Perrie El Hariri, famously known by her stage-name Perrie, is an Egyptian-Moroccan rapper on the come-up. This rapper is now on a need-to-know basis, especially since she’s been featured on Spotify’s International Women’s Month billboard in none other than New York’s Time’s Square. Yes, *the* Time’s Square.
Perrie is known for speaking out in support of women’s equality within the music industry. Her hit song “Shigella” gained her the popularity she has today and stands as an anthem for women supporting women. We love to see it (as per).
Luckily enough for you, we got to know the star better, so scroll down to read our interview on her music idols, her beliefs, and what she has in store for the rest of the year…
Via Instagram
Perrie began singing from a very young age
The Egyptian-Moroccan artist’s parents were a very big influence on her career path as a singer, she grew up around music and recalls beginning her singing career at the age of 8 years old or maybe even younger.
Who are her music idols?
Perrie gets inspired daily and has various idols that she admires in many different ways including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nathy Peluso, Rosalía, Ludwig Göransson, Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Damso, just to name a few.
Instagram encouraged her to get into the rap industry
Although the rapper enjoyed singing, she didn’t think it ~did~ it for her anymore, so she wanted to try something new. After living in the UK, listening to music while singing and freestyling, she found her calling. Once she had posted her freestyle videos on her private IG, she went public, and the rest was history with “Bent Cairo.”
She never feared people would not take her seriously within the music industry
Age-wise, Perrie says most active rappers range from the ages of 20 to 27, so her soon-to-be 25-year-old is the average.
“So, to answer your question, no. I actually feel like I’m late to the party. However, that is totally fine to me. Fashionably late,” Perrie said.
She disagrees with the way women are being portrayed in the rap world today
The “Mamlaka” rapper feels like women are being pushed into adhering to the ‘strong and fearless woman’ concept more than just being allowed to be themselves.
“As women, we do have our good and bad days… and we are allowed to feel helpless and drained out whenever we feel like it,” Perrie expressed.
She realizes the market has put huge pressure on women, but the difference today compared to the past is that the pressure shifted. Before, women were pressured to look and behave a certain way. Now, it has shifted into forcing women to feel like a boss when they have every right to not feel so.
“We don’t come all standardized. We are all different and we should embrace it,” Perrie said.
Her hit “Shigella” was created as an anthem to stand up for all women
Perrie recalls hearing Tameem Younes’ tone-deaf track “Salmonella” which triggered a lot of people, including herself. She put herself in the shoes of the girl Younes was referring to in the song and couldn’t stay silent. Perrie decided to fight art with art and thought the best way to respond would be through a song, rather than through a criticizing Facebook post.
“No one regardless of their gender is allowed to express such patriarchal, violent, and misogynistic ideologies.”
She has various upcoming projects in mind
More tunes, more music videos, and live shows are on the way for this queen. She also revealed that she’s going to be directing some of these vids herself!
What message you would like to send to all the future female rappers out there?
“Be tenacious. Be you. Never hide or shy away from who you are.”
We also spoke to Perrie about her collab with Spotify’s EQUAL Arabia Program, and here’s what she had to say…
Via Instagram
“I am very proud to be part of EQUAL Arabia. It is empowering to see programs designed to turn up the volume on women in the music industry. With my upcoming song “El Sa3a 9,” I made my debut as the first EQUAL Arabia ambassador for the month of March, highlighting my new release and encouraging fans to discover my music.”
What is your favorite playlist from Spotify’s EQUAL Program?
“There’s an EQUAL Destination where Spotify listeners can enjoy listening to some of the most talented women artists in the region via playlists such as EQUAL Arabia, Iconic Arab Women, and ملكات العالم العربي. My personal favourite is Women of Hip-hop,” Perrie said.