Sudan's New Hip-Hop Era: 21 Rappers You Should Know

In Sudan, rap first came to national prominence when the street rap song ‘Dam’ by the group Nas Jota, which became an anthem chanted during the nationwide uprising against military rule and the Khartoum sit-in.

Despite Nas Jota’s eventual exile following a government crackdown on dissident artists, a new wave of young Sudanese rappers has recently emerged carrying forward their predecessors’ legacy, yearning for liberation. Their verses - delivered in the Sudanese youth dialect (randok) - are evocative, rousing and powerful, forming a significant influence on the regional music scene. For them, rap serves as a powerful tool for social commentary, self-expression and revolution, a platform for them to speak their truth, unfiltered and unapologetic.

There seems to be a consistent production line of talent emerging within the burgeoning Sudanese hip-hop scene, a raft of sharp and diverse voices reflecting the modern Sudanese experience, whether that’s at home or in the diaspora. And, perhaps that is what sets the Sudanese rap apart within the region’s ever-thriving scene; that it has developed into a localised and truly authentic sound of its own.

From rising talents like Hyper, Nadine El Roubi, and Hoosh to seasoned emcees who have been leaving their marks globally like Bas, Soulja, Flippter and more, we have compiled a list of some of the most talented Sudanese rappers who are dominating the MENA Hip-Hop scene.

Flippter

Born in Sudan and raised between Khartoum and Riyadh, Loay Karim, aka Flippter, was one of the earliest musicians to dominate Sudan’s nascent hip-hop scene. He built a reputation within Sudan, Saudi Arabia and across the region for his outspoken and politically charged songs like ‘Hatred’, as well as signature comedic offerings like ‘Gorasa’ and ‘Tamees’.

Bas

American-Sudanese rapper Abbas Hamad, aka Bas, has quickly become known globally with more than 8 million listeners on Spotify. He began his musical career in 2010 and was signed to Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, in 2013. He’s widely recognized for his hit single ‘Tribe’ ft. J Cole, which garnered over 73 million views on YouTube. His most recent release is ‘Khartoum’, featuring Adekunle Gold, where he reflects on the devastation the war has caused his homeland and the lack of international urgency to end it.

Soulja

Soulja has instantly established himself as one of the most distinctive Sudanese talents ever since emerged in the music scene. The rapper has since become a household name within the MENA region, especially after the release of his first album ‘Deja Vu’ earlier this year.

Nadine El Roubi

Boston-based Sudanese rapper Nadine El Roubi has been taking the SWANA region’s rap scene by storm with her confrontational style and soulful hip-hop vocals. Her music radiates confidence, empowerment and a rebellious allure. The artist has been frequently releasing freestyle mixtapes on Instagram, spitting smooth bars with a tongue-in-cheek attitude about womanhood and Afro-Arab taboos.

TooDope

Tayeb Hajo, better known as TooDope, is considered one of the most influential figures in the Sudanese rap scene. He has the ability to deliver socially aware and reflective lyrics that speak to the contemporary Sudanese generation. His breakthrough single ‘Alright’, released in 2017, brought him to the global spotlight, garnering more than 3 million views on YouTube from an international audience.

Montiyago

Montiyago has been steadily rising in the region’s rap scene with his skilled lyricism and ability to craft catchy hooks, consistently balancing innovation with respect for the genre’s core elements. One of his famous releases is his collaborative EP ‘Decor’ with Egyptian producer 77.

Dafencii

Dafencii’s hit single ‘King Alhalaba’, produced by Khayyat, is what propelled him into the mainstream. He has since become a favourite among rap fans within the region for his sharp and sarcastic lyricism, laid-back delivery and distinctive technical ability.

MaMan

Mahdi, aka MaMan, originally began his music career as a DJ before venturing into hip-hop through music production. He became recognized as one of the best emerging talents in Sudan once he started releasing hit singles, including, ‘Alright’ with TooDope, which demonstrated his playful and uplifting lyricism and laid-back delivery style.

