DJ Haram’sdebut albumBeside Myselfis about the survival of the spirit in day-to-day struggle. Following on from her collaboration withMoor Motheras 700 Bliss on “Nothing to Declare“, here she is joined by a swarm of collaborators, collectively navigating pain and rage, and in occasional moments of joyful respite, mocking the strife.

Haramdescribes herself as a “multidisciplinary propagandist, contemporary anti-authoritarian Arab, gendered labor class, god-fearing atheist” who makes “anti-format, audio propaganda, anti-lifestyle, immersive sonics”. Her music attests to this, as she brings in friends and collaborators, from MC’sArmand Hammer,Bbymutha,SHA RAY,Moor Mother, andDakn, through to co-producersAugust Fanon, Egyptian producerEl Kontessa, and Jersey Club producerKay Drizz, trumpeterAquiles Navarro, and guitaristAbdul Hakim Bilal.

It’s immediately identifiable as her work, but simultaneously unclassifiable, finding equal space in its dusty live production for Jersey Club, punk noise, Central Asian and Middle Eastern Percussion, synths, 808’s and lurking, rumbling bass. Often central to this is her own performance of unflinching sorrowful verses, comparable to the poetsAudrey LordeorAiin tone andKim Gordonin context, examining the material and the abstract in equal measure. Her grungy futurism offers no easy resolutions, yet the drama and catharsis it presents is rarely so defiantly delivered.

Format / LP
Released / 08/29/2025
Catalogue / HYPD-071
Barcode / 5056321682093
Artist / DJ Haram
Label / Hyperdub
Genre / Hip Hop