From collaborations with The Weeknd to Beyoncé, Belly Chronicles Three Decades of Music

With a body of work that has graced the albums of musical icons such as The Weeknd and Beyoncé, Belly's artistic journey is a testament to his ability to create lines that have run through the hearts of hip-hop fans for nearly three decades.

During this time, he has produced three studio albums, including The revolution (2007), Migrant (2018) and See you next Wednesday (2021), in addition to 12 mixtapes, the most recent being the acclaimed one Mumble Rap 2 (2023) via Roc Nation. But it doesn't end there. Over the years, he's also been featured on tracks by Jay-Z, Nas, DJ Khaled, Young Thug, the late Nipsey Hussle and more, all of which are a testament to Belly's unwavering versatility. As of 2016, Belly has had three tracks on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Might Not” (2016) and “Better Believe” (2021), both featuring The Weeknd, and “Double Up” featuring Nipsey Hussle and DOM KENNEDY. In 2019, he co-wrote The Weeknd's “Blinding Lights” with Max Martin, Oscar Holter and DaHeala, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

In this two-part interview with Billboard Arabia, hosted by Yassin Alsalman (aka Narcy, rapper and hip-hop professor at Concordia University), the two musicians take a walk down memory lane, unraveling Belly's storied career, his favorites rap bars and his philosophies on life.

The conversation between Belly and Yassin, who both grew up in the Arab diaspora in Canada, finds a starting point in the immigrant experience in North America, a plight woven through a series of stories that reflect challenges and triumphs to build a exciting race narrative. , durability and selection. We hear all of this in Belly's rich body of work, which began with his first mixtape, Death Before Dishonor: Vol. 1, and the subsequent release of eight additional works in six years, including his debut studio albumThe revolution (2007).

Belly walks Billboard Arabia on his entry into hip-hop, teaching himself English through rap and how making music became a therapeutic tool for dealing with complex emotions. “When situations happen, I'm not the type of person who opens up to people very easily,” says Belly, “I think I open up to pen and paper.”

As a rapper with ten albums and EPs under his belt, and a steady stream of singles, Yassin imparts an intimate knowledge of both hip-hop and Belly's work. Quickly finding a flow, the first part of the conversation travels through Belly's artistic history, but also what it means to find a sense of belonging in hip-hop.

Belly's music is not just a collection of songs. It's a sonic journey that moves across continents, proving that the power of the pen can find a home in the hearts of hip hop fans and artists alike. In part two of the deep dive with Belly, we learn about his artistic process and the many ways he “changes his approach” to songwriting, whether in his own work or when writing for others. “I've been blessed to work with a lot of legends,” says Belly. “I'm so in love with what they do, sometimes I get imposter syndrome… It's a balance of humility and remembering who you are.”

Belly talks about his involvement with Jay-Z's legendary Roc Nation label and the impact it had on his work, particularly his album, Midnight zone. “I've been looking at someone like HOV all my life, studying his bars … how he laid it out in three different senses,” he says. “He made me explore words and rap a lot more than I would if he wasn't around.”

Working with everyone from Beyoncé to The Weeknd and other “giants,” Belly often reminds himself in moments of doubt that he's always been “there for a reason.” Despite a hip-hop career spanning nearly three decades, Belly feels drawn to exploring new artistic avenues. “It's time to channel that creativity elsewhere and explore different paths,” he muses. He is currently working on what may be his final album, starting with this one Mumble Rap 2 and the upcoming release 96 miles from Bethlehem.

“Making this album wasn't so much a decision that I struggled to make,” Belly tells Billboard Arabia. “I always knew I would make an album about Palestine and I've actually had that title for a decade. The decision was based on everything going on in Palestine right now and the need for an unrelenting album that can express the frustrations most of us feel and the love we share for our homeland. As for the impact, I just pray it finds its way to whoever needs it the most.”

The album is executive produced by Belly, DannyBoyStyles and DaHeala, and features other Palestinian pop and hip-hop artists such as Saint Levant, MC Abdul and ELYANNA. In December, Belly posted, “I've got a lot to say…” in reference to the upcoming album, which came in the wake of the Gaza war.

Belly goes on to state that “Hip-hop has always been deeply rooted in resistance. It is rhythmic poetry and historically, poets and artists in general have changed the course of history more than once.” For Belly, this aspect of influencing change isn't just limited to albums with strong messages. His goal is to continue working with Light Sonic Division, the studio he founded, as “a support system for young Palestinian artists with a story to tell.”

The conversation took place at Belly's LA studio, hosted by Yassin Alsalman, better known by his stage name Narcy. He has released ten albums and EPs, while collaborating with artists such as Yasiin Bey, in addition to his track “Hamdulillah” being featured on Mo Amer's hit Netflix show. Mo.