Single Review: Syrian American artist Seffo’s new single ‘Drama’ feels like a political powder keg
With razor-sharp lyrics focused on a fractured America, Seffo namechecks some of the cultural and political players most responsible for the divisions. In doing so, he rebukes all of the elites, creating ‘drama.’
2024 is an election year in the States, meaning we’ll likely hear plenty of musical responses to America’s current social, cultural, and political developments.
But Syrian American artist Seffo’s new single ‘Drama’ already stands out as an early contender for Political Rap Song of the Year.
Seffo, whose birth name is Youssef Kobach, was born in South Carolina but moved to Syria at a young age due to family circumstances. Based in the city of Jableh, he was raised by his grandmother. Syria taught Seffo some hard lessons as he struggled to adapt to his drastically changed environment. When he eventually relocated back to the States after eight years in the Middle East, Arabic was his first language, and he struggled to learn English for a time.
Seffo has said that the lyrics and musical cadence of artists like Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Biggie helped him finally learn how to wield the English language. Because of this, he has been indebted to rap music ever since.
Seffo is the first to admit that his backstory isn’t traditional. But as he grew as an artist, he used rap to help him assert his unique identity, as well as overcome the discrimination he faced at times because of his ethnicity and his religious background.
He adopted the rap name ‘Seffo’ to herald the release of his single ‘Rebirth’ in the summer of 2023. ‘Rebirth’ was an exceptional song about facing hardships, not doubting yourself, and forging your path in life.
Seffo has returned with ‘Drama,’ a track that might be his most brilliant and controversial song.
‘Drama’ feels like a warped, drug-fueled adventure into the rotting world of American politics and culture. Seffo addresses some of the significant, dramatic controversies of the present moment, throwing them out there in each rap bar like a more fearless, less forgiving iteration of Billy Joel on ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire.’
‘Drama’ puts everyone from Joe Biden to Hunter Biden to Lindsay Graham to Donald Trump on the firing line. Seffo is righteously angry on this track but focuses all that anger on the music (he says he’s “like Kanye – I’m snapping”). But unlike Kanye, when Seffo “snaps,” he knows exactly where to direct his rage. He focuses on the elites. He’s disgusted with those in power in America – disgusted with what he sees as the big, excessive party hosted by the 1%, while he’s “kicked…out the f**king club”. He may use controversial lyrics to make his point, but he’s making the case that this is the best way to get himself heard.