This episode is about music — but also about something deeper: identity, belonging, and being seen. I sat down with Danny Hajjar, a brilliant music journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone MENA, who’s been amplifying the voices of Arab artists across the Middle East, North Africa, and the global diaspora. He’s written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and GQ Middle East, and is the co-host the Shik Shak Shook Ones podcast on the Afikra network. We talk about the rise of Arabic music, what it really means to represent a culture, and why sometimes, telling your story is the most powerful thing you can do.

00:00 Intro

01:43 Danny Hajjar’s Hot Takes: Speed Round

07:55 How to Get a Music Journalist’s Attention

10:18 Why Now Is the Moment for Arabic Music

22:03 Arabic Music: What’s Working vs What’s Not

25:40 Mohamed Ramadan, Coachella, and Using Your Platform to Speak Up

33:30 When Identity Becomes the Story: Is That Enough?

35:45 Star Academy, Arabic Dialects, and Remembering Massari

45:43 Underrated Arabic Artists You Need to Hear 🎧

49:25 Advice for Artists