Hassa Beek

On March 26, 2017, Ajram announced the album on her social media accounts, revealing the cover art and pre-order release date.[3] Two days later, she posted the official teaser video previewing 10 second snippets of each track.[4] On March 30, the album was listed for pre-order and the songs were to be available on April 21. The songs "El Hob Zay El Watar" and "Keefak Bel Hob" were released as promotional singles. The first was released digitally on March 31, then was sent to radio one day later. It debuted at number one on Anghami's Top Anghami chart.[5] Billboards featuring the album cover filled the streets of Lebanese and Egyptian cities in early April. The album was digitally released worldwide on April 21, followed by physical CD release two days later in the Arab world.

Ziad Bourji, wrote and composed two tracks in the album including the lead single.

Hassa Beek is built around a Mediterranean and South American theme that incorporates pop styles with elements of dance-pop and pop rock. The title track "Hassa Beek" relies on Latin guitar and beat, composed by Egyptian musician Khaled Ezz, whom Ajram collaborates with for the first time. The following track "Helm El Banat" is a folk-pop song, which contains anthemic chorus and Lebanese dabka rhythm. "Khamsa Farfasha" reminds of Ajram's Egyptian pop hits "Ah W Noss" and "Ya Tabtab", just as "Keefak Bel Hob" does.[6]

One of the rhythmic songs in the album, "Albi Biyes'al Einy", is full of violins in a disco way, characterized by its western dance style. "Kharab Byoot" returns Ajram to the Khaleeji folk sound she presented in "La Teloum", which was released in Ah W Noss album. "El Hob Zay El Watar", a romantic sensual style mixed with a Tarab spirit, composed by Egyptian well-known musician Walid Saad, whom Ajram constantly works with. "W Maak" is a house-disco track, in which Ajram presents a completely new genre of the Middle Eastern music.

Another fast-Egyptian track is "Zabbat W Khattat", written by Tamer Hussein, whom Ajram also works with for the first time. "Bel Sodfa" and "Mesh Enta" are deep emotional sad tracks, speaking about a heartbroken woman who finds out her lover is cheating. The other Gulf song in the album is "Ayi Hob W Ayi Gheera", characterized by its rhythmic melody, showing a new side of Ajram's vocal abilities. "Aam Betaala' Feek" was selected as the album's lead single and is a romantic song about the beginning of love feelings. The reggaeton beat in "Rooh Ya Shater", composed by Samir Sfeir and produced by Boudy Naoum, reminds of some best 2000’s songs.[7]

The album's lead single, "Aam Betaala' Feek", was released on December 16, 2016 exclusively through Anghami, which broke a new record as the fastest song to reach one Million streams in the App history.[8] The song also received commercial success, topping several Arabic music charts and radio stations for consecutive weeks.[9] A lyric video of the song was released two weeks later, on January 1, 2017.

"Hassa Beek", the title track, was released as the second single on April 6. The song peaked at number one on Anghami's Top Anghami chart[10] and other music charts in several Arab countries. The official music video, which premiered on the same day, was viewed 1 million times on YouTube in its first 24 hours.[11] The theatrics come alive in "Hassa Beek"'s video, which sees Ajram play the radiant role of an old Hollywood movie star in the midst of a steamy love affair. The almost six-minute video was directed by Leila Kanaan, as a comeback after a 5-year absence.

"W Maak" was released on March 29, 2018 as the album's third official single. The song went to radio stations in the Middle East on April 2017, it peaked at number one on Agmad 7 chart on Nogoum FM seven months prior to its single release.[12] The official music video, also directed by Leila Kanaan, premiered at the same day of the single release, featuring Ajram in an old-school American-style diner, dressed in a metallic baseball jacket and denim shorts and getting weirdly over-familiar with the venue’s jukebox.[13] Later on, the video received four international awards and recognition, it was selected at Clipped Music Video Festival's International Top 30 chart, nominated for "Best Music Video" at the International Music Video Underground Festival[14], won "Merit Special Mention" at the Accolade Global Film Competition[15][16] and "Best Music Video" at Queen Palm International Festival.[17]

"El Hob Zay El Watar" was originally released as a promotional single for the album on March 31, 2017.[18] Its official release as the fourth single took place on February 12, 2019, the same date its music video was released, marking her third collaboration with director Leila Kanaan in the album.[19]

Hassa Beek debuted at number one on the HitMarker's Best-Selling Albums Chart[20] and remained atop for 16 continuous weeks since its release.[21] The record topped Virgin Megastores sales in Lebanon for 4 continuous months, while in Egypt it remained atop for 15 continuous weeks, as well as in KSA, UAE and Bahrain for continuous weeks.[22][23]

The track list was announced via iTunes on March 30, 2017.[24]

Adapted from the album liner notes.[25]