Canada is home to many people ranging from different ethnic backgrounds, including Middle Easterners. These people have grown to create music that incorporates the cultures of both the Middle East and Canada.
When you will go through our list of 10 Best Middle Eastern Canadian rappers, you will notice the versatility in their work. The sounds and melodies are an amazing blend of two cultures that hypnotizes the listener.
The artists you will see below are famous because of the serious issues they talk about, especially immigration. Such topics are relatable for many people and it creates a bond of trust between the artist and the listener.
Here are the 10 best Middle Eastern Canadian rappers of all time:
- Narcy
- Belly
- Mustafa the Poet
- Ramriddlz
- K’naan
- Reema Major
- Meryem Saci
- Ahmed Knowmadic
- Majid Jordan
- Nafasi
1. Narcy
First on our list is the talented Yassin Alsalman, stage name Narcy or The Narcycist, who is an Iraqi-Canadian rapper and songwriter. Narcy’s music has had a huge impact on both cultures as he does not shy away from talking about his heritage in his songs.
His songs consist of various, very serious topics such as the struggles he faced as a second-generation Iraqi immigrant, and the challenges a person faces with their identity. He also talks about the lack of social justice in our society and the effects of war on people.
When it comes to the sound of his music, he mixes multiple instruments to get the perfect tune such as electric instruments. This versatility allows him to stand out and shine brighter amongst any of his peers.
He has taken his music career to new heights by collaborating with notable artists such as Talib Kweli and Shadia Mansour. One of his hit songs is “Hamdulillah”, we recommend you listen to it if you are struggling with an identity crisis.
Narcy changed the direction of his career when he started teaching hip-hop courses at Montreal’s Concordia University. In an interview with Scene Noise, he shares his goals for the future which include giving a platform to the emerging hip-hop artists from Iraq.
Aside from music and education, Narcy has also taken part in the acting industry. He has starred in the film “City of Life”. Alongside that, he has also done voice-overs for video games like The Secret World.
To keep it short, Yassin Alsalman is dedicated to spreading his culture, talking about it, and influencing people with his words to do the same. He has taken it upon himself to educate the young generation about hip-hop culture, especially to fellow Iraqis.
2. Belly
Ahmad Balshe, who goes by the stage name Belly, is a Palestinian-Canadian icon who won against all odds and established himself as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer. If you continue reading, you will find out what odds we are talking about.
Belly was very young when he started to take an interest in music, especially rap. One of the recurring themes in his music is financial struggles, which he suffered from a lot before his music career.
The rapper was only seven years old when his family moved from Jenine, Palestine to Ottawa, Canada. In an interview, he talks about his experience as an immigrant and how moving to Canada was a completely different world.
He talked about how he sold drugs at a very young age to escape poverty. Belly says he was so angry at his situation, angry at life for being so unfair. Music was what helped him express this anger, and so Belly’s life changed forever after that.
His debut mixtape, “Death Before Dishonor: Vol 1” gained traction in the mid-2000s and then his debut album “The Revolution” really cemented his place in the hip-hop world.
In his records, Belly touches upon sensitive topics, including immigration challenges, just like Narcy. He also showcases his life struggles and listeners love him for this honesty. His album “Immigrant” was a huge success for this reason.
When it comes to the sound of his music, Belly does not stick to one genre only. He has experimented with R&B and rock. If you add in this mix of raw emotion and amazing lyricism, you get a masterpiece.
Belly has worked multiple times with the notable artist, The Weeknd, and this led him toward international recognition. In 2008, Belly won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year along with many other accolades.
3. Mustafa the Poet
Mustafa Ahmed, who is known by the professional name Mustafa the Poet, is one of the youngest artists who has accomplished many things in a short amount of time. Mustafa was born in Toronto, Canada, to two Sudanese parents. This unique ethnic background provided him with the cultural diversity that would help him create iconic music a few years down the line.
Mustafa originally started as a poet, his words and the deep emotion connected to them touched the hearts of many people. His words are sincere and hold the power of painting a vivid picture in the mind of the listener.
It was not long before Mustafa realized the full potential of his talent and dived into the world of music, hip-hop to be exact. If you listen to his music, you will see the flawless mix of different genres such as folk, R&B, and soul with hip-hop.
Whether it is his poetry or his songs, it is clear that the Sudanese-Canadian rapper is not scared of addressing serious topics in his work. Just like the previous two Middle Eastern-Canadian rappers, Mustafa also talks about life as an immigrant and the importance of social justice.
Of course, we cannot miss out on his beautiful poetry about love. This particular topic has led him to be loved by supporters for his lovely words and his soft-spoken, positive nature.
