Proclaimed as “Egypt's godfather of trap”, Marwan Pablo is one of his country’s most engaging and striking hip-hop voices. With a stage name referencing both Pablo Picasso and Pablo Escobar, the Alexandria native spins gritty, powerfully insightful tales that artfully hold up a mirror to Egyptian society, especially on hard-hitting singles like “Ghaba” and “Folklor”. While clattering beats and brooding moods are Pablo’s bread and butter, there’s genuine breadth to his range—as the laidback “Sindbad” and breezy Molotof hook-up “Free” confirm.