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The Middle East's variegated and colorful world of clothing is making it's way to the world stage with the quick rise Arab fashion during recent years. One Arab brand that has been making a lot of noise in the fashion scene lately, is Emirati brand Qasimi . Founded by the late Sheikh Khalid Al-Qasimi, Qasimi is a London-based fashion brand with a Middle Eastern heritage that focuses on crafting understated and refined garments from a perspective that reflects its multicultural origins. The clothing features elements from different Arab countries, that is because the brand's narrative centers around the idea of an urban nomad who's endeavors takes them through various journeys across the Arab world. Which in turn, creates a culture dialogue and exchange, seeking to unite rather than divide through the powerful medium of clothes. Qasimi was built upon four pillars: architecture, color, military and messaging. Architecture informs the approach to design and underpins the philosophy behind the label: that clothes are to be lived in. The colors are inspired by the Middle Eastern hues of where desert meets sea. The military influence stems from the designer’s memories of growing up during the Gulf War. Messaging to allow the designer to express his views, weaving politics and poetry into his collections; deftly and delicately exploring subjects ranging from the strained relationship between the Middle East and the West, to his own life experiences. The brand's founder, Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi, was the second son of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi , who has been ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah since 1972. He moved to London when he was nine years old [ and was educated at the Tonbridge School in Kent. That enabled him to forge a unique perspective of the world around him and was able to channel that through his work as a designer. He was a strong visual communicator and won two golden prizes in the First Arab-Euro Festival for Photography in 2004. His goal was to move people, to get them thinking and questioning the world around them. in 2008, he founded the brand Qasimi Homme, acting as both it's CEO and Creative Director. he would then go on to incorporate Arab elements in his male and female costume designs. Much of Al Qasimi's women's collection was inspired by the Gulf’s colourful jalabiya dresses. Al Qasimi said models should "resemble warriors walking out of a crypt and down the runway. Al Qasimi also used his brand to raise awareness and support for the #blacklivesmatter movement touched upon in his AW17 collection as well as objecting the wars in Syria and Afghanistan and those affected by them. This consequently resulted in the brand's collaboration with War Child - a charity for the silent victims of war: children - in 2018. Al Qasimi's garments have been rocked by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Florence Welch and Cheryl Cole. [ In an interview with Japan Fashion TV, Al Qasimi said: " Qasimi is a way for me to discuss what's going on around us whether it is politics or economics". Some of his most popular designs include a £115 ($144) T-shirt with the writing in Arabic, that read: " Press. Don't Shoot. " Al Qasimi was also the chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council as well as the leader of the region’s first international platform for architecture, the Sharjah Architecture Triennial – a non-profit initiative funded by the Government of Sharjah, to focus on encouraging dialogue on architecture and urban-ism in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Sadly, Khalid Al Qasimi passed away in July 2019. A ripple shock ran through London when he passed away and three days of national mourning across the UAE were declared, beginning with flags to be flown at half mast. He was laid to rest on 3 July at Jubail Cemetery. In September 2019, Hoor al-Qasimi, Khalid's twin-sister, assumed the role of Creative Director continuing the legacy of her brother's work. She delivered the brand's collection in London Fashion Week for the autumn / winter 2020 collection. Hoor is a practicing artist and curator, as well as the President and found Director of Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) and the internationally respected Sharjah Biennial. Having a similar upbringing to her brother she shares many of the same sentiments with regards to current affairs and global issues, aesthetic and the arts. The Autumn / Winter 2020 collection featured Tops that were printed with "Rise From The Darkness", and suits and jackets carried labels on cuffs that read "Renewel + Rebirth + Immortality", as a stark reminder that behind it all is a grieving sister. Embroidered inside some clothes and across the back of others was a golden setting sun with the words "Every Sun Has To Set" in English and in Arabic. This proved that Sheikha Hoor is unashamed of reminiscing on what has been lost, while resolutely moving forward. Sheikh Khalid would be proud. Check out Qasimi's webiste and Instagram at: https://www.qasimi.com/pages/brand https://www.instagram.com/qasimi_official/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Kanye’s much anticipated album Donda has proved to be a major success. Ye made millions even before the album was released, the strategic album rollout alone generated millions for the Chicago native rapper. His stadium listening events which hosted over 40,000 people have generated close to $5M, merchandise sales over $7M, as well as a 37% increase in streaming of his existing catalogue which has generated $350k. He also released a new ‘Donda Stem Player’ worth $200, creating yet another stream of income. Shoerly after, Kanye surprisingly dropped the massive 27-track, which topped the chart with the biggest sales week of any album this year, earning 309,000 equivalent album units for the week ending Sept. 2, according to Billboard . These numbers include 357.4 million on-demand streams and 37,000 in pure sales. This officially makes Kanye the 7th artist in history to have 10 chart-topping albums. Placing him next to legends such as Jay-z, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Eminem, and Elvis Presley. Donda also marks Kanye’s 10th straight No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, an achievement he shares with only Eminem. Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Born and raised in Dubai, Sri Lankan/Filipino Gerrard Anthony Menon has emerged as a self-made talent by drawing inspiration from his life and his unique ethic background as fuel for a subject and lyrical content. After a near death experience, he combined his influences and imagination to become one of the UAE’s most recognized hip hop stars and active artists in the city with performances at the ABT music festival and STEP music fest among many of Dubai’s local and upcoming talent. Menon talks about how he first got into music, his experience in the music industry and the music scene in Dubai. -What was your first interaction with music? As a musician? My step brother and I started a two man band when we were 13. He played the drums and I played the guitar, all we knew how to play at the time was Iron Man by Black Sabbath and Highway to Hell by ACDC. I guess you can say we sucked haha, but we had a great time playing those 2 songs over and over again. -How did you first discover Hip Hop? I lived in Barcelona for a year when I was 15 and my dad sent me a package with a bunch of CD's on my second month there. "The documentary" & "LAX" by The Game, and "T.I vs T.I.P" & "King" by T.I were on rotation that whole year. Yeah, those projects definitely played a part in setting my foundation and planting the seeds for both my delivery and my desire to be a rapper myself. -What was it like growing up as a Hip Hop artist in Dubai? Growing up in Dubai was weird in general. We grew up in Dubai before Dubai was DUBAI. Just a bunch of kids whose parents are from all over the world, all of our classmates and teachers had different accents, traditions and cultures. It's a trip man, but a blessing no doubt. Being a rapper in Dubai though is pretty tough. Especially 5 years ago when there was little to no opportunity. It's getting a lot better now though that's for sure. I can't help but feel proud of the fact that the small scene I was a part of is starting to flourish and get attention from mainstream media. -How has your unique cultural background contributed to your lyrical content and creativity? Not that much to be honest. When it comes to my delivery and approach, I usually either draw inspiration from artists I look up to, or whatever is going on in my personal life at the time. With that being said, I always make it a point to represent where I'm from and shout out all 3 countries that shaped my character; The Philippines, Sri Lanka, and of course the UAE. -Tell us about your album “Epiphany of a Misfit.” Man to be honest I can't even listen to that anymore haha. But don't get me wrong, I'm still extremely proud of that project, Rayan and I put in a lot of work on that. Yeah man, that was during one of those times in my life where I realized things aren't as sweet as I thought they were. Working a soul sucking day job for 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. Getting home at 6pm, going to the studio at 9pm, getting back at 6am, and back to work by 8am. The album cover is literally a picture of my face all beat up. While working on the album I fell asleep driving back home from the studio. That picture was taken 3 days after my accident. Yeah man, extremely proud of that album. It's a time capsule of my life from 2016-2018. -What was the music scene like in Dubai when you first started making music and how has it evolved? So I started rapping when I was 17, but didn't really get submerged into the scene until I was 19. I got a call one day from a friend of a friend and he told me he's organizing an event called Dubai Street Jam and asked if I wanted to be a part of it. Of course I said yes. It was awesome man, artists supporting artists, the rapper that was on stage 10 minutes ago is now in the crowd supporting the next act. They must've filled that warehouse with about 100 sweaty people. Looking at the scene now, there's much more fresh talent, and a bunch of opportunities. Everyone likes to complain about how the scene isn't getting as much attention as they think it should, but they forget that just about 6-7 years ago, there was almost no opportunity at all. The scene is still in it's infancy, but it's definitely moving in the right direction. -What is the inspiration behind your latest single “Mobbin Again”? Me moving to The Philippines after living in Dubai for 26 years, and the circumstances that forced me to move. Having to start from scratch here after building my brand for however many years over there. -What is your favorite song of yours so far and why? Right now I think it's an unreleased record called "Back Down", the intro of my upcoming album. It straight up represents my attitude towards everything and everyone right now. -Who are 5 artists you dream of collaborating with? Stormzy, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Belly and Korn. -Tell us about the business side of music, how is it monetizing your music as an independent artist and what it is like maneuvering through the industry? It's hard right now man. The main meat of your revenue comes from live performances and merchandise. As an up and comer you probably won't be making as much selling merch online as you would selling merch in your live performances. Out here in Asia, artists are partnering up with live streaming platforms like Kumu, making a fixed amount every month plus a little extra depending on their engagement. Yeah it's hard right now man, but it's also an opportunity to exercise our creativity. With that being said, a side hustle is never a bad idea. -From the beginning of your journey until now, what are the 3 most valuable lessons you've learned? 