Blending hip-hop beats with Arabic electronica, Egyptian producer Mahib Sleat finds the sweet spot between the pleasurable and the intriguing.

Over the past half-decade or so, talented Egyptian producer and guitarist Mahib Sleat has been crafting a distinct style that sounds both modern and traditional—almost simultaneously. That duality is something you’ll experience intensely when listening to his newly released full-length record called “إجازة مفتوحة”.

Each of the album’s nine tracks features a different guest/friend, and each collaboration strikes its own balance between Mahib’s favorite elements: hip-hop, electronic music, and Arabic tradition. It’s as if he surrounds whoever holds the mic at that moment with the most fitting sounds and beats.

If I had to pick favourites from “إجازة مفتوحة” and good starting points, I’d recommend “Sabry Tal” with Seif Mrdeny for its uplifting vibe, and “2ad Keda” with Khaled Ali, a track that makes you believe hip-hop could have been born on the streets of Cairo rather than in the Bronx.

There’s no obvious single off this album with an official video, and Mahib explained why: “This is a tribute for music and music only. This is why I chose not to shoot any video or make any visualisers. This is only for music.”

Stream “إجازة مفتوحة” LP on Spotify and YouTube.

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Mahib Sleat on Instagram, Facebook.

Photo credit: @ahmedmahrous12