Jumping into Egypt’s Rap Circle Culture With EL MAFSHA5A

Rap circles, also known as cyphers, have long stood as a predominant component of the flourishing hip-hop culture in Egypt. In its basic form, a rap circle is a gathering of rappers (surrounded by fans) who take turns spitting bars in freestyle and challenging each other to a battle of words. Born out of a disenfranchised youth movement in the music scene, these circles serve as communitarian mobilizers with their capacity to circumvent social constraints and challenge norms. From Alexandria to Zamalek, and even Sharqiya, we have observed these circles erupting across Egyptian streets.
In Heliopolis, near Merryland, we came across a burgeoning cypher known as EL MAFSH5A - a community of aspiring young rappers. Despite the cold winter night, this group of young artists braved the rain and gathered from all corners of Cairo, driven by only one thing: their love for the rap game. With their gathering featuring an unrestrained flow of ad-lib logorrhea, improvisatory rhythms and gritty unfiltered lyrics with gunfire punctuation, EL MAFSH5A is now playing a pivotal role in nurturing the thriving cypher culture in Egypt.
Stepping into the realm of EL MAFSHA5A, though it may seem almost claustrophobic akin to the congested Cairene streets, one is immediately immersed in its aura of infectious beats, impassioned screams, and wild moshpit-like energy. It can simply be described as a liberating atmosphere, a space where artists are free to express their authentic selves. Each performer showcases their rhetorical prowess, technical and linguistic aptitude, as they skillfully borrow, layer and rapture words and rhythms to show up their opponents. “Our rap battles and circles are akin to wildfires, igniting wherever the beats take us,” 5ash5ash says. “We are not confined to a single location, wherever we venture, the palpable and contagious energy of fresh rap resonates, transcending the boundaries of the streets we tread upon.”

Видео Jumping into Egypt’s Rap Circle Culture With EL MAFSHA5A канала SceneNoise