If there is any gap between North African rap and US-influenced trap and hip-hop culture, Tunisia’s Ala straddles it with ease. Taking a familiar flow and spitting Arabic-language rhymes—with a sprinkling of English—his sound has truly international appeal. As a member of the Zomra collective, a group of peers dedicated to promoting Tunisian rap, he’s also influential in elevating promising local artists. He frequently works with fellow MCs, including Toto on their bouncy collab “Nharzin” and El Castro on the rapid-fire “Traplife”.
