Marwan Pablo, the renowned rapper from Alexandria whose real name is Marwan Motawea, is officially a fully-fledged Diesel brand ambassador, to which he reveals “I am thrilled to partner with a brand that matches my spirit and is as driven as Diesel.”
It’s a strategic partnership for both the rapper and retailer, as creative director Glenn Marten’s vision now has the attention of Pablo’s 1 million and counting Instagram followers. The artist, who has solidified his status as a trailblazer in the realm of Egyptian hip-hop, in turn, has access to clothes and accessories that complement his bold style. The partnership also speaks to the growing relationship between luxury brands and rappers. Hip-hop is undoubtedly the most relevant genre right now that speaks to our generation, and it’s only natural that designers are inspired to work with those at the forefront of the movement.
The move underscores Diesel’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle Eastern market. The Diesel flagship store perched on the ground floor of the world’s busiest shopping center, The Dubai Mall, recently reopened its doors in November— the event was marked with an exhilarating rave, in which Pablo was a surprise performer.
Below, five facts about Diesel’s newest brand ambassador for the Middle East, Marwan Pablo.
Why Marwan Pablo?
Born Marwan Ahmed Metaweh on November 22, 1995, Pablo’s stage moniker pays homage to two iconic figures: Pablo Picasso and Pablo Escobar, as revealed in his 2019 single, Free.
He wasn’t always Marwan Pablo, though
When he first emerged on the scene in 2015, he released singles under the name Dama. He changed his name to Marwan Pablo in 2017, with the release of his single, El Gholaf x Ozoris.
This isn’t his first foray into fashion
The 28-year-old co-founded a streetwear label called Barrarserb in 2023.
Lil Wayne inadvertently inspired him to start making music
In a previous interview with GQ, Pablo recalled how he was an avid fan of rappers Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Eminem when he was younger. After accidentally downloading an instrumental of one of Lil Wayne’s songs, he felt inspired to start writing over the beat. “One day, when I was 13 or 14, I was in an internet cafe downloading a Lil Wayne song, and the track turned out to be just the instrumental, the concept of which I hadn’t been exposed to before,” he told the publication. “I felt I could write something over the beat, and it started from there. I had feelings inside of me that I needed to get out, and I had already experimented with other forms of expression, but I found myself in music.”
He retired briefly
On Feb. 14, 2020, Pablo sent shockwaves across the industry when he announced his retirement from music, citing personal and religious reasons. He subsequently wiped his YouTube and Instagram accounts, before explaining that his exit was due to overwhelming pressure and unrealistic expectations. Needing time to “recharge,” he made his highly-anticipated return to music in 2021.
