Young Zuksh, half of the Egyptian Mahraganat duo Double Zuksh, collaborates with El Waili on ‘KARAKEB’ to release a short social-commentary film for the El Waili-produced track ‘Karakeb.’ The short film stars Amir El-Masry and forms part of Double Zuksh’s long-awaited debut album ‘Kol Haga Ok.’
The melancholic Mahraganat flow delivers cynical social commentary over a brooding lo-fi Shaabi production by El Waili in a deeply somber, trippy and warped synth with oriental percussion processed, integrating elements of folk instruments with abstract electronic sounds and noise, giving the production an experimental edge that sets it apart from traditional Mahraganat.
The lyrics are deeply rooted in social commentary and personal introspection, addressing the realities of life of a young adult in Egypt, particularly from the perspective of someone from a working-class, reflecting the midlife crisis and chaos (Karakeb) most people around that age can relate to.
The music video mirrors this gritty realism, documenting Amir El-Masry as he moves through the routines of his day from work to the dim glow of the bar and then to the quiet of his bed. His moods shift as he tries to recall the moments when her once felt at ease. Even in crowded rooms, he feels isolated, missing family, friends and genuine companionship. His external struggles overwhelm him, pushing him once again to search for answers and reevaluate what truly matters, representing the internal, chaotic landscape of the protagonist’s mind, only to realize that the thing he’s been hunting for all along is his own sense of identity.
