If anyone was looking for new music to bop to, Hleem Taj Asser has you covered, sliding into the new year with his second studio album, Mission Impossible, and further locking in his place as one of the most exciting acts to emerge from the region. Spanning 12 tracks with zero features in sight, the Libyan-born wordsmith puts his full range on display: no shortcuts, no co-signs, just pure bars, control, and a clear sense of direction from start to finish. Special mention to Mercedes Benz, a punchy track built for late night drives.
When it comes to hip-hop, you really can’t sleep on Jordan. Amman-based trio Big Murk, Rknddn, and Shbash pulled up together to drop Absar Leish; a grimy, volume saturated track that thrives on grit and sounds engineered for blown out speakers. Frequent collaborators and close friends, the three artists kick off the year in familiar territory, doubling down on their chemistry and shared intention to prove that the Levant is busy carving out its own lane.
After an ultra successful debut album ZEKRAYAT ELMOSTABAL released in 2023 and two albums dropped respectively in 2024 and 2025, the multi-award-winning artist seems to be riding an experimental wave, drifting away from the grime-slash-garage-leaning formulas that first put him on the map in favor of something looser and far less predictable. Msh De El Nehaya, in collaboration with fellow Egyptian native Fares Farid, explores the grey areas of heartbreak, unfolding as a perfect tune to plug yourself into when thinking about #him or #her.
Bringing together Morocco’s rap royalty and its next generation counterpart, Insomnia Hotel is the track fans have been waiting for, and judging by the reaction, very few are disappointed. With Toto stepping into an older-brother role by taking fast-rising Najm under his wing, the collaboration feels less like a co-sign and more like a natural exchange, grounded in mutual respect rather than hierarchy. Both artists are expected to have a busy year ahead,with projects reportedly on the way, making this release feel like a teaser of the direction they’re heading in. Will the track appear on one of their projects? Possibly. Is it hinting at a joint tape? Also possible. Or maybe this is just a one-off moment in time. Either way, it’s a strong first link-up, and we’ll take it.
Months after releasing his second album, Egyptian hitmaker Tul8te returned out of nowhere with a drop that came without warning and without any kind of rollout. A heartbreak anthem of the kind we don’t hear much anymore, the Cairo-based crooner kicks off 2026 with the same formula that’s fueled his rise so far: gentle riffs, emotionally loaded lyrics, and just the right touch of melancholy.
Releasing his debut album just days into the new year, Algerian-French artist Danyl steps into 2026 with everything to prove after years of steady groundwork. Titled ZMIG—short for “zmigri,” a term used across North Africa to describe those born and raised abroad—the project spans five tracks, with 5 Sur Nous standing out as a clear favorite. It’s an ode to friendship, loyalty, and collective wins achieved without losing sight of your roots. Set over a rock-inspired beat, it’s the kind of feel-good track you reach for when you’re low and in desperate need of an instant mood boost.
© All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Mille World
