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Sameh Zakout

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sameh 'SAZ' Zakout
سامح زقوت
Born1987 (age 36–37)
NationalityPalestinian
Occupation(s)Rapper and actor
Known forDUGRI

Sameh Zakout (Arabic: سامح زقوت), ("SAZ", born 1987) is a Palestinian rapper from Ramla, Israel.[1] His music features themes of Palestinian and Arab identity and calls for peaceful resolution of Arab–Israeli conflict. He was the subject of the 2006 documentary Saz: The Palestinian Rapper for Change.[2][3]

Zakout gained attention and popularity as a contestant on the Israeli reality singing competition, "Chai be La La Land" in 2012.[4][5]

Acting work

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Zakout's first acting role was as Amir in the 2016 film Junction 48, directed by Udi Aloni.[6][7] In 2018, Zakout played Hummus Guy #1 in Sameh Zoabi's Tel Aviv on Fire.[6][8]

DUGRI and "Let's talk straight"

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In 2021, Zakout collaborated with Israeli rapper Uriya Rosenman to create the video "Let's talk straight | בוא נדבר דוגרי | تعال نحكي دغري".[9] The video went viral during Israel's 2021 bombardment of Gaza. Zakout and Rosenman now tour as the duo DUGRI.[10] Translated into English from Arabic, the word DUGRI means 'straight', connoting 'straight-talking'.[11] After their first single went viral, the duo were featured by news outlets including CNN, the BBC and The New York Times.[12][13][14] The duo posted a second single, 'Munfas', to YouTube in November 2021.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Sameh Zakout". All4Palestine.
  2. ^ "About - biography - Sameh Zakout, official website". www.alsaz.net. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  3. ^ "Saz: the Palestinian rapper for change". discover.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ "Sameh Zakout Archives". The Forward. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  5. ^ Kessler, Dana (18 December 2012). "Stuck in La La Land". The Tablet. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Sameh 'Saz' Zakout | Actor, Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ^ Aloni, Udi (2016-05-05), Junction 48 (Action, Biography, Crime), Tamer Nafar, Samar Qupty, Salwa Nakkara, Metro Communications, United King Films, X-Filme Creative Pool, retrieved 2024-03-19
  8. ^ Zoabi, Sameh (2019-04-03), Tel Aviv on Fire (Comedy, Drama, Romance), Kais Nashif, Lubna Azabal, Yaniv Biton, Samsa Film, Lama Films, TS Productions, retrieved 2024-03-19
  9. ^ "Let's talk straight | בוא נדבר דוגרי | تعال نحكي دغري - UR & SAZ", YouTube, DUGRI, retrieved 2024-01-25
  10. ^ "Israel Palestine Conflict | Dugri Project". Dugri US Tour 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  11. ^ Hendler, Micah (26 March 2023). "The Israeli-Palestinian Rap Duo Fighting Against Extremism". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  12. ^ "Palestinian and Israeli rappers use rhyme to fight hate", CNN, 2022-01-18, retrieved 2024-01-25
  13. ^ "Straight-talking rappers tackle Middle East conflict". BBC News. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  14. ^ Cohen, Roger (21 July 2021). "A Rap Song Lays Bare Israel's Jewish-Arab Fracture — And Goes Viral". The New York Times.
  15. ^ DUGRI (UR & SAZ) - Munfas - Let's Talk Straight #2, retrieved 2024-01-25
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