2024 is long gone (thank god). The year saw the masked pop enigma Tult8te shake up the scene, Rap Shar3’s underground roots crack open the mainstream, and Palestinian artist Zeyne make serious waves. Every industry has its whispers about who’s next, and in 2024, the Middle East and North Africa, and its far-reaching diaspora, saw a new wave of genre-defying Arab artists breaking through. Now, two months into 2025, our eyes remain fixed on artists that have constantly captured our attention— from singers and rappers to all-girl bands. Read on for our primer of who you need to know, and the must-hear tracks that will set the tone for the rest of your year.
Tageel
View this post on Instagram
Another masked mystery, the Riyadh-based Sudanese rapper became an enigma wrapped in bass-heavy beats. His 2024 debut album Kitab was a deeply personal odyssey, peeling back layers of his identity one track at a time. Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished—until now. His latest project, Sorry 4 The Weight, marks his return, a pivot into a trap-rage hybrid that feels both raw and unrelenting. Lyrically, he’s reflecting on his unexpected disappearance, critiquing the industry, and reasserting his presence—his “weight.” Keep an eye on the mask— it might just be hiding one of the most compelling voices in the game.
Lella Fadaa
Some may call her a rising feminist icon, but Lella Fadaa just calls it as she sees it. The Cairo-born artist made a statement with her Colors debut, performing TARAT TARAT TA against an apple-green backdrop with the kind of swagger that demands attention. Produced by Egyptian rap heavyweight Abyusif, the track takes aim at domestic violence, tackling the issue with unfiltered grit. Her album MAGNUN, released in January, marks a rebellion—defiant, alternative, and unapologetically her own. Clad in a sharp black suit, Fadaa’s Colors moment was a proclamation. Get ready to hear her name a lot more.
Seera
View this post on Instagram
Riyadh’s first all-female psychedelic rock band is rewriting the rules. Seera spent 2024 dropping a string of singles before culminating in their debut studio album, Al Mojallad Al Awal, in December. Guitarist Haya, masked drummer “Thing,” bassist Meesh, and lead vocalist-keyboardist Nora electrified the stage at XP Music Futures and Soundstorm festival, setting the bar impossibly high for 2025. Their presence alone is radical in the region’s rock landscape, and their music? Even more so.
Alemeda
Top Dawg Entertainment’s first Ethiopian-Sudanese-American signee is effortlessly carving her niche with angst-ridden rock anthems. Alemeda’s breathy vocals make her fiery sound all the more deceptive—delicate, but razor-sharp. With each track, she walks the tightrope between chaos and catharsis, cementing herself as an artist impossible to ignore. Consider this your official warning: she’s about to blow up.
Nemahsis
View this post on Instagram
There’s poetry in the way Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis (born Nemah Hasan) crafts her music—each lyric a bridge between personal and political. Her debut album Verbatim dropped late last year, featuring standouts like Stick of Gum, whose music video was shot in her ancestral hometown of Jericho, starring her own family. She’s an independent artist in every sense of the word, building her own lane with an unshakable sense of purpose. If you’re looking for music that means something, start here.
Lana Lubany
A voice that cuts through the noise. Lana Lubany commands every stage she steps on, infusing her music with themes of love, loss, and defiance. Her latest EP nYAFA is an ode to her homeland, Palestine, with standout tracks like Set Her Free and Nazareth. But if you need an introduction, start with The Snake—a track that’s already clocked over 8 million streams. As they say, women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t lie.
Idreesi
Palestinian-Jordanian artist Idreesi doesn’t just make music; he tells stories. With a background in theatre, every track he drops is a masterclass in raw emotion—grief, longing, resilience, all interwoven into his genre-fluid sound. He’s unafraid to push boundaries, both sonically and thematically, and with every release, he raises the stakes. If you’re not paying attention yet, now’s the time.
Bayou
Among a flood of trappers and autotuned crooners, Bayou stands alone. The Egyptian artist blends early 2000s Middle Eastern melodies with R&B, injecting his music with a nostalgia that somehow feels futuristic. Since dropping Moonlight in 2019, he’s been steadily crafting an Arabic-infused sound that’s both romantic and soulful. If R&B needs a new poster child, Bayou might just be it.
