The tables were moved to make room for the dance floor, the stage was set up and the crowd was waiting. BO18 – arguably, the most famous Lebanese nightclub – was ready for Chyno.
Nasser Shorbaji, stagename Chyno, walked out with his trademark backpack and flat-brim and went right into his first song, "Fight or Flight." A Syrian-Filipino rapper who has been living in Beirut on and off for more than 11 years, Chyno had a full house waiting for him for the album release party.
Almost immediately, the audience began dancing and singing along. His album, "Making Music to Feel at Home," might grapple with what it means to be in exile or what it means to be an expatriate, but one thing was clear throughout the night: Chyno was at home.
Although Chyno is a mainstay of the Lebanese music scene, from hosting a weekly radio show "Bar Fight" to performing with his hip hop group Fareeq el Atrash, this the rapper's first solo album. It also represents a break from his previous work as he raps only in English.
Collaborating with music magazine Audio Kultur on a mini-music video ahead of his album release, Chyno released the last song on the album "Orgami ft. Ingrid Bawab" in early June. Although the song was only a week old, it was one of the crowd's favorites and perfect end to the show.
As one of the MCs from rap group Fareeq al Atrash, Chyno's debut solo album features collaboration with a lot of well-known Lebanese artists including Poly .
Not one to shy away from political messages, Chyno's first single discussed the mindset of a suicide bomber. With a catchy chorus, "Don't care the who, what, when, where or why, today is a good day to die," the song is also a reference to the famous song "O.P.P." by American rap group Naughty by Nature.
To check out more of the hip hop artist's music, click here .