1-Put as much effort on the dry side as the fun side. 2-Don't be a 1 trick pony. 3-If you don't truly believe in yourself, don't do this, it's a long road that can be filled with more downs than ups before your ascension. Check Out Menon's work at: https://www.instagram.com/menon_official/ https://www.youtube.com/c/MenonOfficial Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Tory Lanez suprised himself and everyone else with the recent sale of his NFT album. One million copies of the album released on new streaming platform, E-NFT. However, no one expected them to sell out in just 57 seconds including himself. Lanez poured out his emotion in a celebratory instagram post: “A fu**ing million copies! I just went fu**ing platinum!” … “I just sold the equivalent units at $1. Sold a million copies flat and I made a million dollars in less than a fu**ing minute. Y’all try to hold me back. You can’t fu**ing stop me…” New NFT marketplace, E-NFT wants to change the way artists are paid in the music industry. Originally launched by Emmersive Entertainment, they are looking to pay their artists for every song or content they create. Canadian born Rapper, singer and producer Tory Lanez teamed up with the company to launch their marketplace and his first NFT. Lanez currently boasts over 18 million monthly Spotify listeners and has accumulated 1.6 billion YouTube views. Furthermore, the artist plans to continue assuming his multi-faceted role and reach corporate mogul status through music, fashion, food, and tech. Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

With the implementation of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's music/creative scene is growing at a fast rate with artists such as Saud, Jeed and many more putting the country's scene on the map and taking it global. The latest artist to join the list of musicians that are trailblazing the kingdoms music scene is Aziz. Born and raised in Riyadh, Aziz was exposed to a variety of different music genres, which led to him partaking in music as a hobby and eventually releasing his own track. His debut single, Wave Tide was released in September and is already making a buzz around the world. Aziz talked to us about his first interactions with music, his future goals and the music scene in Saudi. -What was your first interaction with music? My first interaction with music started at a very young age. I used to enjoy musical cartoons such as Mulan ect.., I used to sing along to cartoon network theme songs of certain shows. At first, I was only learning French and Arabic at school, but music helped me learn English rapidly. -At what point did you decide you wanted to create music and what triggered that? Well, I always felt like I wanted to make music even when I was very young, my cousins and I used to always play karaoke and they kept telling me that I had something going on till I realized it myself. When I was 12, two of my friends and I started a band. That's when I first started writing. Even though we didn't take the band seriously it helped me discover my writing capabilities at a young age. In 2016, I got inspired to start writing and make music again when I went abroad to University in the UK. I have to thank my multi-talented mates and artists Tavonga and Adam Nabeel for inspiring me to make music and take it more seriously. - Describe to us your experience being an artist in Saudi Arabia? Everyone is so supportive and positive, that motivates me to create more. With the Saudi vision 2030, music is becoming a big thing for locals which is a big opportunity for us artists. - How has your time in the UK impacted your taste in music? My music taste has always been versatile, If its good music I will vibe to it no matter what the genre is, but the UK helped me find my flavor and sound. - Tell us about the music/creative scene in Saudi Arabia and how it has evolved in recent years? The creative/music scene in Saudi is growing rapidly, the musicians and creatives are so supportive everyone wants everyone to win which is healthy for the community. When I first moved back to Saudi, the music and creative community welcomed me with open arms. The pioneers of the community are doing the most to help other artists which I believe is vital. To name a few, I would like to the thank: Ntitled, Jeed, SAÜD and One Ear for everything they have done for me since I moved back to Riyadh, and for everything they have done for the music scene. I would also like to thank Pass The Kabsa for creating a platform that supports, promotes and inspires local artists and creatives. - What inspired you to make a song and put it out? Well at first, I was making music trying to find my sound, till I found it. Originally, I wasn't supposed to drop Wave Tide but I was pressured by everyone around me. I was waiting for the perfect time to drop Wave Tide as my first single till I eventually did. Now that I got the ball rolling there is no stopping. My second single produced by NBL is dropping this month, I can’t wait for everyone to listen to it. - Where do you see your music going in the next 10 years? I see my music going global and not just local, I believe I can reach this goal in less than 10 years. Being that you come from a place with a very rich culture, do you see yourself blending elements from Local/Arabic music into your style of music to create a fusion? I always like to keep an open mind. I've always been mesmerized by the instruments used locally. I might implement some of the local instruments and create a fusion in the near future, you never know, everything is on the table. What are 5 dream collaborations of yours? Drake, FKJ, J.Cole, Rihanna and Burna Boy. Which Saudi artists do you recommend people should check out right now? There are so many unbelievable talents to check out. To name a few, you guys should check out Ntitled, Jeed, Zii, Kali-B, Good company and myself. Check out Aziz's music at: https://song.link/i/1582799777 Make sure to follow Aziz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1aziz.wav/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

