At a time when all rappers in the Middle-East were putting out records in English and French, Wael (a.k.a. Rayess Bek) decided to flip the script and rap in Arabic. Rayess Bek is the founder of Rap and Hip Hop in Arabic. He adapted Rap music to his background and created his own sound and style. His lyrics - always polished, sharp and committed - speak about Lebanon, its crisis, its war, its youth and disillusionment with politics by the new generation.Rayess Bek, with his band AKS’SER, had their debut at the 'Fete de la Musique' concert summer of 1997 in Beirut - This concert earned them critical respect. Aksser released two albums “Ahla Bi Chabeb†in 2000 and “Khartouch†in 2002 on the independent label ChichProd. In 2003, Rayess Bek released his first solo album '3am behkeh bil sokout’ as independent and went on tour throughout the Middle-East and Europe.In 2004, the band AKS’SER got signed to EMI and released their third album “Aks'ser†in 2005.
Last year, Rayess Bek was commissioned by the UN to compose and produce a song for thespecial program on disability. The song and video, Ekhtilef Tabiyeh (Difference is Normal)was the first media campaign promoting acceptance of handicapped people in the Middle East. It has been broadcast in over 20 countries in North Africa and the Middle East.Rayess Bek was more recently featured in a PBS documentary “Dissonance and Harmony†produced by Miles Copeland for the series “America at a Crossroadâ€. The film captures the process of Wael’s collaboration with Nile Rogers, Rza from the Wu-Tang Clan and Shavo from System of the Down as well as Rayess live performance at the Roxy. ‘Dissonance and Harmony†will premiere on PBS in the fall of 2007.
In June 2007 Wael completed his Doctorate in Fine Arts in Paris (France), and began work on another campaign for the UN, this time for a an anti-war campaign, along with American co-writer and producer Frank Fitzpatrick. The song/video is titled Just Like You is scheduled to debut throughout the Middle East and North of Africa in August 2007.
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