DUBAI — Jordanian hip hop artist Emsallam returns to his roots with his latest single ‘Dasher Hosromna’ which pays homage to classic “zaffeh” songs, often the most dramatic and iconic part of any Arabic wedding.

Once again Emsallam, the cutting-edge hip hop pioneer blurs the lines and breaks the ice between Arab Folk and Hip Hop. This rings true to Keife Records’ core mission supporting artists whose music and messages transcend both fixed music genres and cultural norms while embracing roots and traditions.

Stylistically, the track marries Al Jobi traditional Iraqi rhythm with Levantine folk vocals and references village lingo: Hosrom is an unripe grape found in the Levant region and is used in cooking instead of lemon. Touching on a variety of topics from tribalism, wedding dowry and nostalgia for the homeland, “Dasher Hosromna” captures the attention of baby boomers and millennials alike.

This is just the latest chapter for Emsallam AKA Msallam Hdaib. His previous two albums, 2016’s The Last Step and 2018’s Post-Colonialism, were highlights for the Middle East’s hip hop scene. And his forthcoming album Dyslexia is set to re-write the rule book once again by blending his theatrical and emotionally-charged lyrics and delivery with a more stripped-back, almost minimal production style.

Having notched up millions of YouTube plays in his career, this video is set to take him to a new level as he once again proves he is at the forefront pioneering much of the most exciting new sounds. — Agencies