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Female Rapper Celebrates Driving in Saudi Arabia - with a Hip-Hop Video

by Nefertiti Jenkins

Leesa A is a hip-hop artist in Saudi Arabia, and she's celebrating the fact, that she can now legally drive a car in her home country. According to BBC News, the law officially changed on June 24, ending the decades-old ban, in which women in Saudi Arabia could not drive, and "families had to hire private chauffeurs for female relatives."


The change was announced last September, and the first licenses were issued earlier this month, according to the BBC. Soon after the ban was lifted, Leesa uploaded a rap video to Instagram and YouTube, showing the young woman, behind the wheel of a car spitting bars.

The video has been shared extensively on social media, including by actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who also included the lyrics translated in English, under her caption for her post on Instagram. According to the BBC, when Leesa refers to the tenth, that's a reference to the date of June 24, in the lunar-based Islamic calendar. