Al Rawiya

BEATLALIPOS
A Journey of Self-Expression through HipHop

Self-taught music producer, rapper, and DJ, my stage name is known as Beatlalipos. This nickname holds a special meaning for me as it was given to me by a friend before my music career started. When I ventured into the field, the name was already ingrained in my social circle, so I decided to fully embrace it. It became a slogan that represented my unique persona and added an element of fun and familiarity to my music career.

 

Although I hold a master’s degree in industrial chemistry, music has always been my passion since I was young so I kept pursuing it as a hobby, alongside my studies and jobs. However, everything changed after the devastating explosion in Beirut. I got  dismissed from my job and was left with no other choice but to try and make a living through music. 

 

Over the course of two years, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with various artists, work on documentaries, and even create advertisements for renowned brands like Pepsi and Donny Arabia. These opportunities allowed me to showcase my talent and passion, turning my freelancing in music into a sustainable source of income. In retrospect, it is incredible to see how in the face of adversity and the collapse of my previous job, I was able to achieve my long-held dream.

 

My introduction to hip hop came in an unexpected way. When I was young, I used to  stumble upon CDs that my brother had. Curiosity got the best of me, and I took one of the CDs to explore its content. As I played it on the computer, I discovered a whole new world through the music videos. Internet access was limited at that time, so these videos provided me with a glimpse of the music scene that I had been missing out on. Hip hop became a way for me to express emotions that I, as a Lebanese man, struggled to convey in daily life. As an emotional person, I found solace and a means of venting my frustrations through the music of Eminem. The raw energy and honesty in his lyrics resonated with me deeply.

One thing led to another, I got caught by Arabic hip hop. In the schoolyard, my friend introduced me to a CD that featured the first Arabic rap group in Lebanon called Aks’ser. Their music resonated with us ; they were speaking our language and addressing relatable issues. Automatically, this sparked the idea of forming a rap duo together. We would gather at my place, try to figure out the music production process and how we could record our tracks. Those were fun and exciting discoveries. 

 

We started off rapping in both English and Arabic, but over time, it became clear that Arabic allowed us to be more authentic and true to ourselves. It was the language that reflected our thoughts and the way we spoke. And so, the journey continued, with Arabic hip hop becoming our means of self-expression and storytelling, capturing our experiences and reflecting the realities of our lives.

 

Hip hop holds a significant importance to me. This genre was the key that unlocked a whole new world for me. It became my escape, my way to explore and discover the world. It allowed me to break free from the constraints of my own small culture and opened my eyes to a realm of ideas and experiences that I had never encountered before. It also played a significant role in my life, not only as a means of self-expression but also as a gateway to diverse cultures and perspectives. Through my connection with people who shared this passion, I began questioning societal norms and embracing the beauty of diversity. This awakening sparked a desire to positively impact others, but I soon realized that true change starts with empowering ourselves. 

Cover of the last EP "Msh men hon" released in May 2023

As I faced personal and societal phases, I channeled my emotions into a closer yet challenging song “Hala2 Ma3le” (“It’s alright now”), which became a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. This track played a transformative role in helping me discover my true identity and navigate life on various levels. However, it wasn’t an instant process. It took a year of experiencing different events and situations to write an entire track, releasing all the pent-up thoughts and feelings that had been burdening me. This process taught me to prioritize my well-being while still contributing meaningfully to others. 

In the end, I learned that life is ultimately a series of choices and that I don’t have all the answers. I realized the importance of making deliberate and purposeful choices, aligning them with where they truly belonged in my journey. It is not just about the influence of people or external factors; it is a personal journey of self-reflection and introspection. Sometimes, the world and its happenings can deeply affect us, making it essential to take time for self-care and self-discovery.

Self-taught music producer, rapper, and DJ, my stage name is known as Beatlalipos. This nickname holds a special meaning for me as it was given to me by a friend before my music career started. When I ventured into the field, the name was already ingrained in my social circle, so I decided to fully embrace it. It became a slogan that represented my unique persona and added an element of fun and familiarity to my music career.

 

Although I hold a master’s degree in industrial chemistry, music has always been my passion since I was young so I kept pursuing it as a hobby, alongside my studies and jobs. However, everything changed after the devastating explosion in Beirut. I got  dismissed from my job and was left with no other choice but to try and make a living through music. 

 

Over the course of two years, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with various artists, work on documentaries, and even create advertisements for renowned brands like Pepsi and Donny Arabia. These opportunities allowed me to showcase my talent and passion, turning my freelancing in music into a sustainable source of income. In retrospect, it is incredible to see how in the face of adversity and the collapse of my previous job, I was able to achieve my long-held dream.

My introduction to hip hop came in an unexpected way. When I was young, I used to  stumble upon CDs that my brother had. Curiosity got the best of me, and I took one of the CDs to explore its content. As I played it on the computer, I discovered a whole new world through the music videos. Internet access was limited at that time, so these videos provided me with a glimpse of the music scene that I had been missing out on. Hip hop became a way for me to express emotions that I, as a Lebanese man, struggled to convey in daily life. As an emotional person, I found solace and a means of venting my frustrations through the music of Eminem. The raw energy and honesty in his lyrics resonated with me deeply.

 

One thing led to another, I got caught by Arabic hip hop. In the schoolyard, my friend introduced me to a CD that featured the first Arabic rap group in Lebanon called Aks’ser. Their music resonated with us ; they were speaking our language and addressing relatable issues. Automatically, this sparked the idea of forming a rap duo together. We would gather at my place, try to figure out the music production process and how we could record our tracks. Those were fun and exciting discoveries. 

We started off rapping in both English and Arabic, but over time, it became clear that Arabic allowed us to be more authentic and true to ourselves. It was the language that reflected our thoughts and the way we spoke. And so, the journey continued, with Arabic hip hop becoming our means of self-expression and storytelling, capturing our experiences and reflecting the realities of our lives.

 

Hip hop holds a significant importance to me. This genre was the key that unlocked a whole new world for me. It became my escape, my way to explore and discover the world. It allowed me to break free from the constraints of my own small culture and opened my eyes to a realm of ideas and experiences that I had never encountered before. It also played a significant role in my life, not only as a means of self-expression but also as a gateway to diverse cultures and perspectives. Through my connection with people who shared this passion, I began questioning societal norms and embracing the beauty of diversity. This awakening sparked a desire to positively impact others, but I soon realized that true change starts with empowering ourselves. 

Cover of the last EP "Msh men hon" released in May 2023

As I faced personal and societal phases, I channeled my emotions into a closer yet challenging song “Hala2 Ma3le” (“It’s alright now”), which became a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. This track played a transformative role in helping me discover my true identity and navigate life on various levels. However, it wasn’t an instant process. It took a year of experiencing different events and situations to write an entire track, releasing all the pent-up thoughts and feelings that had been burdening me. This process taught me to prioritize my well-being while still contributing meaningfully to others. 

In the end, I learned that life is ultimately a series of choices and that I don’t have all the answers. I realized the importance of making deliberate and purposeful choices, aligning them with where they truly belonged in my journey. It is not just about the influence of people or external factors; it is a personal journey of self-reflection and introspection. Sometimes, the world and its happenings can deeply affect us, making it essential to take time for self-care and self-discovery.

Self-taught music producer, rapper, and DJ, my stage name is known as Beatlalipos. This nickname holds a special meaning for me as it was given to me by a friend before my music career started. When I ventured into the field, the name was already ingrained in my social circle, so I decided to fully embrace it. It became a slogan that represented my unique persona and added an element of fun and familiarity to my music career.

Although I hold a master’s degree in industrial chemistry, music has always been my passion since I was young so I kept pursuing it as a hobby, alongside my studies and jobs. However, everything changed after the devastating explosion in Beirut. I got  dismissed from my job and was left with no other choice but to try and make a living through music. 

 

Over the course of two years, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with various artists, work on documentaries, and even create advertisements for renowned brands like Pepsi and Donny Arabia. These opportunities allowed me to showcase my talent and passion, turning my freelancing in music into a sustainable source of income. In retrospect, it is incredible to see how in the face of adversity and the collapse of my previous job, I was able to achieve my long-held dream.

 

My introduction to hip hop came in an unexpected way. When I was young, I used to  stumble upon CDs that my brother had. Curiosity got the best of me, and I took one of the CDs to explore its content. As I played it on the computer, I discovered a whole new world through the music videos. Internet access was limited at that time, so these videos provided me with a glimpse of the music scene that I had been missing out on. Hip hop became a way for me to express emotions that I, as a Lebanese man, struggled to convey in daily life. As an emotional person, I found solace and a means of venting my frustrations through the music of Eminem. The raw energy and honesty in his lyrics resonated with me deeply.

 

One thing led to another, I got caught by Arabic hip hop. In the schoolyard, my friend introduced me to a CD that featured the first Arabic rap group in Lebanon called Aks’ser. Their music resonated with us ; they were speaking our language and addressing relatable issues. Automatically, this sparked the idea of forming a rap duo together. We would gather at my place, try to figure out the music production process and how we could record our tracks. Those were fun and exciting discoveries. 

We started off rapping in both English and Arabic, but over time, it became clear that Arabic allowed us to be more authentic and true to ourselves. It was the language that reflected our thoughts and the way we spoke. And so, the journey continued, with Arabic hip hop becoming our means of self-expression and storytelling, capturing our experiences and reflecting the realities of our lives.

 

Hip hop holds a significant importance to me. This genre was the key that unlocked a whole new world for me. It became my escape, my way to explore and discover the world. It allowed me to break free from the constraints of my own small culture and opened my eyes to a realm of ideas and experiences that I had never encountered before. It also played a significant role in my life, not only as a means of self-expression but also as a gateway to diverse cultures and perspectives. Through my connection with people who shared this passion, I began questioning societal norms and embracing the beauty of diversity. This awakening sparked a desire to positively impact others, but I soon realized that true change starts with empowering ourselves.

 

As I faced personal and societal phases, I channeled my emotions into a closer yet challenging song “Hala2 Ma3le” (“It’s alright now”), which became a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. This track played a transformative role in helping me discover my true identity and navigate life on various levels. However, it wasn’t an instant process. It took a year of experiencing different events and situations to write an entire track, releasing all the pent-up thoughts and feelings that had been burdening me. This process taught me to prioritize my well-being while still contributing meaningfully to others. 

In the end, I learned that life is ultimately a series of choices and that I don’t have all the answers. I realized the importance of making deliberate and purposeful choices, aligning them with where they truly belonged in my journey. It is not just about the influence of people or external factors; it is a personal journey of self-reflection and introspection. Sometimes, the world and its happenings can deeply affect us, making it essential to take time for self-care and self-discovery.