This rapper has collaborated with many famous artists, with Drake and The Weeknd being at the top. He has also discussed the very serious and sensitive issue of gun violence in his songs.
We recommend you give his single “Stay Alive” a listen. This song is his latest release and it is a plea to the young generation to stay away from guns and gangs. He further talks about his life purpose in an interview with GQ.
4. Ramriddlz
Ramy Abdel-Rahman, better known as Ramriddlz, is a 29-year-old Egyptian-Canadian rapper who created a spot for himself in the hip-hop industry at a very young age. This is because of his keen ear for music that allows him to perfectly blend R&B, and Caribbean dancehall with rap.
Ramriddlz rose to fame overnight thanks to the legendary Drake. Ramriddlz’s single “Sweeterman” began to gain attention on social media in 2015. It was not long before it got the attention of Drake and what he did next helped Ramy get to stardom.
Drake broadcasted an all-Aubrey version of Ramy’s single on live Radio in front of many listeners. The catchy beat was enough for people to recognize Ramy’s talent and give him the recognition he deserves.
In an interview with The Fader, Drake mentioned the potential and greatness he heard in Ramy’s single and he knew that it needed to reach a bigger audience. Ramy took this spotlight as the chance to release his EP, “Sweeter Dreams”.
Ramyriddlz’s music is centered around relationships and everything involved in it, meaning love, romance, and heartbreak. He uses clever innuendos and humor from time to time which makes his music even more appealing.
This Egyptian-Canadian rapper has successfully collaborated with many artists such as Drake, Killy, and Safe. The way he manages to blend different sounds to create a catchy melody is very respected among his peers.
As a rap artist, Ramy understands that he has to look the part as well. This explains his colorful and unique sense of style that has been praised by many because it is very rare to see a man these days who dresses well!
To put it nicely, Ramiriddlz is an icon in the rap world and he continues to shine as he creates more music that is distinctive to others.
5. K’Naan
Keinan Abdi Wersame better known as K’Naan in the music world, is a Somali-Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and poet. He is famous for being one of the bold rappers who do not back down from addressing serious social issues.
K’naan uses his platform to highlight the struggles of victims of war, people who are just like him. He had to flee Somalia with his mother and two siblings when civil war broke out in 1991. They eventually found a place in Toronto, Canada to call home.
Music helped K’naan deal with the trauma he experienced in Mogadishu. He came from a family of artists already so it was not long before he started to hone his writing skills.
K’naan is very politically active, he once very bluntly criticized the role of the UN in the Somalia war and received a standing ovation from the audience for his speech. In this way, he learned he could use his platform to bring awareness to pressing matters.
You must have heard of his famous song “Waving Flag” which was considered to be the song of hope. It gained so much popularity that it became the official song of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This further increased the Somali rapper’s stardom.
If you look at his discography, you will find many emotion-filled songs that shed light on the struggles of refugees and immigrants. He talks about hope the resilient nature of humans and our ability to bounce back from hardships.
On his album “The Dusty Foot Philosopher ”, his song “Soobax ” can be considered a diss track against the warlords of his native land. He uses both English and Somali to bring a twist to this song. He has many accolades to his name, including Artist of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards.
You will find K’naan to not only say words but also act on them. He is applauded by people for his humanitarian efforts and for always advocating for refugees and minorities.
6. Reema Major
Reema Major, birth name Reema Shaaban, is a Sudanese-Canadian rapper who immigrated from Sudan to Canada at a very young age. Reema became famous very quickly because of her freestyling skills and impressive stage presence, even as a teenager.
She blew up after her single “Gucci Bag” came out. In this new age of female rappers taking over the hip-hop world, it is no surprise that Reema also became famous. Her confidence and personality alone can win over anyone.
This is a recurrent theme among all immigrant rappers, none of them are scared to hold back from talking about the harsh realities of being an immigrant. Reema is bold when it comes to music and she is not scared to discuss heavy topics such as women’s empowerment.
Reema’s ability to use words to paint a vivid picture of any scenario is what made her famous. Many people have this talent which is why the ones who do, are an instant hit. Her early mixtape “Youngest in Charge” will back up our statements.
Hip-hop was a very male-dominated industry but that is now slowly changing and we have women like Reema to thank for that. She has paved the way for many other rappers, breaking stereotypes and setting new limits in the rap world.
It is obvious from her loyal fanbase how adored Reema is within the industry. Her daring personality that likes to try new things in music and create phenomenal art by blending various sounds and creating a smooth harmony is admired by many.
7. Meryem Saci
Meryem Saci is another famous Middle Eastern Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. She was born in Algeria but her upbringing was done in Montreal, Canada. Her diverse ethnic background helps her see things from different perspectives which she showcases in her records.
