WORD | Asayel - Asliyah

In this episode of our video series WORD, rising Saudi rapper and femcee Asayel opens up about her controversial debut track Asliyah. She breaks down the lyrics, revealing the layers of meaning behind her bars and discussing her writing process, as well as the messages she aimed to convey through the song.

Written and performed in authentic Saudi dialect, the track went viral on social media, sparking debate with its provocative lyrics and dividing audiences between supporters and critics. The track underscores the rapper’s confident approach and nonchalant attitude as Asayel delivers bars about how she is perceived in the music scene while throwing shade at the industry’s double-standards.

WORD is SceneNoise’s series where we invite artists from across the MENA region to enlighten us about the meaning behind their most iconic verses, offering a glimpse into their writing process.