El Rass Delivers a Counter-Narrative to a Post-October 7th Reality

If you’re familiar with El Rass, you’ll know he operates less like a traditional rapper and more like an anthropologist or political analyst, using rap as his chosen medium of expression. He’s a meticulously cultivated intellectual whose bars provoke thought, challenge entrenched beliefs, and simultaneously entertain on the surface. This blend of political candor and sharp critique feels quintessentially Lebanese, a trait El Rass embodies in its fullest form.

His latest album, ‘October 6’, adds yet another chapter to his repertoire of highly conceptual works, standing alongside cult classics like ‘Adam, Darwin and the Penguin’ and ‘Idarat Al Tawahosh’. But this project takes a notably more direct approach, delving into the profound implications of life before October 7th - the day of Al Tofan - and the irreversible transformation of the world that followed.

Through a tightly curated 11-track narrative, Mazen offers an exploration of a world-altering event, presenting his perspective through a cohesive thematic lens. As always, El Rass’ lyrics are layered with intricate references and metaphors, contextualising October 7th across religious, economic, political and social dimensions. His words resist easy interpretation, revealing deeper understanding with every listen, as each layer unfolds between the lines.El Rass delves into the unspoken realities faced by Arab artists in the aftermath of October 7th, addressing these complexities head-on in ‘Hotel California’. Here, he critiques the Western gaze on the Arab diaspora, unpacking the fetishization of the Arab world as it unfolds in real time through media narratives. Simultaneously, he examines the crumbling facade of liberal Western institutions, ideologies and values. With biting satire, El Rass asks, “Are you entertained?” before driving the point home: “"Has there been enough tragedy that you deserve a Boiler Room? For the whole planet to see how you can rap, while there’s a shoe in your mouth”

Despite its weighty subject matter, ‘Hotel California’ stands out as one of the album’s more accessible tracks where El Rass blends an auto-tuned melodic delivery with understated lo-fi production.

"A sociologist cannot truly understand their society unless they love it" - with this statement, El Rass closes the track ‘Sanara’, highlighting his mindset as an artist. The track delves into the personal intricacies of Mazen El Sayed (El Rass), standing out as one of the album’s most introspective and personal pieces. In the track, El Rass delivers bars that reflect his inner contradictions and complex thoughts, presented with immaculate flow and rhyming. The detailed and precise writing makes this track one of the album’s most standout pieces, both in the quality of its lyrics and the depth of its expression.The album’s feature list is carefully curated, with El Rass choosing collaborators who do more than deliver a quick verse - they actively enrich the narrative and add layers to the album’s overarching themes. Among the standout contributions is Haykal on ‘Pistachio’, where the duo engage in a dynamic lyrical back-and-forth over a minimalist composition. Another notable feature is Palestinian rapper The Synaptik on ‘Carnival’, while Sudanese rapper TooDope delivers a powerful presence on ‘Gotham’. The album also includes contributions from fellow producers 3li3bboud, Nasam and Abo Ismail, who enhance its sonic landscape.

A closer look at the features reveals an intentional choice to spotlight artists from countries grappling with profound hardships, including Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon. This choice not only adds authenticity to the album but also reinforces its central themes, weaving personal and collective struggles into a broader narrative of artistic resistance.

Amidst the Western obsession with Arab artists following October 7th - and the ongoing fetishization of the Arabic diaspora by placing them into predefined, exoticised frames - El Rass emerges as a powerful counter-narrative. In a world where Arab artists are spotlighted for their ability to create art while their communities endure unspeakable atrocities, El Rass breaks the silence on these heavy topics with both profundity and sharp wit. His ability to navigate such complex themes with charisma, offering layered insight while maintaining a surface-level appeal, solidifies his role as a voice of resistance and introspection in Arabic hip-hop.