Over the past few years, Afrobeats and Afropop music has slowly crept into production studios across the Arab region, aided by the enthusiasm of artists who matched their sounds to the rich rhythms of the genre. What ensued was a seamless fusion of Afrobeats and Afropop with the region's diverse music scene, especially the hip-hop and pop landscapes, thanks to its distinctive upbeat rhythms that draw from funk, jazz, and soul. 

Afrobeat, Afrobeats, and Afropop—three genres that share roots but diverge in sound and cultural impact. Afrobeat, birthed in the 1970s by the legendary Fela Kuti, is a fusion of traditional chiefly Nigerian and West African rhythms, jazz, and funk, marked by its bold political messages and intricate grooves. 

Fast forward to the 2000s, and Afrobeats emerges, a vibrant, genre-blurring phenomenon that marries West African rhythms with global sounds like hip-hop, dancehall, and R&B but is still largely rooted within the Nigerian music scene. Meanwhile, Afropop can be heard in the 2023 hit “Come Down” by Selena Gomez and Rema, where we see a clear blend of pop music and Afro inspired rhythms.

Afrobeats inspired music has become the soundtrack of a new generation, one that’s as much about the dance floor as it is about chart success, and we hear Afrobeats permeating the Arabic music landscape from North Africa, with artists like Dystinct to Mocci, and Egypt with hit songs like “Brazil” by Marwan Moussa and Afroto, to Blvxb and Ruhmvn from the Saudia Arabian rap scene with L5VAV in “Msh Fer2.”

Discover some of the most successful new wave Arabic Afrobeats releases in the region, including those that made it to the Billboard Arabia charts after garnering millions of views and listens.

Dystinct ft MHD - “TEK TEK”

In the perfect harmony between Afrobeats rhythms and Khaleeji/Bedouin melodies, Moroccan artist Dystinct found a space to express his infatuation with his lover's beauty that makes his heart go ‘Tek Tek’.  Since its release, the song achieved millions of views on YouTube, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in tenth position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdO188j42ys

Afroto ft. Marwan Moussa - “Brazil”

Afroto smoothly drops his bars against the backdrop of an upbeat rhythm that he crafted with Marwan Moussa in a bid to swap the fixation on drums in the Egyptian hip-hop scene with percussion and clapping. With his quick short bars, Afroto reminds his competitors of the reasons for his success, starting from his Alexandrian origins to his ability to "dance Samba" like a born-and-bred Brazilian. Mirroring his confidence, Marwan Moussa emphasizes his continued and robust music partnership with Afroto.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEqtVIt8nLQ

BLVXB x RUHMVN ft. ‪@L5VAV‬ - “Mesh Fare2”

BLVXB and RUHMVN offered a unique experience in the Saudi scene, collaborating with L5VAV to produce a beat filled with vibrant rhythms. Their performance was rich with personal experiences, featuring a distinctive vocal delivery that addressed their issues.The song also had a calm and soothing sound that resonated with listeners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w2z8v8JxE8

Ali Loka ft. Ziad Zaza - “Habebi”

Long famous for his melancholic lyricism, Ali Loka joins in on Ziad Zaza's coarse style in this unexpected collaboration, putting the blame and sorrow on the shelf to give way to the joyful beat of African-inspired polyrhythms. For his part, Zaza's hook almost tricks us into believing he has embraced a new music style, but his hoarse voice soon reminds us that "young wolves cannot be tamed".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIw0dJDFRKg

CKay ft. ElGrande Toto - “Love Nwantiti”

“Love Nwantiti” was such a big hit that even all its remixes and versions achieved great success and hundreds of millions of streams across platforms. But a stand out iteration is the North African remix of the hit song, the fruit of a collaboration between CKay and ElGrande Toto. Along with its captivating dance music, Toto's soft, smooth performance infuses the song with a Moroccan spirit that perfectly harmonizes with the Afrobeats rhythm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxjrsDV8Aeo

KOUZ1 - “LOVE”

Afrobeats often bring upbeat, high-energy lyrics, blending rhythm and joy, and KOUZ1’s “Love” is a perfect example—capturing vibrant emotions that make the genre so infectious and uplifting. Produced by SSC Music, the track gained global success after trending on Tiktok, and is an ode to KOUZ1's lover who made him forget all his problems ever since he laid eyes on her.  Not only was “Love” listed on the Hot 100 chart, but KOUZ1 also secured a spot on the Artist 100 chart with his album AFROBOY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZQCwUTnooA

ReXus ft. Mo Rezeqi - “Am GORON”

In his track “Am Goron” with Mo Rezeqi, ReXus took experimentation with his production style to a new level, sampling psychedelic notes in the background that blend seamlessly with the Afrobeats-inspired rhythm.  The lyrics, infused with expressions rooted in Sudanese culture, are complemented with a music video choreography that fuses Afrobeat and traditional Sudanese dances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8s0pzaECxs

Samara - “Nsitou Li Nseni”

Samara has several prominent Afrobeat releases up his sleeve, but “Nsitou Li Nseni” is an exception to the Afrobeat rule of upbeat and joyful, offering instead a personal narrative of sorrow and heartbreak. Producer Ramon crafted the track's new and distinctive style by drawing inspiration from a track by Drake and Black Coffee and playing with genres by bringing the rhythm closer to House music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq5EnKIIpxk

Mohammad Ramadan and Didine Canon 16 - “Nassabah”

Mohammad Ramadan and Didine Canon's “Nassabah” is one of the most prominent collaborations between the Egyptian and Algerian music scenes. Ramadan departs from his usual musical style for the sake of harmony with Afrobeats inspired rhythm, with a sound layer that we never heard from him before and a dash of romanticism that contrasts with his famous brazen lyrical style, all of which is complemented by Didine's witty bars and flexible rhymes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkG32NzsI4

Manal and Ghali - “Baba”

In “Baba” - Chapter II, her remarkable collaboration with Ghali from her album Arabian Heartbreak, Manal stays true to her visual style, albeit to an Afrobeats inspired rhythm this time.  Rooted in Manal and Ghali's nostalgia and love for family, “Baba - Chapter II” blends African influences and electronic samples, while music video director Farid Malki adds an engaging visual style to the audio experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYvYqOgmU0M

A.L.A - “HVD”

In “HVD”, A.L.A comes back to an Afrobeats vibe, which suited his voice and energy, to offer us one of his most beautiful, romantic, and emotional songs and affectionate lyrics. In this track that garnered millions of streams, A.L.A collaborated with producer Mahdi Machfar, who opted for a minimalistic production style infused with gorgeous beat transitions and a smooth synth sound that suited A.L.A's quiet performance. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3LNxw3Bc1o

As Afrobeats inspired rhythms increasingly make their mark on the regional music scene, many artists are expanding the horizons of their music and reaching wider audiences. From Morocco to Egypt, artists have embraced Afrobeats in innovative ways, reflecting the profound influence of African music on the local and global stages and emphasizing its distinctive experimental potential. 

To learn more about Afrobeats, Afrobeat, and Afropop, make sure to check out the upcoming XP Music Futures Conference, spotlighting Nigeria’s thriving music scene through sessions like  XP Presents "Infrastructural & Artistic Development in Nigeria", “The Global Impact of Afrobeats” and the workshop “Afropop Fusion Beat Making: Crafting Vibrant Rhythms With Hipex l’Art”.