MTM - My Mom is Awayأمي مسافرةOmy Mesafra

MTM is an Egyptian pop-rap group. This is probably their most well known song, and is definitely remiscent of Will Smith songs from his days as Fresh Prince.


MTM - My mom is away

Today is a day off
My mom is going off to a funeral
I brought her to the doorway
And a great idea hit me (Party)

I have numbers and have service
And today is Thursday (Thursday is the equivalent of Friday in the US because there is no work on Friday in Egypt)
I mean everything's beautiful
Nothing left but to implement

I called all my friends right away
Not one of them was busy
All of them were just like
ٍSweet, good, awesome, cool

So just like that nothing left but one thing
Get all the furniture out of the house
In case anyone want to break it or flip it over

Putting a speaker in every corner
And putting my CDs in the tray
Everything ready in a twenty minutes
And I still got an hour left

I sat thinking and asking myself
Nothin left but for me to wait?
I went and grabbed the mic
And I just sat there singing

Chorus

My mom is away and I'm having a party
I just hope she doesn't come home all of a sudden
Or the neighbors tell her about us
Or the electricity short-circuits

I showed up at Taki's at eight
I wore a Team Germany T-shirt
I found it and looked inside and next thing
The party filled up in a second

Solid music, all of it dance
Rap, house, rave and trance
And every moment the crowd is growing
While I'm standing at the door tripping over myself in disbelief

There's some people goin around
Coming with guns
They were making me uncomfortable
So I went and came back with a key

And I wrote a note on the door
"Anyone drunk/stoned is forbidden entry"
If this sounds unreasonable
Nevermind I'm the one who's responsible

I said I'll go enjoy myself a little
I wanna dance with my friends all around me
Suddenly they threw the mic into my hands
And said to me "Sing a song"

Repeat Chorus

I'm really looking forward to this party
I took the car to go to it
But from all the people who came
I couldn't find anywhere to park it

I went to park it on the street
And the scene outside was full of esprit
Lots of guys looking clean
Delicious girls in bubbly moods

This atmosphere was like another world
And the sky was raining songs
While I was dancing in my spot
I saw a pack of girls that I liked

I knew one of them
But I didn't find her particularly charming
I said nevermind I'll go catch her
In order to dance with her friends

And morning fell upon us
And everyone left from around us
We tidied up a little
And after we drummed and sang

Repeat Chorus

أمي مسافرة - MTM

النهار دا يوم الاجازة
أمي مسافرة رايحة جنازة
وصّلتها لحد الباب
خبّطتني فكرة أستاذة (حفلة)

عندي عدة و عندي سرفيز
و النهار دا يوم الخميس
يعني كله في اللذيذ
ما فضلشي الا التنفيذ

كلّمت كل أصحابى على طول
ما كانش فيهم مشغول
كله كان يردّ يقول
يا قشطة يا ماشي يا قمة كول

كدا ما فضلش الا حاجة بس
أفضّي البيت من كل العفش
أصلي فيه ناس تبقى غاوية كسر
و مش طالبة تقلب بقفش

حاطط في كل حتة سماعة
و حاطط سيديهاتي في بتاعة
كله جاهز تلت ساعة
و لسة بدري فاضل ساعة

قعدت افكّر سألت نفسي
أنا لسة حفضل مستني
رحت جبت المكروفون
وصلت و قعدت أغنّي

اللازمة

أمي مسافرة و أعمل حفلة
بس يا ريت متجيش على غفلة
و لا جيرانّا يبلّغ عنّا
و لا كهربا تعمل قفلة

وصلت لتاكي الساعة تمانية
لبست تيشرت فريق ألمانيا
بصيت لقيت فيه وحاجة تانية
و الحفلة اتملت ثانية

مزيكا جامدة كلها دانس
راب هايس رايف ترانس
و كل دقيقة تزيد الناس
و أنا واقف ع الباب محتاس

و فيه ناس عاملين سياح
جايين و معهم سلاح
خلوني بقيت مش مرتاح
رحت قافل بمفتاح

و كتبت ورقة ع الباب
ممنوع الدخول لأي مسطول

لو الكلام دا مش معقول
معلهش أنا المسؤول
قلت أشوف نفسي شوية
أفضل أرقص و أصحابي حواليّا

فجأة رمولي مايك في ايديّ
و قالولي غنّي أغنية

اللازمة

الحفلة دي أنا مستنيها
خدت العربية و جيت بها
من كتر الناس حواليها
ما لقيتش حتة أركن فيها