With the NFT market growing exponentially day by day, entrepreneurs, influencers, and artists are launching projects left and right. Most of these project don't end up living up to the hype that surrounds it, however, there is one project that is standing out among many. The BILLIONAIRE CLUB is a private collection of 10,000 billionaire apes NFTs—unique digital collectibles. Founded by two young entrepreneurs, Mustafa El Fishawy and Jordan Lali, these Ape tokens include more than 180+ hand-drawn traits, each NFT is unique and comes with a membership to an exclusive group of successful investors. The story behind this project is one that is interesting and is attracting a community of enthusiasts that is growing daily. "Earlier this year, a mysterious force coming from another galaxy summoned the most influential people on planet Earth. They received the geographic coordinates of a secret location for the party : the Billionaire Club. There, they will have the opportunity to exchange, discuss and collaborate in order to become even bigger than they are. During this party, the host will reveal its identity and the main reason for this invitation." The discord group for this project grew to 20,000 participants in just two weeks and the Instagram page is growing by the thousands every day. We sit down with the founders of the project Mustafa and Jordan to talk about their origins, what inspired this project and what the future holds for them and the owners of Billionaire Apes. -What was your first job ever? Mustafa : I used to work as an accountant for a company, but I felt like I needed to do more. Jordan : My first job ever was at 16, when I quit school to help out my mother. For 6 years, I worked all the jobs imaginable to make money and got interested in cryptocurrencies. -Have you always been an entrepreneur? What was your first entrepreneurial venture? Mutafa : I felt that I needed to do more so I launched my own company at 18. At first it was just me and my high school sweat heart who eventually became my wife. Then, I started hiring amazing people and we became leaders on the magnetic lashes market in Europe and the Middle East. We did collaborations and capsule collection with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Fouz Al Fahad and the Winx license. Jordan : My entrepreneurial journey began when I understood that I wanted to do more that just work a 9 to 5 for a big company. I felt like I was reaching my full potential so I started investing all my savings in cryptocurrencies and formations to know more about the business. I wanted to be my own boss and to build something real. I had some big wins but also failed sometimes… That made me the entrepreneur I am today. -How did you first get introduced to NFT’s and what was your first interaction with them? Mustafa : Jordan and I met in Dubai because we were both into e-commerce and cryptocurrencies. We both had the funds, the vision and the ability to make projects come to life. We realized that we were both very passionate about the NFT Game and it's unlimited possibilities, so we decided to launch our own project. We took the best people in both our teams and joined forces to create the Billionaire Club. -Where did the inspiration for Billionaire Apes come from? When we created the Billionaire Club, the team was looking for a realistic way to embody human features in a fun way. After many discussions, we ended up agreeing on the fact that there was no better and smarter creature than the one pointed by Darwin's theory as being human's ancestor : the ape. For the Billionaire part of it, the term represents a mindset for us. It’s not only a matter of having billions in your bank account but, it's really about an entrepreneurial skills and spirit. -What was the creation process like when creating these 10,000 tokens? To create these 10,000 tokens we were inspired by the pop culture. We mixed all our references and elements that can speak to everybody and recreated them in our own way. We were lucky to have found a very talented illustrator that also added his artistic vision. -The concept of having an NFT pay you 500$ monthly is a brilliant one, how did you come up with that and could explain it further for those who might not know a lot about it? We worked a lot on our designs, but our Roadmap is in the center of the project. Having nice NFT's is cool but they must have real utilities. We wanted to stand out and be able to encourage our community to hold on to their NFT's to increase value. With big values come big projects and as we said, we’re here for a long time so it might as well be good. -Where do you see Billionaire Apes Club going in the next 5 years? The NFT world is super fast and evolving everyday. We have thought of many strategies and options for the next few years but we’re not there to fantasize about anything. We want every thing coming out of our mouths to be 100% legit and it already is on the making. I guess we will see you in 5 years for this answer. Learn more about the Billionaire Apes at: https://www.billionaireclubnft.com/ Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partyapebillionaireclub/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Hailing from the city of Dubai, Khalid Al-Mulla is an Emirate private banker, entrepreneur and influencer who was able to take his love for super-cars and turn into an exclusive global membership club for AMG sport car owners called Group63. Present in 25 countries, Group63 has over 241,000 members and is considered to be one of the largest car clubs in the region. He also founded NXY Watches and is an ambassador for Iconic watch maker Hublot. We sit down with Khalid to discuss how he started, how he built a global super-car club and much more. -What made you want to get into Private banking, and how did you get into that line of work? I am working as a director relationship manager in SCB’s Private banking division ,Private banking means managing wealth and in most cases the UNHW tier , if you lock at a clock you see time moving perfectly , that’s because behind it there is an engine moved by a team the teams comes in many shapes in all different sizes but all work together for the success of the machine if one failed the entire machine will stop , in the life of the wealthy banking is that machine and private banking is the scope on all of the pieces in the back , and the knowledge is pure wealth I started working very young and it took me 12 careers to reach were I am today , I work in all sectors in the UAE from Government to semi-government to the private sector -Tell u about your childhood and upbringing, did you always have an entrepreneurial spirit, how did you develop it? Yes of course , since I was 15 I had admiration for sport and super cars , but all changed at 2009 , this is the year were I founded Group63 , to me it was only a group of AMG owners having fun but the potential was unexpected, I started organising drives and saw people coming from all GCC countries , so I went and branched it to all