Discover how Saint Levant’s new album AFANDI blends modern rap with the golden era of Arab pop, from Palestinian dabke to Lebanese pop influences.
Key Takeaways
- Saint Levant’s ‘AFANDI album review’ blends Arab musical heritage with contemporary rap, capturing nostalgia and modernity.
- The album features collaborations, such as with Mohammed Assaf, bridging traditional and contemporary sounds, particularly celebrating Palestinian culture.
- Saint Levant has gained a massive following in the UAE, appealing to a diverse audience with his trilingual lyrics and energetic production.
- Since his breakout hit ‘Very Few Friends’, Saint Levant has maintained chart success on platforms like Billboard Arabia and Spotify Arabia.
- Fans can stream the album on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, while staying updated on live performances in Dubai.
AFANDI is a 12-track exploration of Arab musical heritage. Produced by Ratchopper, the album blends contemporary rap with the grandiosity of the golden era of Arab pop, moving through Palestinian dabke and Lebanese pop to reimagine icons like George Wassouf.
The project focuses on a specific aesthetic. It evokes the era when Arab pop stars were mythological figures. They wore sharp suits and filmed high-stakes videos that felt like television series. It was a time of grand gestures.
Marwan Abdelhamid, known as Saint Levant, uses this album to look back. He brings that legacy into a modern rap framework, drawing from the influence of George Wassouf and Kadim Al Sahir—voices that shaped the region’s musical identity for decades.
Producer Souhail Guesmi, known as Ratchopper, handles the sound. The production balances the raw energy of Palestinian dabke with melodic Lebanese pop. The record feels heavy with nostalgia but sounds like it belongs in a 2024 playlist.
The album explores identity. Saint Levant describes it as a celebration of his inspirations. He attempts to bridge the gap between the generation that built Arab pop and the generation now streaming it on smartphones.
Saint Levant and the UAE audience
Saint Levant has a massive following within the UAE. His ability to blend trilingual hits with regional roots ensures his music resonates in the nightlife and streaming scenes across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
When a Saint Levant track drops, the reaction in the clubs is immediate. He hits a sweet spot for the Dubai crowd, a mix of locals and expats who speak English, French, and Arabic. His trilingual approach mirrors how people actually talk in this city.
The UAE audience appreciates the confidence. There is a swagger in his music that fits the energy of DIFC or the beach clubs in Palm Jumeirah. It is polished and international without stripping away the Middle Eastern soul. The dabke-and-rap blend also works well in a late-night DJ set, giving local selectors a way to shift the room from house into something more regional without losing the crowd.
His following represents a global and modern Arab identity. For the young crowd in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, he is a blueprint for being unapologetically regional while remaining a global citizen.
Analysing the lead single ‘MASKARA’
‘MASKARA’ features Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf. The track uses Arab musical references to celebrate Palestinian culture and the presence of the Arab woman, bridging traditional sounds and high-energy production.
The collaboration with Mohammed Assaf is an artistic win. Assaf brings traditional prestige to the track. His voice is a staple of the region’s musical landscape. Putting him alongside Saint Levant’s rap delivery creates a tension between the old guard and the new.
The song is a tribute to the beauty and presence of the Arab woman. It uses musical cues that feel authentic to Palestinian culture. The energy is high, designed for loud speakers and crowded rooms.
Musically, ‘MASKARA’ avoids being too traditional. The production keeps it firmly in the present, wrapping traditional references in a high-energy shell that appeals to a generation raised on global hip-hop.
From ‘Very Few Friends’ to Billboard success
Since his 2022 breakout with ‘Very Few Friends’, Marwan Abdelhamid has become a global force. He’s become a fixture on Spotify Arabia’s most-streamed artists list and has held a long-running spot on the Billboard Arabia Top 100 Artists chart, exact placements shift week to week, but the staying power is real.
‘Very Few Friends’ was the spark. It exploded online in 2022, shifting him from a newcomer to a recognised voice. He backed the viral moment with consistent output and a clear visual identity.
That kind of sustained chart presence is rare for an artist who started out viral; it shows Saint Levant has moved past the “one big single” phase into genuine, ongoing relevance. A Palestinian artist with a global sound holding that ground on both Billboard Arabia and Spotify Arabia says a lot about how Arab music is being consumed right now.
How to listen and follow Saint Levant in the UAE
You can stream AFANDI on Spotify and Apple Music immediately. For fans in the UAE, keep a close watch on local event promoters and major venues in Dubai, as his regional following translates into high-demand live performances.
The album is available now. Listen to it in order to experience the intentional flow from dabke influences to pop elements.
If you are looking for a live show, stay alert. In Dubai, the window between a tour announcement and a sold-out show is tiny for an artist of his current trajectory. Follow the major promoters who handle the city’s bigger music events.
His social media hosts the visual side of the AFANDI era. The style is as much a part of the project as the songs.
