Music 2
Culture Vanessa Szakal 01 May 2018

Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def meets the Tunisian hip hop scene

It’s mathematics. In T-minus 10 days, Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, will be at Carpe Diem in La Marsa for Tunis Block Party (TBP) on May 10. Like the first two editions organized by collectives FRD, Upper Underground and Debo, the event will gather la crème de la crème of Tunisian DJs, Bboys, rappers and graffers. After an impressive turnout for block parties 1 and 2, a performance by the « Bey of Brooklyn » is sure to draw an even larger crowd for the event’s third edition. But TBP is not just a show for hip hop aficionados: with as much emphasis on street as stage, the party promises equal parts entertainment plus much-needed, healthy competition for participating artists.

Culture Vanessa Szakal 13 April 2018

Nour Harkati: On his journey, music and new album « Helwess »

Nour Harkati has spent the greater part of the past six years overseas, in Paris, Berlin and most recently New York. He wears the freshness of someone who has been away for a long time and is happy to be home. The singer-song writer has returned to Tunis for Jazz at Carthage, where he will perform with the band Aytma on April 15. During his sojourn in the capital, Harkati talks to Nawaat about life, travels and the musical adventure which has enabled him to try out different sounds and styles along the way. His latest collaborative project is “Helwess”, a soulful and otherworldly alternative rock album.