GCC countries , fast tracking it to today I have started Group63 in 25 countries with over 241,000 members its currently considered as the world largest car club -Tell us about SuperSprint UAE and what it offers to members. As group63 developed over the years my addiction for achievements kept on growing in the year of 2011 I already had 47 Gunnies world record made under Group63 , so why not something far more exclusive and beyond reach , hyper cares were the rarest productions u can see in the super car world or the automotive society in a whole , I created supersprint to be the worlds most exclusive and secretive event that ever happened , if you own a hyper ar can only participate in it once and by invitation only , you also get the date and city of the event 2 days prior to the event , and location and time of the event 4 hours prior to event start , no media , no coverage , you and your hyper cars with no boundaries in a blocked road supported by the police to just fly, at 2011 I had 56 participant with their hypercars , the cost of the cars 90 million aed , in 2015 I broke my record with 98 hyper cars with cost of 450 million aed and in 2017 , 197 hypercars worth 691,000,000 USD -Tell us about “15 Keys”. This was my gift to the automotive society , along the path of organising events , many small parties were starting up replicating clubs that have been in action for years , 15 keys is the golden recipe to create you club in 15 main steps , should you follow them you will end up starting a club without spending a dollar , completing sponsored and supported by the government , should you fail to meet all 15 steps your clubs will fail one way or another , this was the thin red line for all those who thought what I did was easy , it’s a wide invitation with a shared secret , if you can do it , here are the steps , 15 keys is one of 2 books I wrote , in my time , 15 keys was available in 633 copies all sold out and ‘’ PUSH TO START’’ my biography is made into 63 limited edition copies Btw only 1 person managed to succeed in the 15 keys in the duration of 10 years -Tell us about your Group63 watch Editions, the story behind it and it’s bold, unique designs. On 2009 I met the owner and founder of seven Friday watch brand , we discussed collaboration on p3-01 series they made which was very famous at that time being inspired from automotive lifestyle , we created a group63 edition limited to 63 pcs with our logo on the back , I didn’t expect that piece to be sold out in 3 months time , hence I created a plan to officially establish our Group63 DNA criteria’s which is ( colors black and red , our logo , limited to 63pcs , usage of carbon fiber or forged carbon ) there were my official standards , if any watch maker would approve creating an edition he must follow and include our DNA , fast tracking it to 2021 , today we have 13 different edition all from different brands starting form 500 USD per watch up to 298,000 USD per watch all sold out 1. seven friday 2. zinvo 3. Roger Debuies 4. Halda - Zenith 5. BRM 6. Devon 7. HW & Co 8. Phenomen 9. Bomberg 10. Movas 11. Dietrich 12. Quinting 13. NXY watch -What were some challenges that came with starting Group63? Of course many , to begin with my family were against it , they saw the young and only child wasting his time and money and efforts into a hobby with any returns , the de-motivation of my friends on me organising useless events for nothing , and the dis-believe of members I tried recruiting in the beginning to become members , at 2009 clubs didn’t exist in dubai so it was hard to convince a person to join a car club -What was your favorite event you ever organized with Group63? Super sprint uae, in 6 months preparation all on my own I called and pitched day by day members of mine and car collectors all around the world , in a list of 3000+ contact I managed to convince 179 to show up those 179 cars worth was 691,000,000 USD , and this event was recoded as the world most expensive hyper drive -What would you say are the most important factors that enabled your project to be in 25 countries and have 241,000 members? My travels to each of the countries and understanding the demands and needs of the members / owners their , each country is different in many ways , different roads , landscapes , regulations , tracks , permissions , gov support or not , and all , it takes me 4-5 months to create a plan for a specific area , then finding a president to handle it there is the main key , its very hard but I was lucky enough to have found 25 entrepreneurs to support -Looking at your profile and Group63’s profile, it is evident that you are very good at branding. What are some practical tips you can give readers on building a brand, whether it is for a personal brand or a company? · Always create logo · Record historical moments and achievements · Also think 20 steps ahead and 2 years long · Create a plan table and keep updating it · Challenge your self · Show case the line of development of your brand/ company to world · Adapt , evolve , and forget about anyone / anything that would pull us backwords -From the beginning of your journey, until this point, what are the 3 most important lessons you've learned? I have 2 bachelors , and worked in 12 different careers , still today the most successful thing I am doing is my passion in both ways financially and mentally so I say the 3 most important are 1. Follow your passion no matter what 2. Cut relationships with those who pull you back in any way 3. Always plan ahead and act on the plan , you will fail but that will lead to a win Follow Khalid on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/5alidmulla/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Jones The Ikom Boy is a Nigerian born Dubai based international singer and producer. Previously signed to his then record label ‘Green Light Recordings’, Jones The Ikom Boy joined a dynamic roster of MENA based artists. Jones has performed alongside international artists such as Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Tove Lo, Enrique Iglesias, Big Sean, Sean Paul and many more. Of the back of his success with the smash hit single ‘Abu Dabbin’, Jones linked up with rapper Chipmunk and Red Cafe for the ‘Abu Dabbin’ remix which reached over 2 million views on Youtube. Jones