DUBAI: US rapper Swizz Beatz and record producer DJ Khaled released a celebratory Saudi song, “The Biggest Shela,” late last week.
The song, inspired by Khaleeji beats, was to celebrate Swizz Beatz’s camel team, Kasseem Abu Nasser, winning its first race in Saudi Arabia in October.
“In celebration of my camel team wins I decided to drop my Shela - a traditional way to celebrate wins. I had to add my brother @djkhaled to the intro because all he does is Win Win Win!!” Swizz Beatz wrote to his 3.5 million Instagram followers.
To master the song, Swizz Beatz had a team of Saudis working with him on the release, including Khobar-based producer Saud Al-Turki and graphic designer Al-Aziz.
The first camel to race from the musician’s team was Nicole, who was named after the star’s daughter. It won first placein a race on Oct. 21.
“To win your first race – your only race so far – in racing’s home is crazy. We were in eighth place for a long time after the race first started,” the rapper told Variety magazine. “Then Nicole just went for it. What are the odds? Forget about me being from America, a westerner. No Saudi team ever won their first race.”
The rapper’s 12 camels live in stables in Riyadh.
