MENA’s Most Viral Music Moments 2024
The SceneNoise team’s picks of performances, collaborations, and spontaneous moments that took social media by storm in 2024.
2024 has been a year of surprising and unforgettable moments in the MENA music scene, where groundbreaking performances, highly anticipated collaborations, and spontaneous gestures have captivated audiences and sparked conversations across the region.
In this list, we go over the clips that took social media by storm, from a 12 year old producer owning the scene, to Elyanna, Coldplay, Burna Boy, Little Simz & Tini singing on the streets of Dublin, to international pop culture icons coming together in Libya’s first festival in 15 years. Here are the moments that kept us doomscrolling throughout the year.
Note: This list is organized alphabetically.
12 Year-Old Hamza Ramy Flexing His Production Chops
12-year-old Egyptian producer Hamza Ramy took social media by storm in 2024 with his impressive recreations of regional rap hits, showcasing a level of talent and creativity that’s far beyond his years. Having started his music production journey just a year ago, Hamza’s rapid progress and skill in mastering both music production software and beat-making techniques have made him the talk of the town, while his engaging on-camera presence keeps audiences eagerly anticipating each new video.
Billie Eilish Admits She’s A Nancy Ajram Stan
On an episode of the podcast ‘Me & Dad Radio’, American pop sensation Billie Eilish revealed her admiration for Lebanese icon Nancy Ajram, stating that she discovered Ajram’s music through a meme in 2018, and that the 2004 hit ‘Enta Eih’ has been on repeat ever since. In the episode, she also describes Arabic music as "melted chocolate in [her] ears,” and that she’s been listening to Ajram’s music on a daily basis to improve her mood.
Egyptian Artist Afifi Documenting Making an EP in 45 Days
In mid-July 2024, rising Egyptian artist Afifi, a member of the indie-funk band Butternotes, quit his job to pursue music full time. The artist took to social media, where set himself a challenge of completing an EP in only 45 days. Afifi documented the creative process behind the EP through short Instagram reels, posting on a daily basis throughout the 45-day challenge, giving his audience a candid firsthand account of the technical and emotional struggles musicians often face during production, and the genuine bursts of inspiration that come along the way. The process gave birth to a versatile six-track Arabic pop record, ‘45 Youm’, entirely composed, produced and written by Afifi in his bedroom.
Eminem Reveals That سليم شادي is The Real Slim Shady
During his Saudi Arabian debut at MDLBEAST’s SoundStorm 2024, Detroit rap legend Eminem surprised fans with a playful nod to the local culture. In the middle of performing his hit track ‘The Real Slim Shady’, he cheekily worked in the Arabic pronunciation of his name, referring to himself as سليم شادي, which promptly raisied alarm bells on Arabic social media.
@eminem.realfans Salem Shady🤣🤣🤣 #eminem #fyp #slimshady #rap #hiphop #viral #music #edit #lyrics #foryou ♬ original sound - EMINEM FANS
Elyanna, Coldplay, Burna Boy, Little Simz & Tini Performing We Pray (Live in the streets of Dublin)
On a random Wednesday in August 2024, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Palestinian singer Elyanna, along with Burna Boy, Little Simz and tINI caused quite a stir in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, when they pulled up to Grafton Street with an impromptu live performance of their collaborative song ‘We Pray’. The star-studded group drew a huge crowd to their pop-up performance, each belting out their own verses on ‘We Pray’ with nothing but a speaker and a few microphones.
Everyone trying to figure out Egyptian pop star Tul8te’s real identity
Egyptian pop star Tul8te made his way into the regional zeitgeist in 2024. After the release of his massively successful album ‘Cocktail Ghena’y’, the identity of the masked pop singer became the hottest topic across all of Egypt and the region at large, igniting widespread controversy on social media. From Angham openly questioning Tul8te’s identity on live television to Ahmad Saad sharing cryptic stories about it, the entire region was abuzz. Fans even dove headfirst into conspiracy theories, connecting far-fetched dots in a collective frenzy to unmask the artist. The signature white crochet mask became a viral sensation, dominating social media and sparking countless imitations. While Tul8te’s true identity has yet to be revealed, the artist’s meteoric rise marked one of the most memorable moments of the year.
@dswilliam96 Replying to @Sara 🌸 #dswilliam #دا_انت_لذيذ_بقا #كلمتين_في_زوري #توليت #tul8te ♬ original sound - Mond
KUKII (fka Lafawndah) Performing ‘Rare Baby’ (Live on Colors)
Formerly known as Lafawndah, this year, Parisian artist KUKII debuted the reinvention of her musical project through her performance of ‘Rare Baby’ on the YouTube show Colors. In this stage of her career, KUKII is seemingly tapping into her Egyptian-Iranian descent for inspiration, with the track ‘Rare Baby’ exploring her multi-cultural background. However, the authenticity of this messaging is something that came under heavy fire on social media, with the song receiving mixed reactions that undoubtedly contributed to its popularity online, with some commenting that the lyrics of the track in particular, reading: “Rose water on my patisserie, Koukou sabzi, Koshari” were skin deep, and didn’t do nearly enough to represent the cultures that the artist wore so loudly on her sleeve.