The Ikom Boy has worked with a host of international stars as well as his highlight collaboration with Red Cafe, Wiz Khalifa and French Montana for the music video, ‘God Wanted us to be lit’. Jones The Ikom Boy is one of the few Nigerian producers that has worked with Universal Music and was recently re-posted as one of the final contestants in Nicki Minaj’s Megatron Challenge on Instagram last year. Jones is currently based in Dubai working on international collaborations and perfecting his Hip Hop/Afro sound. When did your love for music start? From as far back as I can remember. Choir in the church where I found myself playing instruments By God’s grace. -When did you put out your first record? I cannot really put a date on that but I would say somewhere between 2011-2012. -Tell us about moving to Dubai, when did you first make that move and why? I came to Dubai in 2011 for studies. -How was the music scene in Dubai when you first arrived and how did you see it evolve? They were a few open mic nights and one or two notable performers, but I would say it was still coming up -Tell us about the famous Dubai group S.O.S and the story behind that group coming together. Well, it was just four guys and a man with vision. Two guys were already together, and I was discovered during one of my ‘UFRO’ nights and then when I was working as a promoter at c-club. The visioner then was mostly interested in how I could bring so many people together. He would later come to find out that being a singer, producer and songwriter I would be useful to the group In more ways than one. Some of the greatest experiences of my career like performing and opening for the likes of wiz khalifa, J.Cole, Travis Scott, Kevin hart, to name a few, were during my time with the guys All in all I’ll always appreciate and respect my experience with the guys who are still some of the most talented people I have worked with. -How did it feel getting your first hit with “Abu Dhabbin”? I remember sitting with the guys and watching the views increase every time we refreshed. It was the first time in my career I started to feel like an accomplished artist. -What's your favorite song of yours so far? All my tracks are special to me, but in terms of the way I managed to execute my sound, I would say 504 south, Second only to Good life. -What are 5 dream collaborations of yours? Burna boy Justin beiber Kanye west Chance the rapper Wizkid Being that your an African artist based in Dubai, have you perhaps thought about blending your style of music with a local/Arab style of music to create something new? Yes I have in fact thought about that. I’ve Considered even working with many Arab artists but it’s not as easy as you would expect. I’ve collaborated with artists all around the world but somehow the artists in the region are not so easy to work with. It’s always an issue with availability or delay or something. Regardless I am determined to pay homage with my sound to the region that had contributed so much to my career. I’ve produced for a few Arabic singers like shebani and sultan, but that’s about it at the moment. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In ten years by God’s grace I would have become one of the top song writers in the world with at least 10 global hits and a couple of Grammies in categories that include songwriter, producer, pop, r and b and so on Tell us about the business side of music, how is it navigating the industry and making a living off of music? I think it is the 70 percent that is overlooked. I advice any upcoming artist to quickly align themselves with PR and a manger that know the industry. It’s a bit of a madness trying to do it all by yourself. There is no truly self made person; that’s a fallacy. Do your part and align yourself with other parts of the machine, that’s how it works. As for making a living, unless you wanna be doing night gigs at pubs and bars be prepared to invest for the long run. I don’t look to make change off music, I’m looking for hits: this will make the money run after you. If you go into music with the intention of making money you have already failed. Let the passion lead you, when you have made an impact in the lives of people with your music, then the money will follow. That’s what I tell myself Check out Jone's music at: https://ffm.to/grtfl Follow Jones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ikom.boy/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Throughout 2021, NFT's have been have rapidly been taking over the world, and it is now the MENA region's turn. Many projects have been emerging from the region, featuring with them, characters that reflect the culture of the Middle East. One of these projects is Abu Crypto. Abu Crypto is a collection of 4400 authentic 8 bit digital artwork representing 8 members of a traditional Arab family. The founders are passionate about the Arab region and they hope to spread their love of the Arab region through this carefully curated NFT project. Every one of the characters is bespoke. Rarity is created through in-built wasta levels and personalized traits for each member of the family, from HAJI to Bint. The project will be launched on the 13th of November and had 2 pre-sale launches. The team set up an event to celebrate the successful launch on Nov 18th at the Raddison Red Hotel in Dubai Silicon Oasis. The event featured an auction of the rarest Abu Crypto NFT and was exclusively attended by Abu Crypto holders, creatives, entrepreneurs and members of UAE royal families. We sit down with Rob from Abu Crypto to discuss how the project came about, NFT's in the MENA region and the future of the project. -Have you always been an entrepreneur, what was your first step onto your entrepreneurial journey? I have always had an eye for opportunities, my father ran a successful company so I grew up on the shop floor, at business barbeques, watching, listening and seeing how deals where made and struck. Personally, I started my own recruitment company at 22 which was my first business venture, it's early success allowed me the time to explore the world, travel to remote regions and volunteering and work for a range of humanitarian organizations. Since then, I have slowly built a property portfolio, but have been actively involved in Crypto currencies