Sons of Yusuf, the dynamic Kuwaiti duo consisting of brothers Yakoob and Abdulrahman Al-Refaie, have dedicated their lives to revolutionizing the Arabian Gulf sound. By blending hip-hop’s raw energy with traditional Arabic instruments, sounds and poetry, their music transcends cultural boundaries and celebrates identity. With their highly anticipated album Granada set to release on Dec 12, 2024, the brothers mark not only the launch of a groundbreaking project, but also the 12th anniversary of Sons of Yusuf. The album continues their mission to honor heritage, inspire youth and showcase the profound legacy of the Islamic Golden Age through an innovative sound.
Kuwait Times: Congratulations on your new single! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind ‘House of Wisdom’ and how it reflects your shared vision as brothers?
Sons of Yusuf: ‘House of Wisdom’ was inspired by the original House of Wisdom in 9th-century Baghdad and the people who shaped the modern world. When we were invited to perform at the Sharjah Entrepreneur Festival in 2022, we visited the new House of Wisdom in Sharjah and were deeply inspired. Shaikha Bodour Al-Qasimi gave us the opportunity to explore this cultural center and film the video there. We hope the song inspires youth the same way it inspired us.
KT: Performing at the ‘House of Wisdom’ in Sharjah was a significant moment. What was it like bringing your music to such a symbolic venue?
Sons of Yusuf: It was incredible. Seeing visionary leaders like Shaikha Bodour and the strength of Arab women leading the way was truly inspiring. She truly understands and supports what we’re doing. The event was a great success, alhamdulillah.
KT: You’ve sung about Palestine before. Do you believe artistes have a responsibility to use their platform for meaningful messages?
Sons of Yusuf: We absolutely believe artistes have a responsibility. This is why we do what we do - to reflect the times we live in while honoring past struggles. Art should be revolutionary; otherwise, it’s just a distraction.
KT: Growing up as brothers in Kuwait, how has it influenced your music, and how do your individual styles complement each other?
Sons of Yusuf: We deeply love our Kuwaiti culture and want to share it with the world. Growing up, this knowledge wasn’t always easy to access, but we want to make it more available for the youth. We believe it’s important to preserve our heritage as the world evolves. Our shared goals and complementary passions are what drive our music.
KT: What was the creative process like for ‘House of Wisdom’, and how did your bond as brothers shape the song’s development?
Sons of Yusuf: For the first time, Abdulrahman was in California and Yakoob was in Kuwait during the production of this album. It was challenging being in different parts of the world, but we shared a clear vision. We worked closely with our friends at Both studio in Dubai to create the video, and in Kuwait, Khalid Al-Mansour and Essa Hashemi helped us produce the song. Special thanks to Faisal Al-Ameeri, our favorite Kuwaiti actor, for his narration in the outro.
KT: Your upcoming album, ‘Granada’, has intrigued many. Why did you choose this title, and what can listeners expect from it?
Sons of Yusuf: ‘Granada’ was a title we’ve had in mind for some time. It’s a natural follow-up to our previous album ‘Shaykh the World’. We want to highlight the Islamic Golden Age and how scholars, philosophers and scientists from that era laid the foundation for the modern world, particularly in art, technology, medicine and music. We want the youth to understand the significance of this legacy, especially as it began in 7th-century Spain.
KT: As brothers from Kuwait, how do you plan to represent your culture while innovating in the Arabic and English music scenes?
Sons of Yusuf: We want to push boundaries and bring something new. We don’t want to sound like anything else on the radio. Our goal is to create a fresh sound that represents who we are. Hopefully, we can start a new movement, like we did when we first began 12 years ago.
KT: What does performing in both Arabic and English mean to you, and how do you hope it bridges cultural gaps?
Sons of Yusuf: We love all cultures, and we aim to bring people together with our music. Being able to communicate in both Arabic and English is a blessing. Our goal is to spread love and peace through our art.
KT: What’s the most rewarding part of working together as brothers, and what challenges do you face when merging your artistic ideas?
Sons of Yusuf: The trust and bond we share are unmatched. Working with family is the best way to go when it comes to business or any kind of work. We understand each other perfectly, making the process smoother and more flexible. It’s truly a blessing, alhamdulillah.
KT: With ‘Granada’ releasing on December 12, what makes this album special for you, and how do you plan to celebrate its launch?
Sons of Yusuf: 12/12/12 is our anniversary — it’s the day we released our first song and music video. This year marks our 12th anniversary, which makes this album even more special. We’re excited to celebrate it with our fans and continue our journey.
KT: Looking ahead, where do you see yourselves in five years, and how do you plan to grow both personally and professionally?
Sons of Yusuf: We want to collaborate with more artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from both the region and around the world. While we continue making music, we also have many creative projects beyond music. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received over the past 12 years, and inshallah, this is just the beginning. Thank you to everyone who’s been with us on this journey.