This week on Babel, Jon Alterman speaks with music journalist Danny Hajjar about the changing Arab music scene. They talk about the rise of Arab hip-hop, how increasing connectivity influences the way Arab artists produce and distribute music, and what the next big thing will be. Then, Jon continues the conversation with Natasha Hall and Leah Hickert, discussing soft power, censorship, and music. 

Transcript, "Danny Hajjar: The Evolution of Arabic Music," CSIS, December 20, 2023.

The songs sampled in this episode can be found on the "Today's Arab Music Playlist" on Spotify.

Danny Hajjar: Today's Arab Music

Babel will take you beyond the headlines to discuss what’s really happening in the Middle East and North Africa. It features regional experts who explain what’s going on, provide context on pivotal developments, and highlight trends you may have missed. Jon Alterman, senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts the podcast along with his colleagues from the Middle East Program. This podcast is made possible through the generous support of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. All views, positions, and conclusions expressed here should be understood to be solely of those of the speaker(s).

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Transcript, "Hans Grundberg: Mediation in Yemen," CSIS, April 30, 2024.

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Transcript, "Hiba Husseini: Peacemaking After Oslo," CSIS, April 2, 2024.

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Will Todman, "Support for Refugees Erodes in the Middle East," CSIS, June 5, 2023.

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Transcript, "Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein: Human Rights in a Messy World," CSIS, April 2, 2024.

Danny Hajjar: Today's Arab Music

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