"Service Taxi" is a high-energy, rhythmic hip-hop track that paints a vivid picture of the daily commute and hustle in Cairo, Egypt.
Check out the artist page.
Stream all 16 songs for free.
Story behind the song
"Service Taxi" is a rhythmic deep dive into the heart of Cairo’s transit and hustle. Blending traditional Middle Eastern melodies with hard-hitting hip-hop, the track explores the shared struggle of the daily commute, from university diplomas collecting dust to the relentless 6:00 AM microbus route. It’s a raw, honest look at the resilience required to navigate the city's streets.
The song serves as a social commentary on urban life, specifically the shared experience of the "Service Taxi" or Microbus:
The Routine: The lyrics detail the "same route, same round" starting at 6:00 AM, the heat of the commute ("no AC"), and the struggle of the daily grind.
The Struggle: Themes include the value of a university diploma "collecting dust," the rising cost of medicine, and the pressures of supporting a family.
The Setting: It references specific cultural landmarks like City Hall, Heliopolis, and the transition from Cairo's historic meaning to the modern hustle of "phone credit and hustles".
Lyrics and concept by Ward C Locke. Music produced with Suno AI.
Lyrics
Shams El-Balad, 6 a.m., fool cart, three pounds
Seven for the microbus, same route, same rounds
University diploma in a frame, ya rayal, collecting dust
City Hall steps selling Marlboros, khalas, that's us
Khaled's in French Colony, school? makamelsh never finished
Uncle's import business, penthouse, pool, straight winning
Sequoia every Thursday, mezze, argeela, bottles
I split Shoubra, one room, six of us, same struggle
Service taxi, service taxi
Same route every time
Service taxi, service taxi
Seven pounds a ride
Service taxi, service taxi
Windows down, no AC
Service taxi, service taxi
Baba says sabr, my son, rizq comes when God wills
Mama's blood pressure rising, pharmacy wants their bills
Sara needs her chemistry book, Noor edition, two hundred cash
Minister's son got private tutors, never reads, still passed
Wednesday ahwa, shisha coals, Abu Mohammed dealing
Backgammon stories, Nasser days, when factories gave us meaning
This street used to build things, workers clocked their pride
Now it's phone credit, carton hustles, everybody on the grind
I'm not throwing rocks, wallahi, I'm counting what you stole
Every line's a number in my mental ledger, check the scroll
Shut the station, kill the power, cut my mic, mesh muhim
This cassette already copied, running through the city streets within
Service taxi, service taxi
Same route every time
Service taxi, service taxi
Seven pounds a ride
Service taxi, service taxi
Windows down, no AC
Service taxi, service taxi
Microbus at 6 a.m.
Nafs el-tour same route
Sabah geneih seven pounds