Dua Saleh

You probably know that Cal Bowman from the ‘Sex Education’ series was actually played by American-Sudanese rapper, poet and activist Dua Saleh. Her music is bold and sensual, exploring toxic relationships and climate anxiety. Her debut album, ‘I Should Call Them’, features her flitting between sugary soft vocals and unflinching rap-adjacent inflections over cosmic electronics.

Walgz

Burgeoning Sudanese rapper Walgz established a distinctive sound and style in just two years since his emergence. He has garnered praise from audiences across the MENA regions with his well-crafted lyricism and rugged yet sultry vocals, which appear in hits like ‘Sasa’, ‘7ako 7ako’ and ‘Hollanda’.

Hyper

Born in Khartoum before relocating to Egypt for his studies, Hyper has catapulted to social media stardom as he debuted his song, ‘Kanet Ayam Ya Watany’, a rendition of a national song on Rap Shar3. As he is carving his early path in the music industry, Hyper always stays true to his roots, penning tracks about Sudan’s socio-political landscape, aiming make an impact while amplifying the voice of underrepresented artists.

RoTation 

Hailing from Omdurman, Tamer Siddiq, aka roTation, is a seasoned Sudanese rapper and a fan favourite among the local Sudanese community. He first gained popularity through tracks like ‘Green’ and ‘249’, garnering over 250K plays on SoundCloud alone. His effortlessly saucy delivery and soulful direction are what set him apart from his peers.

Beykay 

Ever since his ‘Al Am Deebu’ freestyle went public on YouTube in the last quarter of 2020, Dubai-based Sudanese rapper, Khalid K. Osman aka Beykay, has garnered a solid amount of followers. He is arguably on the top three list of cleverest Sudanese rappers lyrically. He often includes samples from pop culture movies and TV shows in his music.

Hoosh 

Miami-based Sudanese rapper Hoosh is best known for his socially conscious music, tackling issues of identity, race and belonging from his lived experience. His track ‘Santa Monica’ appeared on the Netflix romantic drama ‘Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between’ in 2022. He has recently been performing in prestigious festivals across the globe from Rolling Loud in New York and California, to Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Mvndila

Growing up between Sudan and Saudi Arabia, Mvndila’s influences include the classical haqeeba sound of Sudan and modern-day raging Hip-Hop sound. He is well known for producing heartfelt testimonies and sounds about the emotional toll of being a young man in modern-day Sudan - navigating the good and bad and everything between. Some of his most recent releases include his EP ‘HYDR’, and a collaborative single with roTation, ‘Nuba’.

Tageel

The Saudi-based Sudanese masked rapper has burst onto the scene in 2020 with successful singles like ‘Game Over’ and ‘Logha’. Tageel’s latest record and debut album, ‘Kitab’, boasts a rich tapestry of sounds and collaborations with a diverse group of producers, further highlighting his assertive persona, dynamic energy and his experimental musical style. Though the rapper has announced his retirement from the scene recently, his distinctive style has left an indelible mark on the Sudanese Hip-Hop scene.

O’D

Although O’D doesn’t have a very large following, his music is a staple for any hardcore Arabic hip-hop devotee. Some of his most significant works include ‘Marrakesh’, featuring Soulja, which is regarded as one of the most successful singles to date across the region with over 1.2 million views on YouTube.

Eaz Da Bully

Though he raps entirely in English, British-Sudanese rapper  Eaz Da Bully has been playing a role in putting Sudanese drill on the global stage through his collaborations with a slew of Sudanese artists, as well as his powerful delivery style and demeanour.

G-Salih

Sudanese-American rapper Gihad Salih rose to prominence in the Sudanese rap scene over the past few years with his freestyles, which garnered the attention of thousands of viewers across global music platforms. His flawless flow with songs like ‘Bouqets’ and ‘All Year’ led him to be featured on Aidyproof’s collaboration album, ‘A 249 Experience, Vol. 1’, on songs like ‘Sudania’ and ‘On the Way!’.

Veto

Ever since he was featured on Rap Shar3’s Sudanese street rap edition with his song ‘Khayana’, Veto commanded the attention of many hip-hop fans across the region for his poetic lyricism. His musical style is inspired by rap legends like Tupac, Travis Scott and Biggie, crafting tunes in his car that tackle poignant societal issues and the hardships Sudanese people face during the ongoing conflict.

