Abyusif closes out the year with ‘Ana,’ a self-reflective release built around a sample from a well-known classical interview featuring Fouad El Mohandes on journalist and TV presenter Mofeed Fawzy’s popular 1980s show Hadith Al-Madina (Talk of the Town). This is not the first time Abyusif has drawn from this particular interview series, which is known for its controversial questions and the famous line “اسمح لي أسألك سؤال” (“Allow me to ask you a question”). There is a clear indication of his connection to it, as he previously sampled it on the fifth track, ‘La Togad Eshara,’ from his recent EP Genent El Ba’ar.
ما إحناش في العيد مش لازم أضحي
The bar, while simple and direct, carries weight, referring to the sacrifice of cows during occasions, correlating the continuity between the two releases.
Self-produced, the track features 808-driven drums with an unpolished, industrial texture that complements the retro feel of the sampled interview lines. Continuing his ongoing approach of sampling old Egyptian dialogues and rhythmically chopping them, ‘Ana’ explores how Abyusif sees himself versus how others perceive him. He addresses listener expectations and the pressure placed on his releases in the lines:
شغلت تراكي وإستنيت أقول حاجة
قالولي كتير إن أنا مش بقول حاجة
بس ده مفيد عشان لما باجي أقول حاجة
بتقول أخيرًا يا أسطى أهو بيقول حاجة
The track closes with a deeper reference to the original interview. When Mufid Fawzy asked Fouad El Mohandes what remained in his home from the late Zaki El Mohandes, Fouad replied, “I remain.” Abyusif revisits and reframes the moment, responding to the same question by stating that he is what remains of his mother after her passing.
The artwork features a flamingo statue, aligning with the song’s theme, where they’re known to use a range of defensive behaviors, from threat displays to physical aggression, to protect their chicks. This parallels Abyusif’s approach on the track, where he raps in a way that positions him as instructing and guiding younger rappers.
The release caps off a prolific year for Abyusif. Throughout the year, he released eight singles alongside an EP and a full-length album, performed two solo concerts, and made several surprise appearances across the scene.
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