Pioneers of Palestinian hip-hop, DAM, return to the UK for a run of gigs including Manchester’s Band on the Wall ahead of their new album.
The trio will release their third studio album, Ban Haana Wa Maana, on 7 June with the first single Emta Njawzak Yamma available now.
The album, lyrically, merges political topics and contentious issues with bouncy beats and catchy instrumentals; creating a tangible sense of fun. Topics advocate issues including, LGBT and women’s rights, uniting ethnic minorities and poverty as much as Arab Spring and Donald Trump.
The band’s third album is inspired by the trio’s sonic exploration of music around the world. They fuse Middle Eastern sounds, rhythm and intonation of Arabic-language rap and hip-hop attitude.
DAM were formed in 1999 by MC Tamer Nafa and his young borther Suhell Nafar with Mahmood Jrere. They were one of the first acts to popularise rapping in Arabic and have made a name fusing East and West with Arabic percussion rhythms. In 2016, with Suhell living in the US, Maysa Daw joined DAM.
DAM now hit the UK for a four date tour including gigs in Manchester and Liverpool as well as a show at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe.
When do DAM perform at Manchester’s Band on the Wall?
DAM perform at Band on the Wall, Manchester, on 28 February 2019. The Manchester gig is one of four dates they are playing in the UK:
27 February – Liverpool, Constellations
28 February – Manchester, Band on the Wall
1 March – Birmingham, The Crossing
2 March – London, Jazz Cafe