for some time now. -What was your first interaction with NFT’s? My first interaction with NFT's was with Crypto Punks some years ago, unfortunately, I did not get hold of one, would have been a good decision. -How did the idea for Abo Cryptp come about? There is a group of us in Abu Dhabi that meet regularly to discuss all thing CRYPTO....one of us came up with the initial idea and it then grew among us, before long we realized that we where onto something. -What was the process like behind creating an NFT project and choosing the characteristics, It was great fun, we had lots of brainstorming in the beginning, consulted at lengths with the local Emirati community and looked at what was currently successful in the NFT world. Then we continued to shape the project looking at scaling ability and rarity traits. -What kind of reaction are you getting from your community so far? We like to think the of the community behind the project in two parts, the international market seems to be impressed with the art work and design, concept and notion of what we are looking to do. Then there is the local UAE market, based on our market research they absolutely love it and cant wait for it to be for sale. -With NFT’s still being a relatively new thing that most people in the Arab world are not aware of, what role do you think this project will play in raising awareness about NFT’s and Blockchain tech in the region? This is one of the reason we decided to do the project, the UAE and MENA region is at the forefront of so many tech ventures and and advancement, but seemed to be slow when it comes to waking up to the idea of NFT's. We hope that this launch and the others we have lined up, that are bespoke to the UAE will really shed a light on it. -Where do you see Abo crypto going in the next 5 years? I think that in the next 5 years Abu Crypto will become a household brand in the UAE and MENA region. We already have signed partnerships with a Hotel to showcase our art, a chain of coffee houses is close to coming on board as well. Collaborations with local artists of many forms are in advanced discussion and we really feel this just the start. Along side making NFT art, one of the main aim of Abu Crypto is to support artists in the MENA region who are incredibly talented, but perhaps cannot enter into the NFT marketplace. We want to provide all artist the opportunity to showcase their work and potentially make it financially profitable for them, which will in turn help them, their family and their community. This is the long term dream, we have started our journey towards it. -In your opinion, what use do you think NFTS will have beyond art in the future That is simple, they will become part of every aspect of live as we know it: art, films, music and this is just the entertainment industry. Check out the interview with the Abu Crypto founders below: Follow Abu Crypto on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/abucryptonft/ Check out their website at: https://www.abucrypto.io/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

If you were to walk around media city in Dubai or eat from popular Pizza chain "Pitfire Pizza" then you would notice a unique fusion of random chaos put together in a very beautiful way. The artwork is reflection of it's creator Rami, a Palestinian artist born in Saudi Arabia, who grew up on pop culture, comic books and cartoons. All of which served as an inspiration for the unique artwork he creates today. From small freelance gigs to painting murals all around the city, Rami talks his early days and inspirations, how he turned his passion for art into a business and what the future holds for him. Were you always an artist, was it something you were into since you were a child? I've been drawing since I could remember. I used to want to be a cartoonist growing up and I used to entertain myself when I was bored by doodling, summers in Saudi when everyone had left the country, at my grandma's house in Alexandria, in the classroom... There was a lot of boredom and a lot of drawing! What were your artistic inspirations growing up? Again, because I grew up in Saudi, I didn't have access to art galleries like everyone else, so I got most of my inspiration from the cartoons I was watching (Transformers, Ninja Turtles), the video games I was playing (anything on Nintendo) and the comic books I was reading (Spider-man, Daredevil, etc) and most important of all, MTV!!! How would you describe your style of art? I describe my art as mental diarrhea! I basically put my pen to the paper and draw whatever comes out. It's like a stream of consciousness, often-times completely random but deep down interconnected. What was the first piece you remember doing? I don't remember the first piece I ever did since I've been drawing forever, but I do remember tracing and sketching cartoon characters. I also remember the first piece I made which made me think, "hey! I would buy that". This was a big moment for me as I always looked at other artists and was jealous of their art. I never thought I could do the same thing. That was the turning point when I felt like I could be an artist, it was a set of three doodles I'd done that I decided to put on the computer and color. What was the moment where you art went from being a hobby to business/career. At university, I did a bunch of freelance work for extra pocket money, I would design flyers for clubs, magazine covers and things like that. Eventually, I got an internship at a tourism company in Jordan and redesigned their collateral, this was my first paid full-time job. Once I graduated from college, I moved to back to Jordan (hadn't lived there since i was 5 years old) and the only careers available were in publishing or advertising, advertising seemed more exciting at the time. How are you able to turn your art into a business where you work with brands and make your own products? A strong portfolio is the most important tool for an artist, however, a good portfolio alone won't get you anywhere, you need to publicize it and network. I would go out loads, constantly meet people and show them my work. Whenever I met someone who did something interesting (musicians, video games designers, fashion designers, etc) or worked for an interesting brand (like Nike) I would suggest we work