My Own Private Shaabi Boat
Welcome to the Nile by night. Throngs of little falouka boats, covered in neon lights, all compete to overpower your eardrums with their distorted car-battery-powered sound systems. What are they playing? Electro Shaabi. It’s the highly auto-tuned Middle Eastern cousin of reggaeton, and I’m very happy to share some with you today. Finally back home in LA, I had just enough time to settle in, do laundry, and catch up on work, before leaving the country again tonight for the Caribbean! Next stop Honduras: can you tell I’m smiling as I type this? But before I bounce, I put together some recent gleanings from my last trip. A touch of roots, some slightly more experimental mid-east flavors, and a handful of top-notch electro shaabi for you. Outside of North Africa and the Levant, I think it would be pretty difficult to track some of these tunes down. Apologies for the lack of artist info and song titles, some of these come from bootleg CD’s and I wasn’t able to get my local friends to help translate everything before I left. If you have any info, please share!
Abadi Al Jawhar : Atshan (Thirsty)
a nice mellow bit of roots music from this Saudi oud master to kick things off
Elias Rahbani : Dance Of Maria
a classic break from the younger sibling of the legendary Lebanese Rahbani Bros. This family is semi-royalty in the mid-east musical lexicon. I’ve been looking for this LP since O-Dub posted it years ago, and was lucky enough to get a copy in Beirut for $10 from the son of the guy who produced Ziad Rahbani!!! (please excuse the record nerd freakout). Best believe I already made a beat out of this in my hotel room too!
Ahmed Fakroun : Soleil Soleil
another artist who I had known about for some time via disco edits that I had by Prince Language & Golem. Didn’t find the original on vinyl, but this mp3 is still sounding nice.
Judah Warsky : Think Of Me (Acid Arab Instrumental Remix)
this French duo is doing some of the more forward thinking blends of electro-arabic styles with more classic house and acid sounds. This one in particular goes deeeep.
Hoba : Hagaraan Ala Al Shesha
one of the big chaabi hits, praising the glory of hookahs.
Ortega : Haty Bosa Ya Bet
one of the young punk stars of shaabi, a member of the group known as 8%
DJ Figo : Sa3it El Basha
& Mahragan Agagaga
taken from a brand new EP I got thanks to my Beirut homie Tres who runs Audio Kultur mag
Egyptian Mystery Artists : Track 08
& Track 01
I wish I could tell you more. From a compilation CD. Track 01 sounds like a little kid singing with swag.
Helm : Hosanni (Acid Arab Edit)
great DJ tool or soundtrack for bedroom bellydancing
Palestinian Mystery Artist : Track 05
very serious flute solos going on here
Amer Zayan : Track 02
& Track 04
big current pop star from Lebanon, but damn listen to that crazy triplet swing!
Restless Leg Syndrome : Habibi
some Austrian dudes are sampling old school mid-east records and making dope beats like this
Mayssa Karaa : White Rabbit
first heard this dope Arabic version in the soundtrack for American Hustle, but got it on my trip from my homie DJ James Jocksmith
shermine • April 20, 2015
LOVE IT >> DIGGIN THE DIGGIN
Weedy Dave • April 21, 2015
Thanks for your nice blog! International record out now. Released on the 18th April 2015 Label Mo’ Beats. Available on Amazon now. weedy dave. We’re selling International music record.
Stack • April 29, 2015
The voice on your “Palestinian Mystery Artist” sounds a lot like “Derdiyoklar Ikilisi” from a post you did back in 2012( now the digger is getting dug). Maybe? Maybe not. As always epic work.
Chuck Wild • April 30, 2015
Haha! STACK, you have dug deep my friend. I totally hear the similarity in the vocal, and even some similarities in the wobbly keyboard playing. Dediyoklar is Turkish however, and was recorded in the 70’s, so I’m pretty sure it’s not the same guy, but I’m impressed with your ears nonetheless.
Dangerscouse • May 3, 2015
Wow, some really impressive ear work there Stack
zbgniew • May 13, 2015
super !
20bet • October 2, 2023
I am currently writing a paper that is very related to your content. I read your article and I have some questions. I would like to ask you. Can you answer me? I’ll keep an eye out for your reply. 20bet
odprite racun na binance • February 23, 2025
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
open binance account • October 22, 2025
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Bangalore Independent escorts • October 18, 2026
Having your own private boat sounds like a wonderful way to enjoy peaceful moments on the water while exploring beautiful surroundings. Whether it is a relaxing getaway, a scenic adventure, or quality time with friends and family, boating offers a unique experience filled with freedom and memorable views. This topic beautifully captures the appeal of privacy, comfort, and adventure.
Carpenter in Dubai • October 19, 2026
Looking for a reliable carpenter in Dubai? We provide professional carpentry services for homes, offices, and commercial spaces, including furniture installation, wooden doors, cabinets, repairs, and customized woodworking solutions.
Doha escort • October 21, 2026
What a fascinating and entertaining post! I enjoyed the unique perspective and the way the story captures the spirit of music, culture, and personal experiences. A great read for anyone who appreciates discovering different musical influences and interesting stories. Looking forward to reading more posts like this!
desy smith • October 24, 2026
Air Serbia MXP Terminal is located at Milan Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy. Air Serbia uses Terminal 1 for its flights, where passengers can access check-in facilities, baggage drop-off, security screening, departure gates, and other airport services. Travelers can also use available airport amenities, including restaurants, retail shops, seating areas, and passenger information services. Passengers should check their flight itinerary and airport information screens for the correct check-in counter and boarding gate before departure, as operational arrangements may change. For flight reservations, baggage information, cancellations, and travel assistance, contact Air Serbia customer service.
eliza arthur • October 24, 2026
Yoga Teacher Training is a wonderful opportunity for people who want to understand yoga beyond physical postures and breathing exercises. It helps students explore the traditional principles of yoga while developing a regular personal practice. During the training, students can learn yoga asanas, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy, human anatomy, and teaching methodology. These subjects provide a foundation for understanding how yoga works and how to guide others through different practices. Rishikesh, known for its strong connection with yoga and meditation, attracts students from different parts of the world who want to experience yogic learning in a dedicated environment. At Sriezaa Yogshala, students can explore yoga training options that support personal development, practical learning, and a deeper understanding of yogic traditions. The training may include regular yoga sessions, theoretical classes, group activities, and teaching practice, depending on the programme. Students also have opportunities to learn from instructors, ask questions, and practise explaining techniques to others. Whether you are a beginner interested in learning more about yoga or an experienced practitioner planning to become a yoga teacher, choosing a course that matches your goals is important. Yoga Teacher Training can help you develop discipline, improve your understanding of yoga, and build the skills needed to continue your journey with confidence.