Egyptian-American rapper Felukah moves and creates between Cairo and New York. It’s only fitting that her name suits both English and Arabic speakers. Her mom contrived the name on a balcony in Cairo to match her spirit, similar to feluccas, which are sailboats that have been around since the pharaonic civilisation and are still used recreationally in Egypt.
Now, Felukah is fresh off back-to-back studio sessions as she prepares to drop her most
personal project yet. Her new single ‘Better Days’ arrives February 6th, followed by a full album on August 30th. The project is a return to her roots in hip-hop and poetry, blending Arab and Western influences.
Felukah is here to build bridges, open doors, and remind Arab women that taking up space is a birthright. And she’s doing it whilst floating down the Nile, probably meditating or partying or both, depending on the day.
Cosmo ME: How have your childhood and heritage influenced your music?
Felukah: I’m so grateful to have grown up in a music-loving home. My parents were always playing Arab and Western classics—a range that includes Elissa and Souad Massi, but also Air Supply and Sade. It’s this magical blend that’s made its way into my heart and inspired me to coin my own sound. This fusion is so beautiful to me, and it really excites me.
Cosmo ME: How has NYC shaped your artistry?
Felukah: Honestly, I love talking smack about USA, but not NYC. New York just feels like its own entity in this country! This city has given me everything and more. I don’t know if I ever would have found myself in music if it weren’t for New York. I was in awe of my poet friends and how they could rap with ease, beat or no beat. I was so intrigued by the blend of rap and poetry. Everyone in NYC is here to hustle, and people support each other’s dreams. That’s something I will always appreciate about life here.
Cosmo ME: What’s it like performing in the MENA region?
Felukah: Performing in the MENA region just hits differently. I get to connect to the source in such a beautiful way, seeing the faces of my people, especially my women and girls. This is all for them; to reassure them that Arab women can take up space and we don’t have to colour within the lines. Some of my favourite shows have been in Amman, Riyadh, and Cairo. I dream of playing in Palestine one day and doing a full run across the Middle East and North Africa.
Cosmo ME: Tell us about your song-making process. What do you do when you have creative blockages?
Felukah: My song-making process is nuts! I let inspiration hit me whenever. I let the music, story, and flow take me where I need to go. I’m not the boss of my craft, Allah is, and I become a vessel for this truth. So really, there are infinite songs already in me and in my notes app and voice recordings. When I hear the right drum pattern or melody, the songs come out effortlessly.
Cosmo ME: What are you most proud of as an artist?
Felukah: My community. Above all else. It’s this giggly, curious, inspiring energy that envelops us whenever we are together on set for a video, at the shows, at a signing, or at the meet-and-greets. I love bringing people together over art, food, and music. I think I was born to build bridges and foster community. Alhamdulillah.
Cosmo ME: What’s been inspiring you lately?
Felukah: Lately, everything has been inspiring me. You’re talking to an Aquarius in her prime, returning to rap music. I’ve never felt lighter. My new song ‘Better Days’ comes out February 6th, and we have such a beautiful video dropping with it. I’ve been taking more time to be very intentional with my work, and that means choosing to work with incredible young women from the MENA region and beyond. My dear friend Ayah Elkashif directed the ‘Better Days’ video and working with her is such a rewarding experience. Shouts to my amazing team: Val, Jenny, Sara, and my Gold Village team. I’m inspired by the people around me working to make this dream a reality.
Cosmo ME: What are some of the challenges of being an Arab woman in the industry?
Felukah: I think we’ve been fighting to have our voices heard for a while now, but I also think the narrative is shifting at last. There weren’t many alt-girlies in the Arabic music scene around my parents’ generation, but now there are so many of us. It’s refreshing to see Arab women breaking the mould and defying social norms by taking up space and channelling more androgynous energy. There will always be haters, but now the love outweighs the hate. The women around me embodying the change inspire me to keep pushing, too. We are mirrors for each other.
Cosmo ME: Who’s your dream collab?
Felukah: Tyler, the Creator or Erykah Badu. Or both. Damn.
Cosmo ME: Tell us about your upcoming project.
Felukah: I can tell you right now that it’s everything I’ve ever wanted to create. It’s me returning to my roots in hip-hop and poetry, to my magical blend of Arab and non-Arab influences. I’m in back-to-back sessions working on this album right now. You can expect the project to be out on August 30th! I’m so excited. It’s the year of the horse, and your girl is galloping.
Cosmo ME: Any final thoughts?
Felukah: Free Palestine. Free Sudan. Free Congo
Next, read about these Sudanese beauty rituals that feel like coming home.