together. The media city wall is an iconic structure that you’ve painted, what was that like and what is the story behind that project? It was a funny job that kinda grew out of something very small. An ex colleague of mine contacted me and mentioned he was working for Tecom group (the people who run Media City). He said that he was bothered by how un-creative Media City was (visually speaking) and wanted to do something to jazz it up. He originally suggested doing some elevator door designs for the buildings where the big media companies (like CNN and MBC) were housed. We came up with the idea of depicting the different creatives who work in the area (like a reporter, a creative director, a designer, etc). They liked the work so much that they came back to me and asked me to create a design for the inside of the elevator that depicted what the brains of these people looked like. So, I did that, they liked it so much that they asked if I'd be interested in putting it across a fence. I happily obliged and added some extra elements like typography and extended the elevator door character designs to add some variety and that was that! Coming from a Palestinian/Arab background that is rich in culture, how do you incorporate your culture and background with your art? Funnily enough, I used to aspire to being Western so much that I ignored my Arabic background. However, after I moved to the UK for university, I realized that what made me interesting to everyone was my Arabic background. So often, I would boast about our rich heritage and culture and even the similarities in our lifestyles. Eventually, I started celebrating what made us different and even the funny questions I was asked about the Middle East (Do you ride a camel to work?, Are you a Prince?, Do you own an oil well?) What are your top 5 dream collaborations? -Nike -Porsche -Nintendo -Al Baik -Any Musician I admire From the beginning of your journey until now, what are the 3 most important things you’ve learned? -Always set unrealistic goals, because honestly, sometimes you actually do achieve them! -Network like crazy, because you never know who you might run into that might open a door for your career. -You can really accomplish anything you set your mind to, it might take 10-20 years to do so, be patient and don't give up, but the longer it takes to accomplish something, the more rewarding the journey and the end result. Check out Rami's work on his Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/rami.art/ Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

Kali-B is an emerging artist, singer, and songwriter from in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The talented artist is quickly making waves in the scene with his unparalleled sound and style. Kali-B seeks to create music that will elevate people and push the envelope with his sound by bridging various elements from different genres to make a well-rounded, dynamic style. His eclectic and motivating approach will have people mesmerized instantly. His music journey so far took him from experimenting with music in his bedroom to preforming at live events all over Saudi Arabia and having dealings with the likes of Swizz Beats and Empire records. He is an artist to keep an eye on and ear out for as he is set to cement himself in the music industry for years to come. What was your first introduction to music? Music was a big part of my upbringing, I grew up in a music loving household. Thriller by Michael Jackson is the first song that comes to mind when it comes to my introduction to music. -How did you come to develop your current musical style, who were your inspirations? By trying out a lot of music genres as I’m always under development ,like anyone should be. My first inspirations were T-Pain, Chris Brown and Akon to name a few, but that list keeps changing with the times. I’m currently inspired by Anderson Paak, Jamiroquai, JMSN and many more! -What came first for you, singing or producing? Singing definitely. Producing came later on in 2020. -When did you make your first song and what was that like? 2009! Not my best work haha But no, for my beginning I think it was alright, I downloaded a beat from YouTube and wrote to it and recorded it at my house studio at the time, which was a conference call microphone that was covered with a bunch of socks for clarity lol. -What’s your favorite song of yours so far and why? I’m gonna say “Who Pulled Up.” The reason why I say that is because of how simple, yet complex it is when it comes to the performance. -What do you think about the music/creative industry in Saudi and where do you see it going? I think we have a lot of undiscovered talent. The potential is extremely high! We’re still in the first stages but good things are coming god-willing! -Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully still doing what I love to do but on a much bigger scale! Maybe touring too. - From the beginning of your journey until now, what is the most important things you've learned? Consistency is key. I cannot iterate it enough! Be on the look out for my upcoming single in the next couple of weeks! Check out Kali-B's music at: https://music.empi.re/whopulledup Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!

With the end of the summer nearing, Riyadh's own Aziz.wav and Bahrain based Saudi/Palestinian producer NBL, release their joint EP, Oceana, to keep the summer vibes going. The 3 track EP is a new wave of Afrosoul characterized by many as a timeless soundscape. Constructed and crafted carefully to accommodate for all occasions desired by the fire in your heart. Flaunting natural sounds such as the Saxophone, guitar and the bongos, but also drizzled with synthetic sounds to remain with the times. Having Executive production and composition over the EP, NBL allowed AZIZ.wav to put pen to paper, and speak to his audience through his music. With stanzas that can remain memorable to fans at both stadium performances and morning car rides. Check out the new EP at: https://songwhip.com/azizwav/oceana?fbclid=IwAR0DIxIqtTlp6ZVqFX7tBSDEKg61oi2cYnmZF3js11CHTwsd6EIAGku199w Follow us on: Instagram Facebook YouTube Make sure to share this post and subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on our latest posts, as well as exclusive content and much more!