06.10.2026
17-Year-Old Palestinian Rapper MC Abdul Seeks the Light Within a Dark Reality in the Video for “Wait For Me,” His Powerful New Single
Alternating Footage of Destruction With Moments of Reflection, and Layering In Lyrical and Visual References To His Hip-Hop Heroes Like J. Cole, Nas, and Eminem, “Wait For Me” Illuminates Abdul’s Struggle and Shows How Much Work is Left to Do for His Liberatory Cause
Critical Praise:
“Rolling Stone Future 25…In a place where education isn’t a given, the power of music has a way of shining through, especially with a gift like MC Abdul’s.” — Rolling Stone
“…Even with all the trauma surrounding him, Abdul beat all the thousands of odds and got signed by EMPIRE Records. He has amassed millions of views ever since through his songs, where he shares a glimpse of life in Gaza.” — GRAZIA
“MC Abdul’s lyrical vigor is reminiscent of hip-hop’s glory days, when storytelling and shifty fictions were the precedence. He seems to be following in the footsteps of Tupac, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, and Black Star– rappers that never failed to create multigenerational works of art reflecting trying times.” — MILLE
“At just 15, he has already established himself as a seasoned lyricist of global significance, serving up verses that resonate deeply with their complexity and emotional weight.” — YUNG
The Video:
17-year-old Palestinian artist MC Abdul uses the universal language of hip-hop to tell his story and shine a light on his people’s struggle for freedom. Today, Abdul continues his story, sharing the music video for new single “Wait For Me,” which relays the reality of life in Gaza under Israel’s military siege and ongoing genocide. “Wait For Me” is the first single from Abdul’s upcoming album, executive produced by Suhel Nafar. The song blends contemporary production with traditional Arabic instrumentation, creating a powerful and deeply emotional sound to describe how he relives his nightmares and processes how a bomb could end his life at any moment.
Released last week, “Wait For Me” comments on some of Abdul’s most painful memories, referencing the lyrics of idols like Nas, J. Cole. and Eminem to demonstrate how hip-hop became Abdul’s shield against chaos. The track was co-produced by illmind, the Grammy Award-winning producer known for his work with Drake, J. Cole, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar, alongside NINO, Telly, and Nai Barghouti. Abdul flips famous lines from the illmind-produced “Love Yourz” (“There’s beauty in the struggle” becomes “There’s pain in the struggle”) and other classics like Em’s “Lose Yourself” and Nas’s “One Mic” to describe his circumstances, illustrating how his love for hip-hop shaped his worldview.
Edited by award-winning filmmaker J. Reem Salloum, the powerful music video brings Abdul’s words to life, illustrating the resilience of the Palestinian people, who have continued to survive and rebuild their homes, despite the Israeli military bombing Gaza every day. Abdul walks sandy beaches, reminiscent of the coastline of the Gaza Strip, contrasting the natural freedom of the ocean with the reality of life under military blockade. Abdul flashes back to his childhood, when he recorded videos of his burgeoning rap skills atop piles of rubble, when he and his friends would kick a soccer ball and play hide-and-seek in the city, showing that even amidst strife, life goes on. Like the song, the music video features numerous references to Abdul’s favorite rap albums: Abdul raps while sitting on a wall, like J. Cole on the cover of 2014 Forest Hills Drive, and the camera transitions from Abdul’s young visage and present image, echoing the twin covers of Nas’s Illmatic and It Was Written.
“Wait For Me” continues MC Abdul’s remarkable story, which began when videos of his 11-year-old self rapping atop rubble sparked a global viral sensation and has continued through his teenage years as one of music’s foremost advocates for Palestinian liberation. Growing up in Gaza, hip-hop provided a lifeline for the young Abdul, who learned English from rap legends and was inspired by the hip-hop tradition of speaking out against oppression. Videos of Abdul–of this middle school-aged child forcefully and soulfully articulating his struggle–circulated among music fans and activists alike, making him an iconic figure, but also putting a target on his back. It was a complex, hardship-filled journey for Abdul to leave Gaza, eventually reach the United States, where he currently lives, and later reunite with his family.
After reaching the United States, Abdul has pursued his dream of becoming a rap star. He made a historic Rolling Loud debut in 2024 as the youngest artist and first Gaza-born artist to perform on that stage. In addition, Abdul performed a powerful showcase for GRAMMYs Global Spin. His cultural impact was further solidified by starring in Mustafa’s “Gaza Is Calling” music video alongside Bella Hadid. Having toured and collaborated with artists like Macklemore, Anees, Elyanna, and Saint Levant, and after opening for global superstar Atif Aslam, Abdul’s résumé is a testament to his status as a powerful voice for his people. The champion for peace has already gained media support from Mashable, GRAZIA, Billboard, MILLE, Variety, On The Radar, and Scene Noise, among others, demonstrating the world’s growing desire to hear his side of the story.
Abdul’s forthcoming debut LP represents a leap onto the global stage, not just as a rapper but as an icon for a generation of youth whose stories of resilience are often left untold. Stay tuned for much more from the young artist as he continues his journey.
Watch “Wait For Me”: https://youtu.be/ZHD0QPEkCpw
Stream “Wait For Me”: https://music.empi.re/waitforme
Photo credit: Daniel Aziz
Please contact Michelle or Francesca for more info.
The Background:
17-year-old rapper from Gaza, MC Abdul, follows a rich Rap tradition of speaking up for the oppressed and taking people to the front lines of struggle and injustice. “We wanted to show the world what is going on in Gaza right now. I rapped in front of the rubble to inspire.” Abdul has done just that. His freestyle videos have garnered over 100 million views, highlighting the pain his community has endured for generations. Fat Joe, Chance the Rapper, Bella Hadid, and many others have praised Abdul’s courage, skill, and substance. His first EP, “Can I Live,” arrived via EMPIRE, and he is set to release his debut album in 2026. Using art, MC Abdul stands on the front lines of change. This brave 17-year-old is a champion for peace, fighting for his people’s freedom with his words.
Links:
instagram | tiktok | youtube | spotify
“Wait For Me”: https://music.empi.re/waitforme