From the Streets of Cairo to the Dance Floors of Europe
Few artists embody the collision of heritage and forward-thinking sound quite like 3Phaz. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, this semi-anonymous producer has spent the last several years quietly rewriting the rules of what Egyptian electronic music can sound, feel, and move like.
His debut album Three Phase, released in 2020 on Cairo's beloved independent label 100Copies, announced his arrival with force — a fresh, bass-heavy reimagining of mahraganat and shaabi, the street-born genres that pulse through Cairo's alleyways and wedding halls. The record didn't just celebrate those sounds; it transformed them, injecting distortion, grime, and electronic experimentation into rhythms that felt both deeply familiar and radically new.
The international music world took notice quickly. With releases on Rinse, Boomkat, Polaar, Nashazphone, and Irsh, and a follow-up album DrumTraTrax released on Colombian label TraTraTrax, 3Phaz carved out a unique space for himself — an ambassador for innovative Egyptian electronics playing clubs and radio stations across Europe and beyond. His sets at iconic platforms like HÖR Berlin and appearances at festivals across the continent established him as one of the most compelling live acts to emerge from the SWANA region in recent years.
"With an electrifying blend of textures, samples and references showcasing his distinctive percussion-heavy production style, 3Phaz brought his fresh take on Egyptian Shaabi rhythms and melodies to audiences around the world."
What Makes 3Phaz Unique
At the heart of 3Phaz's music is a deep respect for the tabla, darbuka, and the raw percussive energy that defines Egyptian street music — combined with a producer's instinct for pushing those sounds into unexpected sonic territory. His tracks hit hard but carry melody; they feel urgent but also rooted. There's a palpable tension in his music between the ancient and the contemporary, the local and the global.
He draws from a rich lineage — from tabla maestros like Said El Artist and the legendary recordings of Islam Chipsy, to the underground electronic experiments emerging from Cairo's 100Copies scene. The result is a sound that is post-Shaabi in the truest sense: it honors its origins while refusing to be confined by them.
3Phaz × Habibi Shik Shok: The Collaboration
When Habibi Shik Shok began building the lineup for Heshk Beshk VOL.3, bringing 3Phaz to Athens felt not just logical — it felt essential. Habibi Shik Shok's mission has always been to create spaces where contemporary SWANA culture is lived, celebrated, and shared with the diaspora and beyond. 3Phaz represents exactly the kind of artist that mission was built to platform: rooted, innovative, and deeply connected to the culture.
On 27 June 2026, at the historic Bankeion Hotel in the heart of Athens, 3Phaz took the stage as part of Heshk Beshk VOL.3 — an Arabic music and dance festival that brought together over 470 attendees for a day and night of music, bazaar, food, and collective movement.
His set was a journey — from the pulsing rhythms of Cairo's underground to the sweaty euphoria of a packed dance floor in Athens. In a room filled with members of the SWANA diaspora, Arab expats, and curious music lovers from across Europe, the music did what it always does: it connected people across language, geography, and background through shared rhythm and energy.
For Habibi Shik Shok, this collaboration is a testament to what the platform stands for: not just booking artists, but building bridges. Bringing 3Phaz — one of the most exciting voices in contemporary Egyptian electronic music — to Athens for the third edition of Heshk Beshk was a statement about the depth and vitality of SWANA culture today.
What's Next
3Phaz continues to tour internationally and push the boundaries of his sound. Keep an eye on his SoundCloud and Instagram (@3phaz_) for new releases and upcoming shows.
And if you were there at Heshk Beshk VOL.3 — you already know. If you weren't, make sure you're there for the next event.