asayel

Biography

Asayel Bishi, known professionally as Asayel, is a 31-year-old Saudi rapper, singer, and songwriter born in Makkah and raised amidst a family of musicians, where music was a constant presence from her earliest years. Shaped by Jeddah's vibrant cultural scene, she began her musical journey self-taught via GarageBand and YouTube tutorials before pursuing formal training, initially writing in English to hone her language skills while idolizing artists like Ciara, Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, and Abdullah Al Rowaished. Her style fuses Arabic hip-hop, R&B, pop, Hejazi slang, and Western beats with Saudi heritage, addressing themes of self-confidence, resilience, authenticity, and social justice, as she evolved from singing to rapping and producing.[1][2][3][4]

Asayel's career gained momentum with her 2020 debut track 'Bint Mecca' (Mecca Girl), which celebrated Meccan women and sparked viral debate in Saudi Arabia, polarizing audiences between supporters and conservative critics who accused her of challenging traditions. Signing with MDLBeast Records, she released her official debut single 'Asliyah'—her first in Arabic—featuring deliberate spoken-word flows laced with Hejazi dialect to assert her entry into the scene and confront doubters, shot vividly on Jeddah's streets to showcase creative possibilities. Influenced by MDLBeast to focus on Arabic rap and local artists like Moayad and Dafencii, she has performed at events like BRED Abu Dhabi, collaborated on anthems such as 'Hena' with The Synaptik and Karim Osama, and continues experimenting with global sounds like Moroccan and Afro beats while advocating for female artists.[2][4][5][6][1]

Based in Jeddah, Asayel aims to inspire the next generation by embodying resilience and cultural pride, with upcoming projects including an EP in April 2025 and international collaborations, positioning her as a trailblazing voice redefining Saudi and regional music.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Initially wrote music in English to improve her language skills, inspired by music videos and choreography of Ciara, spending hours dancing in front of the mirror.
• Her debut 'Bint Mecca' (also known as Asayel Slay era) went viral on Saudi Twitter, drawing conservative backlash for celebrating Meccan women and challenging traditions.
• 'Asliyah' incorporates Hejazi slang from her grandmother, blending it with Western beats as her first fully Arabic track.
• Evolved from fearing experimentation to embracing global sounds like Moroccan and Afro beats, which surprisingly deepened her connection to Saudi roots.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• MDLBeast Records - Label that guided her shift to Arabic music and introduced local influences ('Asliyah' debut single) [2023 onward]
• Moayad - Local Saudi artist recommended as inspiration by MDLBeast (General influence on Arabic rap) [Career start]
• Dafencii - Local Saudi artist recommended as inspiration by MDLBeast (General influence on Arabic rap) [Career start]

Key Collaborators

• The Synaptik - Featured on regional festival anthem ('Hena' for BRED Abu Dhabi) [2025]
• Karim Osama - Featured on regional festival anthem ('Hena' for BRED Abu Dhabi) [2025]
• Ahmed Lebleb - Director for music video ('Asliyah' video shot in Jeddah) [2023]

Artists Influenced

• Next generation Saudi artists - Aims to inspire youth to pursue dreams in music despite setbacks (General role model statements) [Ongoing]

External Links

• Spotify