Do artists make music based on what they’re exposed to?
Musicians and songwriters are often asked what kind of music they listen to, yet their personal taste doesn’t always match the music they create. Many artists seem to process music differently, listening to the same song through multiple lenses, focusing on production, lyrics, emotion, samples, and more.
Curious about those listening habits, we asked artists from across the MENA region what they’ve been playing the most over the past year. From classical and folk to rap and beyond, each artist brought their own interests and preferences.
Below is a list of what MENA artists have been listening to most in 2025.
Wegz
Uncomfy (feat. OsamaSon) – xavierobased
Zeyne
luther – Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Sama Abdulhadi
Castro – Fawzi
MOUSV
N9adder Fik – Samara (Lasmer)
Fifty
3alam Kadaba – Lege-Cy
Bu Nasser
Tari’ Elday’een – Nour Yamm
Malak
Marra Fi Ghnina – Soapkills
Al Nather
sa7eb – rknddn
Ortega
Hiya Hiya – CHAAMA x ELJOEE
Showkey
YAMA – DYSTINCT
Asem Tag
SAMRAT AL AIN – AMAKA
Sadat
Again – Young Thug (ft. Gucci Mane)
Zeid Hamdan
Belek – Koast
Shobra El General
Kalam Forsan – Wegz, Mohamed Mounir
Aziz Maraka
Narein – TUL8TE
ZAD
E5TAFET – Hady Moamer
Shams
Less El Convo.wav – ZIAD ZAZA
Omar Keif
SUPERHERO. – Wegz
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