An Arena for inclusive rap in Lebanon

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on April 04, 2018, on page 16.

BEIRUT: A saxophone, a beatboxer, and an edgy guitar were among all featured in the septet that took stage at Station Beirut last Thursday. After years of absence, Beirut’s beloved Hip-Hop group, Fareeq El Atrash reunited and packed the Jisr El Wati venue indicating of the band’s loyal and excited fanbase. The ensemble is distinguished by its live, funk-focused instrumentation, and smooth-flowing raps featuring the socio-political verses of artists Edd Abbas and Nasser “Chyno” Shorbaji.  

In an interview with The Daily Star, Chyno opened up about being labeled  “orientalist” and heavily criticised for rapping in English and emphasizing where he’s from. The 33 year-old was born to Syrian and Filipino parents and described Hip-Hop as something he latched onto early as it gave him a sense of belonging, growing up. “I was in Saudi Arabia and Hip-Hop started coming out and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard or seen.’” 

He went onto explain that “moving to Saudi Arabia and not knowing Arabic” isolated him.

And it was Hip-Hop’s promotion of inclusivity, Chyno recounted, that allowed him to adopt the idea of “being different but still fitting in.” He notes the genre has always been a protest and refers to Hip-Hop that pertains to struggles like Black Lives Matter and the Palestinian cause and how the affinity between the two speaks to the art form’s intersectionality. These are the ideas that Chyno, along with his diverse band, have tried to exemplify. Since pioneering the Lebanese Hip-Hop scene, the artists have long maintained a philosophy of communalism and acceptance.

This was seen in 2015 when LA-based Lebanese rapper “Dizaster” got into contact with Chyno’s co-MC Edd Abbas for a highly-contested rap battle taking place on the Vendome stairs in Mar Mikhael. Young rap-enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds came together to support both Dizaster and Abbas. One member of this crowd recalls his experience on this day saying, “it was cool to have everyone in the audience on the same level of attention, collectively reacting to what's being said...I remember thinking how accessible this would be to non-rap fans, since it was basically just two guys trying to outdo each other with witty insults.”

Chyno, being invited to organize the battle, talked about turning the idea from something he initially took up for fun to a serious project.

“In Beirut,” he said, “we have enough freedom of speech where [people from] different countries can come together, interact with each other, and be critical without being held in contempt for it.”

“I’m here because of the feeling of freedom” he added. The anomaly of Lebanon coupled with the enthusiastic encouragement of Beirut’s Hip-Hop community continues to be what allows Chyno to develop the first Arabic battlerap league in Beirut he’s named “The Arena.” Its events have featured rappers from all over the region including places like Jordan, Syria, and Egypt as well as locals from the Lebanese scene. The performers are paired-up and prepare to, depending on a coin flip, rhyme in either English or Arabic. 

There are few greater demonstrations of anticipation than that of onlookers in the tense seconds leading up to the first line of the first round. A rumbling crowd of eccentric Hip-Hoppers are able to subside into silent mesmerization. Once the lyricists take stage, thus begins the poetic savagery. 

Though one could write-off battlerapping as just insults in the form of spoken-word poetry, the opponents are friendly off-stage and their literary belittlement, albeit abrasive, never causes any hard feelings. Additionally, aside from being comedic, the back and forth is a source of fulfilment and exhilaration. 

Through the engaging tug-of-war of the battlers and the corresponding reactions from the crowd, both the participants and the spectators eventually seem to reach a place of emotional contentment. Though the rounds can be described as a rollercoaster ride, as the rappers try to sway the crowd against their opponent, there is never a feeling of unfinished business. It is the hypnotic ability and the light-hearted nature of the exchanges that leave the battles with no real “winner” and that ultimately build a strong sense of camaraderie among everyone at one of “The Arena”’s events.  

As well as charismaticaly hosting these showdowns, Chyno’s other objective with “The Arena” is to discover talent and provide a platform for promising Hip-Hop artists. His “boot camp” hires unique  amateur rappers to showcase their skills in front of “The Arena’s” audience in the form of its opening act. 

One thing Chyno likes to reiterate, is how welcoming and understanding he feels the Hip-Hop community should be. Though admittedly “The Arena” has been male-dominated and the genre itself has been historically hyper-masculine, Chyno tries ensure his network of artists remain empathetic and portray women in a positive light. He adds he’s always looking for talent to step into the battleground, despite gender or any other social barriers. 

The dates for “The Arena’s” future rap battles are to be announced but, based on the exponential success of the last few, it is clear they will be highly-anticipated and the community of Hip-Hop lovers in Beirut will continue to grow.