Hleem Taj Alser

Born and raised in Libya, Hleem is one of the most influential Sudanese artists of all time and one of the heavyweights pioneering the Sudanese rap scene. His single 'Login' gained global attention, garnering over 2 million views within a few days of its release.

Awab

Born in Khartoum, rising rapper Awab has been commanding the attention of hip-hop lovers across the region since his powerful duet ‘7riga’ on Rap Shar3. His love for poetry shows clearly in his interesting way of retailing stories of Sudanese resilience in his verses, which he delivers in an uplifting flow. In his most recent track, ‘Intro’, he delivers a composed smooth rant in an easy-going flow about the rich culture of his homeland.

Mujvhed

While Mujvhed is still a new face within the Sudanese hip-hop scene, his authentic and unfiltered lyricism and unique bars, championing his heritage and culture, have been resonating beyond the borders of his homeland. His most recent release, ‘Mn Al Sudan’, reflects on the turmoil and brutal displacement of Sudanese people amidst the current war.

Oddisee

Born Amir Mohamed El Khalifa to a Sudanese father, Oddisee’s music is a treat for those into rap that’s a little more chill. He is a former member of the Mellow Music Group family, which also features Apollo Brown, Jean Grae and Big Pooh. His production uses off-kilter drum sequences that are drawn from DC go-go and Sudanese music. His most recent track, ‘World On Fire’, criticizes the humanitarian crisis across the region in a raw and unfiltered way.

AKA Keyz

Having established himself as a conscious rapper and a savvy lyricist, Elfatih Shami, AKA Keyz initially garnered global attention with his 2018 single ‘No Options Left’, and his endeavours with Sudanese supergroup The C!rcle, along with Aidyproof, G-Salih, Eaz Da Bully and former member Nadine El Roubi.

His commanding voice, affectionate rhyme, jazzy boom-bap instrumentals and vital subject matter make him one of the leading rappers in the region.

Shmakh

Emerging rapper Shmakh stakes his claim in the rap game with his powerful freestyling and assertive lyrics delivered over classic trap beats, where he bets on himself to make it to stardom, and raps about how he deals with the obstacles he is facing on his quest to the global spotlight. Earlier last year, he released ‘23’, a clear manifestation of his dreams, which resonates with many aspiring rappers across the region.

Connan

Born in Khartoum and raised in Egypt, Connan is one of the freshest talents in the rap scene. He has the ability to deliver aggressive verses in a laid-back flow and nonchalant manner. One of his most famous tracks, ‘Liga’, fuses classic elements of trap and afrobeats.

Kay’O

Kay’O latest tune ‘000’, featuring introspective lyrics that resonate with raw emotions delivered smoothly in English and Arabic flow over a melancholic trap beat, has established him as one of the most promising rappers in the Sudanese hip-hop scene. It got that bittersweet blues that will have you listening to it on repeat.

Rana 

Rana Marouf is a 19-year-old Sudanese artist based in Qatar, who has been garnering attention across the regional rap scene following her performance at a random open mic in Doha when she was just 14 years old. Her reggae-fused rap style and self-written songs embracing her womanhood and calling out patriarchy is infused with an unapologetic energy.  When she is not rapping, she is spinning groovy afro-house records at famed venues across Qatar.

Essam Satti 

Essam has established a name for himself as an up-and-coming Sudanese rapper since his performance at Dubai Expo 2020. He is one of the many examples of the great Sudanese talents that are waiting to be discovered. His songs are quite joyful, weaving poignant lyrics with elements from classic Sudanese music and afrobeats, celebrating the tribal traditions of his homeland.

Fodi

Fodi is a rising rapper, producer and member of the SVNBIRDS collective, who cemented himself in the Sudanese rap scene with his signature afrobeat-fused trap and his heavy use of auto-tune. His debut project, ‘Planet X’, showcases his production skills and lyrical abilities.

All-moony

Drawing inspiration from experimental rap icons like Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt, All-moony’s beats are reminiscent of Migos, peppered with smooth flows between English and Arabic, his signature ad-libs and heavy snares.