Jordan), Jnood Beirut (Lebanon), WMD (Tunis), ILL Paz (Palestine), ElNasser (Egypt/Qatar), Katibe 5 & Yaseen (Palestine) & Anas Arabi (Syria/KSA). I was also blessed to give a small intro at the beginning. 

The album is based on some great sampling wether its Jazz, Soul, Funk and Old "Tarab".

I personally would click play and get to know this new and cool sound of Arabia accompanied with some great scratching and lyrically it is up to a level where I can call it a classic in the making. 

I love these initiatives simply because it just connects us more and it gives more awareness on our movement, I would only wish to have some GCC countries included, because I truly believe there are some great rappers in GCC that deserve also the exposure. More power to Dj Goadman and all the rappers that participated in this project. S/O to Anas Arabi for mixing and mastering. 

Go Ahead and listen to the FULL Album BELOW!

Ses With Stormtrap Asifeh & Edd Abbas & Kolonel Blip

Two of my fav MC's Edd Abbas & Asifeh !! in collaboration with Kolobel Blip !

Big up guys

Edd Abbas || Safen B3ard El Ba7r (Prod by Stormtrap)

Lebanese MC Edd Abbas is one of my personal favourites! 
He is joined with Stormtrap who produced this dope tune! 

UAE Based MC’s Set to Tour European Musical Festivals highlighting Arabic Music | Africa Express

Genre Defining Arab Hip-Hop Artists Eslam Jawaad & Malikah set to be part of ‘Africa Express presents…The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians with Damon Albarn & Guests’

Eslam Jawaad and Malikah, two of the Arab Worlds pioneer Hip-Hop artists, are gearing up for performances at European music festivals set to begin in Holland on June 22,2016. The UAE residents will be representing their home-region as they entertain hundreds of thousands of music seekers expected to attend this summer’s festivities.

Eslam Jawaad of Syrian and Lebanese origin, and Malikah of Lebanese and Algerian origin, have rocked stages around the world with leading artists and performers including Wu-Tang, Gorillaz, De La Soul, and Rachid Taha. This year, the pair will be touring across six major festivals including the mega festivals ‘Glastonbury’ and ‘Roskilde’ as part of a special edition of ‘Africa Express presents The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians with Damon Albarn and Guests’.

Re-Volt asked Eslam Jawaad the below:-

• How did this opportunity come to life?

EJ: Damon and I traveled to Syria in 2009 where I introduced him to the orchestra. since then & due to the war, many of them left Syria, and others suffer hardships. Damon wanted to regroup them to celebrate Syrian culture, and thus the tour was born

Malikah, who will be releasing her highly anticipated solo album later this year, added, “I’m honored to take part in this historic moment for Arab Classical Music and am thrilled at the prospect of having an entire Syrian Arabic orchestra playing Glastonbury.”

Syrian rapper Bu Kolthoum is also set to join the tour

The European tour dates for Africa Express presents…The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians with Damon Albarn & Guests include:

June 22: Holland Festival

June 24: Glastonbury

June 25: Southbank Centre

June 27: Istanbul

June 29: Roskilde

June 30: Köln Philharmonie

Check out www.africaexpress.co.uk for more details.

Follow their journey on Social Media:-

Malikah @ https://www.instagram.com/malikah961music/

Eslam Jawaad @
https://twitter.com/eslamjawaad

Bu Kolthoum: @
https://www.instagram.com/mouneer_bu/

Exclusive:-

A special link to watch the live stream from Royal Festival Hall in london on the 25th of June will be available

Very happy for these guys & i wish them the best! Go Get Them! 

Big Hass Hosts Re-Volt Cypher PArt ii (Produced by Orient Squad) | LIVE

I been working on this track for the past 3/4 months, I truly appreciate all the MC's that are part of this. I want to thank Orient Squad for a great beat and last but not least, I want to thank "ilakh" for giving us such a powerful Cypher Artwork 

Ladies & Gents, I am proud to present Re-Volt Cypher Part ii for your eardrums. 

كلمات #ريڤولت_سايفر_٢ | Re-Volt Cypher Part ii Lyrics

#ريڤولت_سايفر_٢ كلمات

SPESTIAN MG ( SUDAN)

من القارة الإفريقية هنا صوت السودان يتحدث..

فلتبدأ هذه الجوقة علي صوت الإيقاع

دع الموسيقى الحرة تمتزج بعمق القاع

رغم انتشار وكثرة المزيفين في الفن

ولكن يبقى الراب الحر صامد لن ينصاع

ان قلتها تمت ، وان لم تقلها تمت

اذا فقلها ومت فالتكتب الحقيقة 

خذ وقع على الوثيقة هيا قل الحقيقة 

واطبع على جبهة هذا العالم البائس صوت الحقيقة

فالإعلام كالأفيون . وإمتلأت السجون

في ظل الحكم الديكتاتوري فلا شيء سوى العيون

لا شيء سوى الحصون ، هيب هوب بلا مضمون

هذه بطاقة تعريفية توضح من اكون

انا المحظور من الإعلام 

انا الممنوع من الكلام 

انا صوت الشارع الحر المعادي لفساد النظام

انا السيل الذي يلجم افواه النفاق 

فإن كنت كاره للحقيقة فإبتعد عن النطاق

سؤالي لك يا سيدي هل تدري ما يحدث هنا ؟

هل تدري ما يجري هنا وكم من شخص قد فنى ؟

هل تدري كم نجري لكي نكسب لقيمات الهنا ؟

هل تدري كم قانون يسري يسقينا من كأس العنا ؟

SHIBOBA( KSA)