She started off her music career as a part of the group Nomadic Massive, a rap and soul group. Being a part of this crew helped Meryem a lot, as she learned how to blend different sounds and add rap verses to create a good song. This helped her learn many skills and also allowed her to experiment and find her style.
Her debut solo EP “Alwatan Café” was praised for the different blends found in it. Middle Eastern and North African influences were combined in the EP, along with modern rap and R&B.
She talks in an interview about how the sound of music makes her feel at home and that speaks to her loud.
Her records are characterized by serious topics such as feminism, the struggles of an immigrant, etc. She is honest and shows raw emotion on stage which helps her fans to connect with her.
Just like Reema, Meryem uses the platform she has to speak about important issues and bring awareness towards them such as gender equality and social justice.
8. Ahmed Knowmadic
Ahmed Knowmadic’s real name is Ahmed Ali and he is a talented Somali-Canadian rapper. He is also a community advocate who has gained respect for his passionate storytelling and his social activism. Ahmed is also a spoken word artist.
He started his career by writing spoken poetry on very grave matters such as social injustice against minorities in societies, and the life of an immigrant. He also touches upon subjects of identity crisis as well as human resilience.
Aside from his poetry, he has also ventured into the hip-hop world. Even though he is not star-level famous, Ahmed still does not back down from bringing stories of refugees and immigrants to light. His songs contain personal experiences on these topics.
Aside from his continuous efforts to shed light upon these cases, he also is a community advocate. This means that he has worked with many other young people to help marginalized communities.
He also talks about mental health, and youth empowerment and the role it plays in changing the world. He constantly motivates other people to stand up for their rights and to use their voices. Because if they don’t then other people will take advantage of it.
9. Majid Al Maskati
Majid Al Maskati is part of the Canadian hip-hop duo, Majid Jordan, and he is Bahraini-Canadian himself. Majid is a well-respected singer and rapper who is praised for his vocal range as well as lyricism.
Majid was born and raised in Bahrain but he moved to Canada to pursue his music dreams. There he teamed up with Jordan Ullman, who is a producer. And together they both created the duo “Majid Jordan”.
Together with Majid’s vocals and Jordan’s production skills, they both created a unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music.
Their music gained international recognition when they collaborated with Drake on two major hits, one of them being “Hold On, We’re Going Home”. It was not long before Majid’s voice became a hit.
When it comes to songwriting, Majid opts for relationship-themed songs such as Love, etc. He also talks about finding out who you are as a person.
Being a famous musician, it is important to keep your looks fabulous and always on fleek because you never know when you will run into a fan. Majid seems to understand that as he has an impeccable sense of fashion. His signature beret can be recognized by his supporters from miles away.
Majid won Best Hip-Hop Video in 2014 with Jordan for their single “Hold On, We’re Going Home” with Drake at the MTV Video Music Awards.
10. Nafasi
Nafisa Bakkar, who goes by the stage name Nafasi, is a Middle Eastern-Canadian rapper and spoken word artist. Nafasi has Sudanese heritage and this diversity in ethnic background helps broaden her perspective on many things in the world.
She uses very clever words to convey whatever message she wants to give the listener. Whether it is about someone’s cultural heritage or social injustice. Nafasi tries to bring as much awareness towards grave situations as she can.
She has a way with words which can be seen when she speaks up for anything. Her thoughts are well articulated and conveyed in a very smooth manner so that everyone can understand what she is saying and perhaps even sing along.
Just like the other rappers we have listed above, Nafasi also does a lot of community work to help marginalized and underprivileged groups. She is praised by fans and many others for her ability to listen to other providers and talk about medicines.
FAQs
Who is the most famous rapper from, the Middle East and Canada?
Yassin Alsalman, who is also listed as number one on our list, is the most famous artist. Narcy uses his platform to publicly shine a light on difficult topics.
Which religion is the rapper K’naan from?
K’naan openly talks about his experience with religion. K’naan is Muslim and rap has heavily influenced his way of looking at things in life and he always shares that in his music.
Is Drake friends with Mustafa the Poet?
Yes, Drake and Mustafa are friends and have even collaborated to make new music. Drake helped Mustafa start his career by sharing a poem Mustafa wrote on his social media account. The poem was written on Muhammad Ali after his death, to honor him.
What is the song “Wavin’ Flag” by K’Naan about?
“Wavin’ Flag” was the song that took K’naan towards a new height of fame. It included words that K’naan shared that his grandfather would say to him “When I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me freedom just like the wavin’ flag”. These words helped rapper K’naan during the war, immigrating to Canada, settling there, and when he was bullied.