Rap in Arabic
Join Rayya El Zein at Resident Music in Brighton on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, as she explores the world of Arabic rap. Discover how this genre offers relief from cynicism and disgust with contemporary politics and society.
Filling the Head: Listening to Rap in Arabic
4 Nov 2026
Resident Music (Brighton)
On Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Rayya El Zein will be at Resident Music in Brighton to discuss her book, Filling the Head: Listening to Rap in Arabic. This event is a chance to learn about El Zein's ethnographic research in Ramallah, Amman, and Beirut, where she explored the making and listening of music as a navigation of shifting geopolitical landscapes.
Rayya El Zein is an independent writer and researcher with a PhD in Theatre and Performance from the CUNY Graduate Center. Her book, Filling the Head, draws on fieldwork in Ramallah, Amman, and Beirut, following experimental musicians, fans, and venue owners. El Zein argues that rap's political force lies in affective engagement, such as surprise and yearning, rather than in a programme of resistance.
El Zein's work is not limited to research; she has also worked as a partnerships director in public technology and co-founded SILT, a shared management commons for independent researchers. Tickets are with the button beside the article, so be sure to get yours for this unique event.
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