Tamer Nafar

Tamer Nafar is a pioneering Palestinian rapper, actor, screen-writer, and social activist, blending hip-hop with powerful messages about identity, resistance, and social justice. As a co-founder of the rap group DAM, his music challenges stereotypes and amplifies the voice of the marginalized, making him a cultural icon and advocate for change in the Arab world and beyond.

Tamer Nafar's solo career showcases his bold lyricism and unique blend of hip-hop with Palestinian cultural elements. As a groundbreaking artist, he tackles issues like oppression and injustice, the Palestinian struggle, women’s rights, and the promotion of alternative art within a conservative society, creating a powerful narrative that resonates globally. His solo work pushes boundaries, making him a key voice in Middle Eastern hip-hop and a champion for social change.

Nafar grew up in Lyd, a mixed city of Palestinians and Jews not far from Tel Aviv and home to one of the largest drug markets in the Middle East. As a teenager, Tamer discovered hip-hop and became the world’s first Palestinian rapper. In 2000, Tamer formed the first Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. A few years later, he started his solo career. In addition to his music, Tamer Nafar has made his mark as a filmmaker and author. He co-wrote and starred in the award-winning film Junction 48, which highlights the struggles of Palestinian youth through music. Tamer Nafar has also authored books, expanding his storytelling beyond music, using diverse platforms to shed light on identity, resistance, and social justice.

In 2023, Tamer started writing weekly op-eds with Ha Aret’z, +972 Magazine, The Germen Telepolis, and sometimes The Guardian. This year (2024), he will release his first English EP “In the name of the father, the Imam & John Lennon” through the American record label, Empire.