Cairo Calling

A collaborative exploration showcasing the Mahragan sound of Cairo. The Mahragan sound is a thing of complete joy! Its energy and uniqueness are undeniable, and it has already developed a thriving culture of its own: remember, Cairo is bigger than many countries, with almost ten million inhabitants in its untameable sprawl, and there are many thousands of Mahragan fans in the city.

Rinse X 100COPIES present ‘Cairo Calling’: A collaborative exploration showcasing the Mahragan sound of Cairo.

Rinse FM’s engagement with Egyptian label 100 Copies, and the Mahragan sound of Cairo (also known as “Electro Shaabi”) has turned out to be the most natural thing in the world.

As will become abundantly clear from the upcoming album release, film showings, live shows and discussions – to take place in both London and Cairo – the cultures of the two cities proved highly compatible. Rinse’s history of representing the vernacular sounds of the UK’s own capital over the past 23 years made it the perfect conduit to bring the vivid spontaneity of Cairo’s street-level musical explosion to the world. The parallels to Grime, and Rinse FM’s role in its emergence, are striking.

The Mahragan sound is a thing of complete joy – the sound of young artists excluded from the mainstream of their own culture expressing their own backgrounds and understanding of life with whatever electronic tools come to hand. Its energy and uniqueness are undeniable, and it has already developed a thriving culture of its own: remember, Cairo is bigger than many countries, with almost ten million inhabitants in its untameable sprawl, and there are many thousands of Mahragan fans in the city. Mahragan producers and MC’s are hugely popular.