رحت راميها ع الرصيف
و المنظر كان بره ظريف
ولاد كتير شكلهم نضيف
بنات لذيذة دمها خفيف

و جوا دا كان عالم تاني
و السما بتمطّر أغاني
و أنا واقف بارقص في مكاني
شفت شلة بنات عاجباني

كان فيهم واحدة أعرفها
بس ما كنتش بستظرفها
قلت ملعهش أضبّطها
علشان أرقص مع أصحابها

و الصباح طلع علينا
و الناس مشيت من حوالينا
رتّبنا و رصينا
بعدين طبلنا و غنّينا

اللازمة

Lyrics transliteration from here

MTM - Why are You Complaining?ليه تشكي؟Leh Teshy?

MTM aren't exactly socially consciuos rappers but this is one of their more thoughtful songs.



MTM - Why are You Complaining?

I'd be a lying if I ever said that I've forgotten the days of time
No matter what I will not forget my friends
The days ahead go on and life continues
Only now I know that I am grown
I've begun now to understand the meaning of the word goodness
People remain your friends but the dishonesty in their eyes is clear
It's clear that what is inside them and what they were thinking is secret
I tried alot with them and thought maybe I could be small in their eyes
But it's done it no longer is important I won't ask why they are saying poisonous things about me
It's not important who is takling it's not important who moans
What is important is my mission I must complete
They will cry from the remaining words they will cry from the scandals
They will cry from the dishonesty
You are mostly playing with lost time
All of it is going there is no use for advice

I have one friend deeply rooted and good
And because he's in coll like always his really loves one of his classmates
He knew it from the day he met her
You'll tell me his problem is his problem is with his family
Why don't I understand Egyptians?
He's supposed to marry his maternal uncle's daughter
What did he say?
They agreed of course but
Now he just sits sad and doesn't speak
And he sits by himself like a crazy person
He'll welcome death if it comes for him

I grabbed my passport and got a visa
When I get my chance I'm going to America
Land of dreams, country of films
And don't forget music
I didn't know where I was going or from whom I would get money?
Everything I wanted was spent in 2 piasters
Making me think that I would live two days
I was thinking that I would double my money
And I got dizzy with work and went and came a lot
And I got a bitter taste there when I saw that I was captive to people
Nothing big for those with no conscience
Those who don't wish well for anyone but themselves
And it was the fatal blow one day when they deported me I came back
With nothing in these hands of mind but my debts and my madness
And my uncle's money
Believe me, you can all call me

ليه تشكي؟

تاكي : ابقى كداب لو قلت في مرة اني نسيت ايام زمان ..
مهما كان مش هنسى صحابي
القدام الايام بتعدي و الحياة بتستمر
دلوقتي بس عرفت ان انا كبرت
ابتديت دلوقتي افهم معنى كلمة المصالح ..
ناس تبقى اصحابك بس الكذب في عينهم واضح ..
واضح ايه جواهم و اللي كانوا فاكرينوا سر
حاولت كتير معاهم و استحملت ممكن اكون صغرت في عينهم
بس خلاص ما بقاش يهم مش هسأل ليه بيقولوا عليا كلام زي السم
مش مهم مين يتكلم مش مهم مين ينن
المهم ان المهمة بتاعتي لازم تتم
سيبكوا من الكلام بقى سيبكوا من الفضايح سيبكوا من الكذب
انتوا بتلعبوا في الوقت الضايع على العموم
كله رايح مفيش فايدة من النصايح .

مايكي : ليا واحد صاحبي قريب جدع كويس و كمان طيب
و نتيجته في الكلية زي ما هي دايما جيد بيحب واحدة زميلته يعرفها من يوم ما قابلته
هتقولوا لي ايه مشكلته مشكلته يا جماعه مع عيلته
انا مش فاهم ليه
مصرين انه يتجوز بنت خاله قال ايه كانوا متفقين طب بس
وهو ماله دلوقتي قاعد حزين مابيتكلمش
و قاعد في حاله بقى عامل زي المجانين هيرحب بالموت لو جالوا

محمود : شديت بسبوري و خدت الفيزا
اهوه جه دوري اروح امريكا
ارض الاحلام بلد الافلام
و متنساش المزيكا .
مكنتش عارف رايح فين او هجيب فلوس منين
كل اللي انا كنت عايزه اني اتصرف في قرشين
كنت حاطط في دماغي اني اعيش يومين
كنت فاكر اني هعمل من الالف الفين
و دوخت على شغل و رحت و جيت كتير
و دقت هناك المر و شفت اني اسير لناس
ملهاش كبير لناس ملهاش ضمير
لناس ما بتتمناش لحد غيرها خير
و كانت ضربة قاضية يوم مرحلوني رجعت
و ايدي فاضية ده غير كمان ديوني جنوني
و الفلوس عموني
صدقوني حقكوا ادهوني

