Medina is a Swedish hip hop duo formation with Arabic influences made up of Swedish artists of Tunisian descent, being Sam-E (born Sami Daniel Rekik), a former professional football player in Tunisia and Alibi (born Ali Jammali). Sam-E is also of Finnish descent as his mother is Finnish.Rapbattle med Medina Yle
Career
The two started making music in 2003 under the name Medina after they met in Knivsta promoting a special genre they called "Haffla music" with rhythm from the Arab World mixed with hip hop.KingSize magazine: Video – Medina "Där palmerna bor" - Ny singel från duons nysläppta album Hayat
Their debut release was mixtape/album Rumble in Fiskayyet and the resulting single "Magdansös".MTV: Medina biography They followed up with a series of albums, Fullblod, 7 dar, Mosh Normal, Hayat and Sista Minuten. Their single "Miss Decibel" from the album Sista Minuten reached number 2 on Sverigetopplistan, the official Swedish Singles Chart. They have also released series of 4 mixtapes under the title Varsågod de e gratis and two volumes in the series Haffla Music.
Sami Rekik of the duo took part in Melodifestivalen 2021 in collaboration with WAHL with the song "90-talet". Medina reunited to enter Melodifestivalen 2022 with the song "In i dimman" and qualified for the final from Heat 4; at the final on 12 March 2022, they gained 109 points and finished in 3rd place. They participated in Melodifestivalen 2024 with "Que Sera", finishing second in their heat on 2 March 2024 and qualifying to the final where they came second. They participated in Melodifestivalen 2026 with the song "Viva L'Amor", and performed in the third heat on 14 February 2026, where they qualified directly to the final on 7 March 2026. They placed third in the final.
Solo projects
Ali Jammali Ali Jammali collaborated with G Mansour co-writing 10 of the rappers 16-track album The Cage. He also recorded and produced the track alongside Sami Rekik in the Medina Studios.
Sami Rekik Sam-E has released his own solo releases including the album Om ni ba Wuisste and collaborated with other artists including with OIAM in "Avundsjuka", a charting hit on Sverigetopplistan. He has also collaborated with SödraSidan, Alpis, Petter, Anis Don Demina, Elias Abbas and many others.
In 2021, Sami Rekik under the mononym SAMI took part in Melodifestivalen 2021 with the song "90-talet" alongside member of duo SödraSidan Christopher Wahlberg under the stage name WAHL. The duo performed their song on 13 February 2021 during the second semi-final of the qualification round for Eurovision Song Contest for representing Sweden in Eurovision. WAHL featuring SAMI, the song came 6th of 7 acts during the night failing to qualify to the final or the Second Chance. However their song has charted in Sverigetopplistan, the official Swedish Singles Chart.
Discography
Albums YearAlbumPeak positionSWESwedishCharts.com: Medina discography2005Fullblod2007 7 dar2008 Mosh Normal (Tunisian album)2012 Hayat 2013 Sista Minuten 152015 Haffla Avenyn 62023 Tropicalisera
Mixtapes 2004: Rumble in Fiskayyet 2004: Varsågod de e gratis Vol 1 (free album online in 2005) 2009: Varsågod de e gratis Vol. 2 2010: Haffla Music Vol. 1 2010: Varsågod de e gratis Vol. 3 2011: Varsågod de e gratis Vol. 4 2011: Haffla Music Vol. 2 2012: Svarta tårar
Singles YearSinglePeak positionCertificationAlbum SWE2004"Magdansös" (aka "Medina Anthem (Magdansös)")48Rumble in Fiskayyet2005"Fortsätt gå" (aka "Zid Emchi (Fortsätt gå)")58Fullblod2012"Där palmerna bor"135× PlatinumHayat2013"Miss Decibel"2GoldSista Minuten2014"Se på mig nu"10"Doga Doga" (feat. Arash)–2015"Tills vi koolar"24Haffla Avenyn2022"In i dimman"2"Nema problema"—"Säg nåt"892023"Torka dina tårar"—"När krutet har lagt sig"—2024"Que Sera"1"Om igen"—2025"Genom eld & vatten"462026"Viva L'Amor"2
Notes
Discography: Ali Jammali Albums as songwriter 2010: The Cage (by G Mansour)Discogs: G Mansour - The Cage page Ali Jammali co-wrote 10 tracks from the 16-track album All tracks recorded and mixed by Ali Jammali & Sami Rekik at Medina Studios
Mixtapes Solo as Alibrorsh 2010: Parabol Paradis
Discography: Sami Rekik (using various names, mainly Sam-E, but also the mononym Sami (SAMI))
Albums Om ni ba Wuisste
Singles YearSinglePeak positionAlbumSWESwedishCharts.com: Sam-E discography2002"Riktiga proffs"(Fjärde Världen feat. Sam-E & Jesper)2014"Avundsjuka"(OIAM feat. Sam-E)26"Stoppa mig"(Alpis feat. Sam-E)2015"Kul på vägen"(Petter feat. Sam-E & Sara Zacharias)67Mitt folk"Till slut"(SödraSidan feat. Sam-E)2017"Utanför"42Anis2021"90-talet"(WAHL feat. SAMI)13SwedishCharts.com: Wahl feat. Sami discographyMelodifestivalen 2021"Flaggan i topp"4Underbarn
References
External links Official website