هم مع الثورة بس ضد الثوار

حرية بدون احرار! مهو سكران بس تلقاه عالبار

يفرق بار عن بار، غرب بارد شرق حار

هناك طلق حامل هنا طلق نار، 

 Gods و Titans قوتهم زيف زي 

Biden بيننا عداوة زي العراق و 

Typhoon سيولة في الاموال كنها

Poseidon وجفاف الارض عندنا يضمنلك مو 

عشان كذة انا اجيهم ابغى افتح عقول الناس  

لكن الناس تفتح عند معاليهم

ضخ اموال هبات يشتروك، عندي زخ اقلام رايمات يفضحوك

؟  Guilty فكري ملكي كيف 

سكوت يافلان، بنات افكاري سيب بنتي موت جبان

؟؟ Street fashion راب والكاب عالجنب 

Street passion العمق الحقيقي انو الهيب هوب

Deep Cipher (Lebanon)

سلامي للاسلام فالسلام ليس سالم

تسلّق السلالم كلّ سلّم و انت سالم

اناشد الاوطان عربيّ انت ساكت

اين ابن سينا من كل هذا فانت كافر  

تملك العلم و تملك الحكمة

تاريخك فلسفة و لغتك هي منبر

فخاطب الشعوب لعلّهم يستجيبوا

من المرض الخبيث لعلّهم يستفيقوا

السبب هو المال فعليا الاحتلال

هذا ما يضع الشعوب في نقطة الزوال

انا لست جنبلاطي في طريقي الى كمال

اتنفس حرية جوليا بطرس في الخيال

الشيفرة العميقة من بيروت الابية

ادمر اللحن من دون اي رحمة

و كلّما اسمع ايقاع يرضيني

اتنفّس لكي اقتل عمداً

ايّاك نعبد و ايّاك نستعين

اول شرط للحرّية فصل الدولة عن الدين

WATAR (SYRIA)

لبطل محبوس كاسر ضلعي

الموسيقى درعي من امثال افخاي ادرعي

باعوا ارضي لكن القوافي اكتفاء

اذا الاوطان قلبت غابات اسمنت ف الهيب هوب انتماء

انا مولود للعظة

راسم خريطة العالم عالبيديه مشان كل ما اخرا بالتواليت حس 

بالرضا

حدودي طراف الورقة و الهوامش كتار

ما برش كلام لكن لساني رصاص طايش بطول ٣ متار

معتق.. و الهيب هوب عجوز بلا عصا

فارتكا

كتافنا جمل لمين عصا بتف ف بشتي حصا ,تمسك

اقوالي مسؤوليتي مالي سوق بالفن

حيطك واطي عادي تبيع رأيك للناس بسوق الظن

انا اللافتة انا الدالة عالجماعة .. بالصوت

من غير الهتاف يللي بعبص بالموت

. 

سمونا ولاد الضي ف بتشوفنا حدود بلا وطن باقي من ولاد 

 الحي حيسموني الجندي المجهول 

BTAR (PALESTINE)

متى وأينما أشاء ادير الحرب في قطاعي/

سلاحي دوماً في حوزتي تحسبه طرف صناعي/

سأرتقي بالمستوى في هذا المحتوى بلا معنى تقليدي/

سلاحي دوماً في (حوزتي) تحسبه معمم شيعي/

كوحوش البراري معلومة هي بقاعي/

نزالي باسلوبك الفكاهي سيحطمك كرقم 

قياسي/

للغيظ كاظم،  انت لليل ساهر، تلك اسوأ عادات/

أغتال الأمسي على المنصة، هو أنور السادات/

عقلية ألمانية بأسلوب النمر،  شفاينشتايجر/

في ظلمة الأمة أبيض الوجه، مايكل مايرز/

عرفت أن للبشرية مصالح تسوقهم لكل مائدة/

وأن الوطنية والنفاق وجهان لعملة واحدة/ 

عرفت أن الحب مبصر و لكنه يتعامى/

فجراح الأفئدة تتعافى إن كانت إلى الشر تتهادى/

مقتنص بغريزة مفترس، أرى بكم خطب ألم/

أمّي أنا، وأجيد قراءة فصائل الدم/

(KOOS (LEB

اجيال الشارع مقطوع حيلها مش منطق

على سطح قلعة مهدوم حيطها متمركز

بدينتي سماعة بمشروع ليلى مستمتع

هيدي موسيقى مش مجبور غيرها استورد

لجأت للهيب هوب وابتدات من كعب الدست

صرت اسمع واكتب من حماس وفشة خلق

ب هل وراق اقلب للاقلام تنشف حبر

افكاري مرة بكسرها برشة ملح

ركز ع هل موسيقى من تراثنا الأصيل

راقب كيف عم تبرم بالراس حتى يطير

لاحظ كيف عم تلحم متل النحاس ع القصدير

حمي الحديد صب رصاص بالكفكير

ناقم ع البريئ نازل ع الغميق

ما شابع من هديك فراجع شارب عن جديد

تكاذب ع الذات بقدي للخراب

تجارب بالبيت ع مخدة من سحاب

فتح كتاب و حسب حساب الآخرة 

شاف الحياة فارغة مسارح ساخرة

يا ضيعان كل حدا نغش بالأدوار

انا لست بصنم بل انتم الأحجار