Here’s A Bunch Of Rap Classics That Sample Music From South Asia, The Middle East, And North Africa
Courtesy of Heems.
Heems, rapper with Swet Shop Boys, shared a long Twitter thread of his favorite rap songs that sample music from South Asia and the MENA regions (Middle East and North Africa). This is the artist who once rapped "I'm so New York I still don't bump Tupac," so his hometown has a strong presence, as you'd expect. You'll enjoy songs you recognize, discover others that might be new, and leave with a stronger impression of just how important diasporic traditions have been in the foundations and sustaining of rap music in the United States.
Check the entire selection out below, and listen to the new Swet Shop Boys single "Thas My Girl." Check out their spring/summer tour dates here.