Inspired by the movie character Abbas El Gen from the film series Awlad Rizk, performed by Bassem Samra, who plays an antagonistic crime lord serving as a counter-force to the Rizk brothers. Abbas is primarily focused on retaining control, power, and dominance within the criminal underworld of Cairo. In his anti-capitalism agenda, Abbas holds an ideological socialist stance, and his methods and territory clash with the principles of regulated capitalism.
Starting with a sample from the movie introducing ‘Abbas El Gen’, the duo brothers Kamikazem and Gello deliver a nonchalant flow, not shying away from metaphors that sneakily attack the system in a confrontational social commentary. This is part of their 4-track EP, El Ha2i2a Bayna. The cool-headed persona and flow are reflected in lines such as:
الناس تجن وانا هادي دمي بارد مابغليش
People go mad, while I am calm, my blood is cold, I don’t.
The production features heavy 808 bass and deep, booming kick drums in a dark, hypnotic trap style with elements of Shaabi, perfectly complementing the street-political track and matching the confrontational lyrics that dissect the fragility of “principles” in the face of money.
Shot between the bustling streets of Cairo and the expansive deserts of Fayoum, the video, directed by Kamikazem himself, embraces a gritty aesthetic. It features overlooked corners of the city, such as junkyards, symbolizing survival in a corrupt capitalist society. The visuals, captured by Filo and meticulously edited by Khalid Khalifa, bring a cohesive realism work of art.
The overall theme of EP navigates the brothers’ shifting definitions of survival and success, is available now on all streaming platforms.
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