Female rap in Arab countries. The case of Mayam Mahmoud: Rap femenino en países árabes. El caso de Mayam Mahmoud

Abstract

Female rappers in the Arab world have increased in both number and prominence in recent years. Yet, while there is extensive bibliography on female rap in the Western world, few studies have examined female rap in the Arab world. This paper represents a preliminary approach to this phenomenon, offering a general overview of the fe- male rappers in various Arab countries and the different issues they address. The paper then goes on to analyze a corpus consisting of the texts of the young Egyptian rapper Mayam Mahmoud, who has become internationally famous, highlighting linguistic aspects as well as the themes. The topics preferred by female Arab rappers include political problems in their country and social themes such as the situation of women, their day-to-day reality, the struggle against sexism and solidarity among women. The language used is direct, straightforward and free of social conventions. These aspects are in line with “conscious” rap created by women around the world. Rap music has become a vehicle through which women seek to secure a share of the power, affirm their choices and build alternative visions of their identity.