MTM - I Am Sleepless Every Nightكل ليلة بسهرKol Leila Bashar

More cheezy Egyptian hip-pop



MTM - I Am Sleepless Every Night

You are on my mind every minute and every second
You according to me are in reality are something else
You in my eye are the complete girl and the only one that I live for
Believe me this isn't flattery
This is the reality that I hide
Certainly you were noticing the path that you've been going on
And my sigh come the moment that I come and tell you
I tell you what is with me... I tell you what is in me
And in my life I have never saying anything like this to anyone
Believe me seriously I am in an unnatural state
And the restlessness of my thoughts would be comforted if you felt for me
Answer me frankly and don't hide anything from me
I want you to know that I will continue to remain at your side
At your side throughout the journey
Without you I am like a guitar
That is, a guitar without strings

Every night I am sleepless... Sleepless sitting there thinking
Do you love me?... Or do I love you more?

Certainly one does not benefit to live alone no matter what
Eventually a person
Needs to look for the place
That he sees in his dreams
That he's wanted for so long
That he finds within it security and peace
...and also...
When it deceived me and drove me crazy and sold me out and told me things
While I heart I knew that they were illusions
And I understood that it was happening between us
And I remembered when it was my eye in your eye
You told me that you had nothing in this world but me
And the year that I spent with you was blissful
Believe me I am confident that you love me
And it's not possible for anyone to come between us

Every night I am sleepless... Sleepless sitting there thinking
Do you love me?... Or do I love you more?

Every night I'm sleepless... Sleepless sitting there thinking
About the puzzle that I live in
I don't know how to solve it
...I'm touched...
From inside my broken heart
Yeah I want you and only you... I love her more
And the problem is that you are friends
If only you were strangers
I tried to get closer to her I looked and found a mirage
I felt that I was far
I found myself alone
And the step that I will take I will think anew
I know that I am mistaken
If only you were able to forgive me
Return to me again believe me I miss you
Do you understand me? Your love that you feel
Do you hear me? You just loved

Every night I am sleepless... Sleepless sitting there thinking
Do you love me?... Or do I love you more?

كل ليلة بسهر - MTM

أنتى على بالى كل دقيقة وكل ثانية
أنتى بالنسبة لي في الحقيقة حاجة تانية
أنتى في عيني البنت الكاملة والوحيدة اللى بعيش بيها
صدقيني دي مش مجاملة
دي الحقيقة اللي مخبيها
أكيد كنتي أنتى ملاحظة م الطريقة اللى بعاملك بيها
وآهي جت اللحظة اللى آجي وأقولك فيها
أقولك اللى بيا..أقولك اللى فيا
أقولك انى ليكي وأطلب منك تبقى ليا
وأنا عمري ما قلت لأي حد حاجة زي ديا
صدقيني بجد أنا في حالة مش طبيعة
واسهري فكري بالراحة لو كنتي حاسة بيا
جاوبيني بكل صراحة ومتخبيش عليا
وأنا عايزك تعرفي اني هفضل جنبك باستمرار
جنبك طول المشوار
جنة ان كان أو نار
أنا من غيرك زي جيتار
بس جيتار من غير أوتار

كل ليلة بسهر..بسهر وأقعد أفكر
أنتى بتحبيني ؟..ولا أنا بحبك أكتر؟

أكيد الواحد مينفعش يعيش لوحده مهما ان كان
برده الانسان
لازم يدور ع المكان
اللى شايفه في الأحلام
اللى عايزه من زمان
اللي يلاقي فيه الأمان والسلام
...كمان...
لما خدعني وخاني وباعني وقالي كلام
وأنا لما سمعت عرفت أنها أوهام
وفهمت انه بيوقع بيني وبينك
وافتكرت لما كانت عيني في عينك
قلتي لي انك ملكيش في الدنيا الا أنا
والسنة...اللي قضيتها معاكي كانت هنا
صدقيني...أنا واثق انك انتى بتحبيني
ولا يمكن حد يفرق بيني وبينك

