Shadia Mansour (Arabic: شادية منصور‎ ShÄ diyah Manṣūr,
born 1985), also known as "the first lady of Arabic hip hop" is a
British Palestinian singer and MC who sings and raps in Arabic and
English. Much of her music focuses on Middle East politics.Mansour was
born in London in 1985. Her parents are Christian Palestinians
originally from Haifa and Nazareth. She grew up in the UK and spent
summers visiting relatives in Haifa and Nazareth, including her
cousin, Juliano Mer-Khamis. Influenced by Arabic performers such as
Fairouz, Umm Kulthum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Mansour began singing
at Palestinian protest rallies as a child and she became known in
London's Palestinian community for performing classical Arab songs of
protest at an early age. She went on to study performing arts before
beginning her career as an MC.Mansour began rapping in 2003 and has
gained recognition in the Middle East, Europe and the United States
for her own songs and collaborations with other artists. She performs
wearing a traditional Palestinian thawb and has said that she
considers herself to be part of a "musical intifada" against the
occupation of Palestine, conservatism and oppression of women.
Mansour's first single, "Al Kufiya Arabiya" (The Kufiya is Arab),
featured rapper M-1 of dead prez and lyrics emphasizing the kufiya's
role as a symbol of Arab nationalism. The song was written when
Mansour discovered an American made blue-and-white colored Arab scarf
with Stars of David on it. Mansour introduced her song on stage in New
York: "You can take my falafel and hummus, but don’t fucking touch
my keffiyeh".Mansour has recorded music with producer Johnny "Juice"
Rosado of Public Enemy and was featured on Chuck D's website
shemovement.com. She has also collaborated with artists like Iraqi
rappers Lowkey and Narcy, and Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. Mansour
has toured with Existence is Resistance, an organization supporting
hip-hop shows in Palestine, and is part of the "Arab League" of Hip
Hop, a collection of performers who share views on the Middle East.
born 1985), also known as "the first lady of Arabic hip hop" is a
British Palestinian singer and MC who sings and raps in Arabic and
English. Much of her music focuses on Middle East politics.Mansour was
born in London in 1985. Her parents are Christian Palestinians
originally from Haifa and Nazareth. She grew up in the UK and spent
summers visiting relatives in Haifa and Nazareth, including her
cousin, Juliano Mer-Khamis. Influenced by Arabic performers such as
Fairouz, Umm Kulthum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Mansour began singing
at Palestinian protest rallies as a child and she became known in
London's Palestinian community for performing classical Arab songs of
protest at an early age. She went on to study performing arts before
beginning her career as an MC.Mansour began rapping in 2003 and has
gained recognition in the Middle East, Europe and the United States
for her own songs and collaborations with other artists. She performs
wearing a traditional Palestinian thawb and has said that she
considers herself to be part of a "musical intifada" against the
occupation of Palestine, conservatism and oppression of women.
Mansour's first single, "Al Kufiya Arabiya" (The Kufiya is Arab),
featured rapper M-1 of dead prez and lyrics emphasizing the kufiya's
role as a symbol of Arab nationalism. The song was written when
Mansour discovered an American made blue-and-white colored Arab scarf
with Stars of David on it. Mansour introduced her song on stage in New
York: "You can take my falafel and hummus, but don’t fucking touch
my keffiyeh".Mansour has recorded music with producer Johnny "Juice"
Rosado of Public Enemy and was featured on Chuck D's website
shemovement.com. She has also collaborated with artists like Iraqi
rappers Lowkey and Narcy, and Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. Mansour
has toured with Existence is Resistance, an organization supporting
hip-hop shows in Palestine, and is part of the "Arab League" of Hip
Hop, a collection of performers who share views on the Middle East.
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