Nadeem Mostafa (born August 15, 1984), known professionally as Mostafa, is an Egyptian-American rapper, record producer, and author from the Helwan neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. Best known for his 2018 album L.B.O.L, he has toured across the globe sharing stages with Hip-hop’s heavyweights on multiple continents. A feat accomplished fully independent and outside of the major industry systems in place.

Early Life:
Mostafa was born August 15, 1984 in Doha, Qatar to two Egyptian artists Mohamed Gomaa, and Fadia Elkadi. Growing up, he moved a lot and found hip hop as a culture that he was able to connect with globally. After living in Oklahoma City, OK, Los Angeles, CA, and Federal Way, WA, he ended up back in the place of his birth Doha, Qatar. It was there from the ages of 10-14 that he really honed his skills writing rap songs. He eventually landed in Bellingham, WA in 1998 at 14 years old, and after a turbulent and rebellious youth, would remain there until moving back to Cairo, Egypt in 2022.

Music Career:
Mostafa released his debut album New beginnings in 2010. Initially a 21 track album, it was later narrowed down to 10 songs and re released as a more polished project before being taken down altogether.

He connected with Seattle based producer Deep Lemon in 2009, and from that came his second album, The Calendar Year El-P, released on April 20, 2012.

After the release of The Calendar Year El-P and it being well received locally, Mostafa began being offered support slots for larger artists in Bellingham, WA. This would be the push for him to master the live performance aspect of hip-hop and begin touring.

In the following years he released various projects with various producers (all of which have since been deleted) and toured the U.S constantly while supporting bigger names at home in between tours. He eventually connected with Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) via his friend and tour partner Landon Wordswell, and began touring as support for him in between Mostafa’s own solo headlining tours.

Mostafa released the album that is widely considered his magnum opus, L.B.O.L, on March 20, 2018. With this release all aspects of Mostafa’s art seemed to approach new levels. The many years of touring had turned him into a true performer, and the many life experiences and sacrifices along the way had created a beautiful album. His most polished to date.

Mostafa would continue to tour the U.S constantly between 2018 and 2020, before being brought to a halt at the beginning of a 3 month nationwide tour by the Covid-19 pandemic. After feeling stuck and unsure of his next moves, Mostafa would return to Cairo Egypt in 2022 and begin performing all across Europe.

He would eventually return to touring the U.S in 2023 with the release of his album NVMND, and would continue to make strides within the European Hip-hop scenes and share stages with heavyweight artists overseas as well as in the U.S.

Mostafa has somehow managed to tour and obtain high profile shows across the globe independently for over a decade without the assistance of the industry machines or ever paying for an opportunity, and despite the lack of a high number of followers on any internet platforms. Creating a true grass roots movement off of his work ethic, musical offerings, and character alone. This has made his career one to watch, it’s a feat not often accomplished by independent musicians in the internet age. A true anomaly of our time.

Mostafa is planning to release his final album “Aghnabi”, along with a biographical book and mini doc of the same title in mid 2027.