Rap is a relatively new genre in the Middle East; while many people have been listening to it for years, very few have ventured into rapping themselves, with much of the singing talent preferring instead to go into traditional or pop music. There is also a considerable amount of dabbling in hip-hop and R&B. However, what Kuwaiti rap artist Dhari Al Dhulaei — known in the rap world as Big D — does is very different from that, he claims.

Born and raised in Kuwait, Dhari raps about local and regional issues, as well as universal issues that concern people everywhere. He began rapping in 2000, at the age of 12, before the advent of YouTube and internet fame, and faced challenges, both in terms of finding a local audience, and in being signed for record deals.

Independent
However, in 2001, he signed with renowned producer Yacoub Al Mehanna (who has directed artists such as Rashid Al Majid) in a collaborative effort with other young up and coming artists such as Dhari. This was nonetheless short-lived, and he was then forced to take up a more independent path. In 2008, he signed another recording contract with Farid Al Eissa of Smile TV (who were responsible for bringing Massari to Kuwait), but this was also terminated shortly afterwards due to technical damage which could not be restored.

Dhari attended the Universal American School and American School in Kuwait, and went on to continue his education for a few years in Bahrain. He works full time as a Computer Engineer at KNPC. Dhari has a long musical history; his father, is a renowned oud player in Kuwait, and his uncle, Abdullah Al Dhulaei is a famous violinist. As such, Dhari grew up with music in his home.

He is known around Kuwait as an independent MC, as part of a small community of rappers and hip-hop artists. However, contrary to other artists in Kuwait, Dhari thinks of himself as more of a lyricist, and is more oriented towards the message of his work, rather than simply creating catchy beats and rhymes.
“He’s a writer,” said his wife, Jessica Sawyer, who teaches at a nursery. “That’s what he’s known for. Sometimes he’ll come home and he’ll write for ten hours straight, and usually he’ll find the beat after he writes the words.” He has addressed issues such as the Palestinian conflict, the Gulf war and Syria in his work, amongst others. “I try to make politics less boring so the youth can hear it,” he said.

While he began his rapping career in the Arabic language, he has slowly transitioned over time to become more English-oriented, and focuses on reaching a wider audience and collaborating with other English-speaking artists. He has collaborated with such local artists as Hera, Killa D, DJ K and Grime.

Awareness
Dhari is also a devout Muslim who is dedicated to his daily prayers and abstains from alcohol and drugs. He is invested in promoting a more positive message around rap and hip-hop, rather than the more violent and destructive one that is usually portrayed. His recent single with Hera entitled “No Turning Back” focuses on keeping a positive attitude in the face of hardships. The video was directed by Cinema Scope prizewinner, Mahmoud Al Hayat.

His music is also a way of spreading awareness on Arab issues to the outside world from a different perspective, and sharing experience in a familiar way. He has written over four hundred songs, and he has worked with many companies such as Nazaer, Ramco and Awtar. His musical influences include Tupac, Immortal Technique, LowKey, Narcissist and Notorious B.I.G.