Shabjdeed & Al Nather (Supp: Mohammed El Susi)

The iconic Jerusalemite Shabjdeed has made a name for himself as one of the leading rappers in the region, with a talent for worldbuilding. His bold lyricism and constantly evolving style has elevated him among audiences and artists alike and has raised the bar for Arab rap.

When he started collaborating with the DJ and producer Al Nather, their resulting album Sindibad el Ward (2019) caused quite a stir. It was called “a milestone for Arabic hip-hop” by Scene Noise magazine – an ambitious mix of jazz, avant-garde, British grime sound and trap beats, with a deeply original lyrical universe. Through poetic imagery and everyday scenes, they tell stories about contemporary life in Palestine shifting between different perspectives and Palestinian dialects. 

Their second album, Sultan, was released in 2024. It goes even further, expanding the lyrical and musical canvas, melding traditional Palestinian wedding music, hip-hop and drum and bass with complex depictions of Palestinian and Arab identity. Their concerts are riveting, immersive experiences – ambitious urban art, acts of creation against all odds.

PS: After the concert with Shabjdeed & Al Nather, be sure to check out the DJ set with Saliah at Goldie! It’s going to be a night to remember. 

Support act: Mohammed Elsusi

More than any artist currently working on the Norwegian scene, Elsusi (El Susi) demonstrates the power of resilience, and how art can transform struggle into beauty and joy. He is an independent Palestinian rapper, music producer, and filmmaker from Gaza, now based in Stavanger, Norway.

After surviving six months under the 2023 genocide in Gaza, he turned survival into sound — building an entire artistic career under siege before finding refuge through the ICORN City of Refuge program in 2024.

For more than fourteen years, Elsusi has written, recorded, and produced music in impossible conditions — often in makeshift studios, using rap and dance-driven beats to speak about pain, resilience, love, and identity. His sound blends Arabic melodies with modern rap and electronic energy, creating music that moves both the body and the mind.

After arriving in Norway, Elsusi quickly became one of the most active and visible Middle Eastern artists on the Nordic scene. His upcoming 18-track album Live with Dignity (supported by Kulturdirektoratet) merges English, Norwegian, and Arabic influences through powerful rhythms and emotional storytelling — balancing joy and struggle, reflection and movement.

His recent performances include the Oslo Mela Festival, two collaborations with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra — within the projects Arts of Democracy and Songs of Existence — WEXFO (World Expression Forum) in Lillehammer, Nobel Peace Center, Aurora Music Forum (Finland), Kapittel Festival, and several events dedicated to freedom of expression and democracy across the Nordic region. He has been featured by Dagbladet, Dagsavisen, NRK P3 (Tommy Tee Show), Norsk PEN, and Universitas, among others.

On stage, Elsusi’s performances are energetic, emotional, and deeply human — a fusion of rhythm, passion, and truth that transforms lived experience into movement. Today, he stands as one of Gaza’s most authentic artistic voices, who proves that even in the darkest times, music can still make people dance.