Phobia Isaac joins a long line of Algerian hip-hop torchbearers who channel life’s heartaches and frustrations into powerful rhymes. A deft freestyler and commentator, he stirringly reflects on corruption, religion and family love. The MC weaves together trap, dancehall and alternative hip-hop next to lasting local trends, drawing on raï’s vibrant synths and percussion for 2020 hit “Chernobyl”. He also teamed up with Mok Saib for a remix of the latter’s pop smash “El Ghorba”, and reached out to the other side of the Mediterranean for an Arabic/French collab with rapper Krilino.
