I’m going to be unconquerably optimistic and read these last couple of Syria-themed posts tacit resumption of an all too brief “Syria month” that delightfully graced this blog last May. Also in the spirit of Syria, I have decided to autocratically rename end of July and beg. August, “Syria II.” If any blogger should challenge me, consider “disappearance” into an abyss of nothingness your fate. And by “abyss of nothingness” I mean as a contributor to the Perez Hilton blog.

Moving on to more topical matters…although, at this point, I’m sure Omar O would want to disassociate himself from a post that intro-ed a clip of his work with excessive prattle. And the work in question is a track of his conceptually ingenious upcoming album “Syriana-Americana.” Damascus-rooted, Virginia native Omar Offendum puts his translation skills and rhythmic prowess to the test as he translates popular Arabic poems into English rap songs (and one in particular with a hook sung in Spanish) as well as translating English-language poets like Harlem Renaissance phenomenon Langston Hughes poetry into Arabic rap songs.

Famed Syrian poet and diplomat Nizar Qabbani provided the inspiration for much of the album, and in particular one that can be seen in this video clip on pretty much the most popular variety show on TV today-the likes of the DeGeneres, Walters, and O’Briens have nothing on these A-rab American hosts and, of course, their guests. “This is Damascus”:

Related posts:

1. Day 6: On Assignment From Damascus
2. Top Pleasant and Unpleasant experiences in Damascus
3. Damascus Film Festival
4. Tamer vs. Amr: The Battle for Arabic Pop Supremacy
5. E!Maam Skeet: Singing Saudi Superstar