Shorouk Elzoghbi
زمن الفلوس - Single
Album · Hip-Hop/Rap · 2023
Shorouk Elzoghbi is an Egyptian rap maverick intent on carving out her own lane. With her sound defined by a scintillating fusion of rap and hip-hop influences, she aims to bring a new sonic aesthetic to the music scene in Egypt and, more widely, the Middle East—one defined by her message of progressive thought and female empowerment.
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
“It was my volleyball journey—I was a volleyball player when I was in high school and up to college, but by then I started to feel bad about it because the coaches weren’t supportive and were not fair. My dream was to become a professional volleyball player and join the national team, but no one was supporting me, no one was pushing me; instead, they were dragging me down and [were] unfair to me. I wrote this song when I was in my room crying, wanting to give up on my dream just because people were unfair to me.”
What is the message behind the song?
“To not wait for people to help you achieve your dream: Just go for it, even if that means going for it alone. God will always be by your side, and your faith should never fail you.”
What are the challenges facing female rappers in the Arab world?
“Arab society categorises women in a way that makes it hard to see them differently. They don’t believe and validate that we can also talk about our struggles, feelings, dreams and emotions through rap. They always relate it to men because they believe that rap is not feminine, or that women don’t have strong topics to rap about. That’s totally wrong: We women have a lot to talk about, even more so than men in our society, and it’s not related to gender.”
Your music comes with a powerful message. What are the topics that most resonate with you?
“Sadness, drama, contemporary themes, dreams, goals, life and self-love.”
What other female artists do you most look up to?
“I don’t have an ultimate favourite, but I grew up listening to Nicki Minaj and she is the reason I started rapping.”
What other artists would you like to work with?
“My dream collaboration is Rema and my dream Arab rapper to collaborate with is Wegz.”
What is one word that best describes you?
“Blooming.”
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
“It was my volleyball journey—I was a volleyball player when I was in high school and up to college, but by then I started to feel bad about it because the coaches weren’t supportive and were not fair. My dream was to become a professional volleyball player and join the national team, but no one was supporting me, no one was pushing me; instead, they were dragging me down and [were] unfair to me. I wrote this song when I was in my room crying, wanting to give up on my dream just because people were unfair to me.”
What is the message behind the song?
“To not wait for people to help you achieve your dream: Just go for it, even if that means going for it alone. God will always be by your side, and your faith should never fail you.”
What are the challenges facing female rappers in the Arab world?
“Arab society categorises women in a way that makes it hard to see them differently. They don’t believe and validate that we can also talk about our struggles, feelings, dreams and emotions through rap. They always relate it to men because they believe that rap is not feminine, or that women don’t have strong topics to rap about. That’s totally wrong: We women have a lot to talk about, even more so than men in our society, and it’s not related to gender.”
Your music comes with a powerful message. What are the topics that most resonate with you?
“Sadness, drama, contemporary themes, dreams, goals, life and self-love.”
What other female artists do you most look up to?
“I don’t have an ultimate favourite, but I grew up listening to Nicki Minaj and she is the reason I started rapping.”
What other artists would you like to work with?
“My dream collaboration is Rema and my dream Arab rapper to collaborate with is Wegz.”
What is one word that best describes you?
“Blooming.”
زمن الفلوس - Single
Shorouk Elzoghbi
Shorouk Elzoghbi is an Egyptian rap maverick intent on carving out her own lane. With her sound defined by a scintillating fusion of rap and hip-hop influences, she aims to bring a new sonic aesthetic to the music scene in Egypt and, more widely, the Middle East—one defined by her message of progressive thought and female empowerment.
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
“It was my volleyball journey—I was a volleyball player when I was in high school and up to college, but by then I started to feel bad about it because the coaches weren’t supportive and were not fair. My dream was to become a professional volleyball player and join the national team, but no one was supporting me, no one was pushing me; instead, they were dragging me down and [were] unfair to me. I wrote this song when I was in my room crying, wanting to give up on my dream just because people were unfair to me.”
What is the message behind the song?
“To not wait for people to help you achieve your dream: Just go for it, even if that means going for it alone. God will always be by your side, and your faith should never fail you.”
What are the challenges facing female rappers in the Arab world?
“Arab society categorises women in a way that makes it hard to see them differently. They don’t believe and validate that we can also talk about our struggles, feelings, dreams and emotions through rap. They always relate it to men because they believe that rap is not feminine, or that women don’t have strong topics to rap about. That’s totally wrong: We women have a lot to talk about, even more so than men in our society, and it’s not related to gender.”
Your music comes with a powerful message. What are the topics that most resonate with you?
“Sadness, drama, contemporary themes, dreams, goals, life and self-love.”
What other female artists do you most look up to?
“I don’t have an ultimate favourite, but I grew up listening to Nicki Minaj and she is the reason I started rapping.”
What other artists would you like to work with?
“My dream collaboration is Rema and my dream Arab rapper to collaborate with is Wegz.”
What is one word that best describes you?
“Blooming.”
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
“It was my volleyball journey—I was a volleyball player when I was in high school and up to college, but by then I started to feel bad about it because the coaches weren’t supportive and were not fair. My dream was to become a professional volleyball player and join the national team, but no one was supporting me, no one was pushing me; instead, they were dragging me down and [were] unfair to me. I wrote this song when I was in my room crying, wanting to give up on my dream just because people were unfair to me.”
What is the message behind the song?
“To not wait for people to help you achieve your dream: Just go for it, even if that means going for it alone. God will always be by your side, and your faith should never fail you.”
What are the challenges facing female rappers in the Arab world?
“Arab society categorises women in a way that makes it hard to see them differently. They don’t believe and validate that we can also talk about our struggles, feelings, dreams and emotions through rap. They always relate it to men because they believe that rap is not feminine, or that women don’t have strong topics to rap about. That’s totally wrong: We women have a lot to talk about, even more so than men in our society, and it’s not related to gender.”
Your music comes with a powerful message. What are the topics that most resonate with you?
“Sadness, drama, contemporary themes, dreams, goals, life and self-love.”
What other female artists do you most look up to?
“I don’t have an ultimate favourite, but I grew up listening to Nicki Minaj and she is the reason I started rapping.”
What other artists would you like to work with?
“My dream collaboration is Rema and my dream Arab rapper to collaborate with is Wegz.”
What is one word that best describes you?
“Blooming.”
