In the Arab world, few voices resonate with audiences as much as the enduring, almost sacred familiarity of Fairuz.
Her music has been the embodiment of Lebanon’s mourning and heartbreak, spanning generations.
Now, a song long considered part of the region’s cultural fabric – Wahdon, released in 1979 – has unexpectedly entered the orbit of global pop. During a recent live-stream teasing his ninth studio album, Iceman, the Canadian rapper Drake previewed a track that appears to sample Fairuz’s recognisable vocals, threading them through a sparse, moody production of fractured drums and hi-hats. It is a choice that has sparked fierce debate.
Composed by her son, the late musician Ziad Rahbani whose death in July caused an outpouring of tributes from figures across Lebanese culture, the track Wahdon was written by Talal Haidar as a meditation on absence, distance and the quiet ache of solitude.
The original poem is a reflection of Haidar's own experience of three young men he used to greet every morning as they headed into a forest. One day they did not appear and newspapers later reported the three had been killed fighting in Northern Palestine. In response Haidar wrote the song to reflect upon ordinary courage and sudden loss.
Now, the same words and Fairuz's vocals have been reused in new music by the rapper. It has been speculated that Drake's long-time collaborator and Lebanese-Canadian Noah Shebib, also referred to simply as 40, could be behind the decision, as he will probably be aware of the significance of Fairuz's music.
This is not the only time Fairuz has been sampled, however. In 1992, Madonna sparked controversy when she used Fairuz's hymn El Yom 'Ulliqa 'Ala Khashaba without permission for her Erotica album. A high-profile legal battle followed, resulting in Madonna having to pay $2.5 million in damages.
Madonna's choice to lay explicit lyrics over the religious song resulted in her being banned from entering Lebanon. It also demonstrated how closely Lebanon guards Fairuz and her legacy.
Iceman will be Drake's first new music since his 2023 studio album, For All The Dogs. While there is no release date as yet, he has hinted that it will be out before the year ends.
As debate and speculation continue around whether or not Fairuz will be fully credited and compensated for the use of her music, Drake has hit a sensitive touchpoint that could easily backfire if handled insensitively.
If the song makes the final album, Drake could embrace Fairuz's fan base and acknowledge the deep significance of this song and her legacy, which could simultaneously earn him new listeners while introducing the 89-year-old's musical catalogue to a new audience.
Get this wrong, however, and online backlash will await. Either way, the tease has already sparked conversation online, meaning his album will probably be streamed in anticipation whenever it is finally released.