Keinemusik live at the Great Pyramids of Giza
Keinemusik’s debut performance at the Great Pyramids of Giza in 2024 was a landmark moment for electronic music in the region. The Berlin-based trio, known for their innovative sound and laid-back personas, delivered a standout show, highlighted by a spectacular drone light display that drew out patterns such as a peace sign and the word “Egypt” against the backdrop of the pyramids and a starry night sky. While the spectacle captivated audiences both live and online, the steep ticket prices also sparked a wave of memes and lighthearted criticism across social media. Balancing breathtaking visuals and good vibes all night long, the event left a lasting impression as one of the most talked-about music moments of the year.
Libya’s Benghazi Summer Festival Open’s The Country Up For Massive Rap Concerts
Libya’s Benghazi Summer Festival in 2024 marked a significant turning point for the country’s cultural revival, hosting its first major music festival in 15 years. Featuring an impressive lineup of regional rap and hip-hop talent, including Egyptian rapper Wegz, Moroccan giant ElGrandeToto, Tunisian star Balti, and Libyan artists such as Kami, Ka7la, and Al Jundi, the festival showcased the rich diversity of Arab rap to an eager crowd. This milestone has opened the door for more large-scale music events, especially in the rap scene, signaling a promising future for Libya’s music industry and inspiring a wave of similar initiatives that will help foster a vibrant, diverse cultural scene in both Libya and the broader MENA region.
Marwan Pablo and Molotof reunite on Red Bull Mazzika Salonat
Few collaborations have been as influential on Egypt and the region’s rap scene as the early work of Marwan Pablo and Molotof. The duo’s early tracks propelled both to stardom and played a key role in Egypt’s rap boom of the late 2010s. However, over the years, the two artists had their differences, with behind-the-scenes beefs that remain speculative. In October 2024, the duo finally put their issues aside for a special episode of Red Bull’s ‘Mazzika Salonat’, recording the track ‘Ab3ad Mada’, which proved their chemistry is still alive and well, and rekindled the spirit of the groundbreaking music they created together.
Metro Boomin Facetiming The Weeknd from the Pyramids
After the cancellation of multiple shows at Egypt’s Great Pyramids of Giza, which had been set to feature world-famous artists like Travis Scott and Kanye, Grammy-winning producer Metro Boomin finally broke the curse with his Egyptian debut at the Kundalini Grand Pyramids. The event sold out in a record 15 minutes, prompting Live Nation to add a second night to accommodate the overwhelming demand. At the peak of the show, Metro casually FaceTimed his friend and longtime collaborator The Weeknd, who joined the monumental moment in spirit.
@abelxomakkonen goats 🐐 #metroboomin #theweeknd #concert #pyramids #future #feat #abeltesfaye #metro #creepin #stage #rap #live #famous #celebrity ♬ Like That - Mxno
Rosalía Vibing to Marwan Moussa’s
'Batal 3alam' During an unassuming instagram livestream, Spanish pop star Rosalía turned heads when she started singing along to Egyptian rap star Marwan Moussa’s ‘Batal 3alam’, singing along to the only part she recognized the words to: “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do.” In response, Marwan Moussa quickly took his instagram stories, replying with "Let's Collab," suggesting the possibility of an Egyptian-Spanish collaboration between the two artists.
Sama Abdulhady calls out Kamala Harris for using her music without permission
Earlier in October 2024, Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi became the center of a social media storm after condemning U.S. Vice President and former presidential candidate Kamala Harris for using footage from her performance in a campaign ad without authorization. Abdulhadi took to Instagram to denounce the ad, clarifying that she does not endorse any U.S. political party and calling the use of her image "misleading" and "deeply offensive."
Shabjdeed delivering a speech in the middle of his performance at Utrecht's Le Guess Who?
Palestinian rap icon Shabjdeed's performance at Le Guess Who? 2024 in Utrecht, The Netherlands became one of the year's most viral moments when, in the middle of his set with Al Nather, the duo unexpectedly stopped the music, walked off stage, and left the audience bewildered. Moments later, he returned in full military uniform, delivering a powerful speech addressing the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the liberation of Palestine that resonated deeply with the crowd, sparking widespread buzz and discussion on social media.
Ziad Zaza and Hoba performing حجرين ع الشيشة
In a surreal moment at the stage of Red Bull’s ’Sada Sot’, legendary shaabi singer Hoba joined Egyptian rap star Ziad Zaza to perform Hoba’s timeless gem ‘حجرين ع الشيشة’. Social media users quickly took to TikTok and Instagram to share the dreamlike moment of Zaza and Hoba dancing to the track’s iconic synth line.
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