Behind some of the most recognizable hits in the current wave of Arab hip-hop, working with the likes of Wegz, Ziad Zaza, DizzyTooSkinny, Afroto, Haleem, Shehab, and more, producer Omar Keif steps into the spotlight with his first single, ‘Baby Shark’, from his upcoming debut album, featuring his longtime collaborator Ziad Zaza.
Rather than leaning on a direct sample, Omar Keif deconstructs the globally infamous children’s earworm into something far more abrasive, flipping the nursery rhyme on its head. In place of the original’s high-pitched cheerfulness, Keif weaves distorted, tongue-in-cheek nods to the melody, paired with a gruff, confrontational delivery.
That same chaotic energy carries into the music video, directed by Omar Donga. The visuals lean into the contrast implied by the title, cutting between gritty, street-level scenes across Cairo’s alleyways and theaters, underscoring the duo’s long-standing chemistry while amplifying the track’s ironic edge.
Omar Keif was also recently featured in a standout episode of Red Bull Mazzika Salonat, the episode with the highest number of collaborating artists. Appearing as a producer, collaborator, and at times mediator between rappers, the episode hints at the deeply collaborative spirit behind his work, an energy that likely defines the rest of the upcoming album.
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