“The Iraqi scene is considered weak in the media,” he says bluntly.

“There is no rap culture in it compared to other scenes in the Arab world.” That lack of cultural scaffolding hasn’t deterred him. If anything, it’s become his launchpad. He’s the first Iraqi rapper to be officially playlisted by YouTube, Anghami, and Apple Music. The first and only Iraqi rapper to sign with international company Empire. Not that anyone back home threw a parade. “The step I took is not known or appreciated by many,” he adds.

‍

Born in Iraq, shaped in Libya, and now operating across the Arab world, MC Sufian is part of a new generation of artists bypassing industry bottlenecks and building independent pipelines. As CEO of RapSceene and founder of Sceenerecords, he’s carved out a space for collaboration that cuts across regional divisions. “Last year, my label launched a project bringing together artists from Kuwait, Libya, Iraq, Tunisia, and Egypt,” he explains. That kind of regional connectivity is rare in an industry still siloed by national borders and social norms. His collaboration with Billboard Arabia on the Sound of the Land initiative furthers this aim: cross-cultural output grounded in local stories.

His catalogue ranges across trap, reggaeton, club, and afro beats—but the real constant is his mindset. “The secret is persistence and not giving up,” he says. That clarity emerged after a difficult period of burnout and mental health struggles.

‍

“After a year of loss of passion and isolation, I came back again and founded my own company.”

‍

This kind of self-resurrection isn’t rare in hip-hop, but it often comes wrapped in bravado. MC Sufian skips the theatrics. “This topic is still sensitive in many Middle Eastern communities,” he notes, referring to mental health and addiction. But he keeps bringing it up. He talks about it because ignoring it is no longer an option.

The route he's taken defies any conventional trajectory. “It was a difficult journey for me, but also enjoyable because I got to know other cultures,” he recalls. Growing up in Libya gave his voice a North African tone. Yet the pull of his Iraqi identity remains.

‍

“After all these years I am still trying to maintain my Iraqi identity.”

‍

MC Sufian’s journey resembles that of an indie game developer in a console-dominated market—crafting something from scratch without a distribution model, then watching it slowly catch fire.

In 2025, Iraqi artist Ahmed Monika made history by receiving a Juno Award nomination for his album 'Kanzafoula,' the first time an Iraqi album was recognized at that level. The infrastructure may still be fragmented, but the recognition is starting to surface.

“Everyone is capable of success,” he says. “But with determination and not giving in to life’s circumstances.” And while others debate whether Iraqi hip-hop exists, he’s busy making sure it does.

Overlooked or underestimated, he hit record—and didn’t stop.

‍