كل ليلة بسهر..بسهر وأقعد أفكر
أنتى بتحبيني ؟..ولا أنا بحبك أكتر؟

أنا كل ليلة بسهر ..بسهر وأقعد أفكر
في اللغز اللى أنا عايش فيه
مش عارف ازاي يتفسر
...متأثر...
من جوا قلبي متكسر
أيوة بعزك أنتى بسسسسسس...بحبها أكتر
والمشكلة أن أنتوا أصحاب
وياريت كنتوا أغراب
حاولت أقرب منها بصيت لقيت سراب
حسيت اني بعيد
لقيت نفسي وحيد
والخطوة اللي هاخدها اني أفكر من جديد
أنا عارف اني غلطان
وياريت تبقى مسمحاني
اررررجعيلي تانى صدقيني أنتى وحشاني
فهماني؟...حبك انتى اللى يتحس
سمعاني؟...انتى حبيبتي وبس

كل ليلة بسهر..بسهر وأقعد أفكر
أنتى بتحبيني ؟..ولا أنا بحبك أكتر؟

Egyptian Music

Egypt is the largest Arab country, with about 80 million people living mostly along the Nile river running from Aswan near the Sudan border to Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea. As a regional geographic, economic and population center, Egypt is center of cultural production in the Arab world, and the Egyptian dialect has become widely understood thanks to the dissemination of Egyptian films, television programs and music.

The story Egyptian music begins in the colonial era before World War II. During the 1920s and 1930s, the most prominent Egyptian composer was Mohammed Abdel Wahhab, who adapted many poems such as those of Ahmed Shawky to music and made the soundtracks to many Egyptian films.

Abdel Wahhab often wrote songs for the most prominent singer of this time period and Egyptian music history is Om Kalthoum. Known as Kawkab al-Sharq (Star of the East), she rose to prominence in the 1940s and remained the adoration of the Egyptian public every since. With the nationalist movement and the revolution of 1952, Om Kalthoum became a national symbol for Egypt and many of her songs of this period are nationalistic in nature. She died in 1975, but remains probably the most well-known Arab performer throughout the world and certainly throughout Egypt.

At the beginning of Om Kalthoum's career, there was another very popular female singer named Asmahan, who was a descendent of Druze royalty and sister of Farid al-Atrache that moved to Cairo. She produced several songs and films, but died in car crash under some dubious circumstances, and rumors abound that she may have been a Soviet spy. Because of her mysterious beauty and her premature death, Asmahan is a legend in the world of Arabic music.

Abdel Halim Hafez is another Egyptian singer who became very famous in post-independence Egypt. He is known for singing love songs of epic proportion like Om Kalthoum and a trademark smile. Like most Egyptian singers of this time, he starred in several musical films. He died fairly young, at age 48 in 1977, and thus remains a musical legend in Egypt. In 2006 a film called "Haleem" starring the late Egyptian film legend Ahmed Zaki as Abdel Halim Hafez. The Natacha Atlas album entitled "Halim" is named so in honor of Abdel Halim.

Today there are many Egyptian pop stars, none more famous and legendary than Amr Diab. He became internationally famous with the song "Nour el-Ayn" during the 1990s, and remains the king of Egyptian pop today. Amr Diab is now known for his ageless face, which appears quite young despite the fact he is approaching 50.

Mohammed Mounir is an artist from Upper Egypt born in Aswan. He is known for blending Arabic musical styles with more African styles. He has also been outspoken about issues such as religion and politics. After September 11, he sought to learn more about his religion, Islam, and has since been critical of both Muslims who do not practice responsibly and Westerners who hold outrageous misconceptions about Muslims. He has also been a long supporter of the Palestinian cause, and a peace advocate in general.

The two singers Sherine Ahmed (born Sherine Abdel Wahhab) and Tamer Hosni have become very popular in Egypt during the past few years. They rose to prominence together with a mix CD that contained both singles and duets. Now both have successful solo careers and have released many albums.

Shaaban Abdel Rahim is a well-known and controversial figure in Egyptian Shaabi pop music. He is a sort of rags to riches story in that he worked as a low-wage laundary man for years before his songs became popular. His typically no frills songs focus on catchy lyrics and expressing popular ideas, such as his 2000 songs called "I Hate Israel" and his 2003 song "Don't Hit Iraq" have made him a beloved figure, despite his lack of fashion sense. Hakim is another singer in the Shaabi genre who has sold millions of albums since the early 1990s.

The first Egyptian hip-hop group to achieve success is MTM. Their 2003 album entitled "Ummi Mesafra" (My Mom is Away) was groundbreaking in the world of Arab pop music. Although some of their singles are mostly pop much like Will Smith in the United States, some of their songs deal with social issues using humor.