advertisement
Rb Hip Hop

Egyptian Rapper Wegz Shares His Favourite Hometown Slang

The artist was recently in Toronto for his global tour and met up with Billboard Canada to answer some questions.

Wegz

Wegz

Daniel Victor Louis

Egyptian superstar Wegz kicked off the North American leg of his world tour at History in Toronto on October 25. He followed it up with another show in Montreal, at the Théâtre Beanfield on October 26. The rapper — who was Egypt’s most-streamed artist in 2022 and whose 2022 song "ElBakht" is currently No. 25 on the Billboard Arabic Hot 100 — has been on a mission to expand Egyptian rap outside of his native country.

Although Wegz has yet to release a full studio album, his name is well known throughout the Middle East, and he continues to make waves across borders. He rose to fame after his single “Dorak Gai” was released in 2020, and it now currently sits at 117 million views on YouTube. “ElBakht” remains one of Egypt’s top-streamed songs nearly two years after its release.


advertisement

Wegz’s tour began in Europe last September, cementing him as the first-ever Arab artist to have a Live Nation-backed global tour. He made sure to show some love to Toronto native RamRiddlz – a Canadian-Egyptian rapper -- by having him open both Canadian shows.

Known for his poetic and impactful lyrics, Wegz is well acquainted with the power of language, so Billboard Canada recently met up with Wegz and asked him to share some of his favourite Egyptian slang.

Watch the video below:

Video Editor: Yasseen Ashri

Videography: Ali Elmoudi

Photography: Daniel Victor Louis

Producer: Jackson Turner & Daniel Victor Louis

advertisement
Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett.

Diljit Dosanjh photographed by Lane Dorsey on July 15 in Toronto. Styling by Alecia Brissett. On Diljit: EYTYS jacket, Levi's jeans.

Music

Diljit Dosanjh Has Arrived: The Rise of a Global Star

The first time the Punjabi singer and actor came to Canada, he vowed to play at a stadium. With the Dil-Luminati Tour in 2024, he made it happen – setting a record in the process. As part of Billboard's Global No. 1s series, Dosanjh talks about his meteoric rise and his history-making year.

Throughout his history-making Dil-Luminati Tour, Diljit Dosanjh has a line that he’s repeated proudly on stage, “Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye” – or, “The Punjabis have arrived!”

The slogan has recognized not just the strides made by Diljit, but the doors his astounding success has opened for Punjabi music and culture.

keep readingShow less
advertisement