When widely lauded Egyptian movie Microphone captured Alexandria’s underground arts scene in 2010, rapper Shahyn—who appeared in the film—was already working hard behind the scenes. He initially performed as part of Y-Crew but later went solo, standing out among a class of Egyptian rappers that slowly emerged in the decade that followed. He presides over trap and mahraganat with a recognisably gruff flow, tender melodic hooks and playful old-school flashbacks. Vibrant collages of beats lay the groundwork for captivating stories that are by turns witty, raw and affecting.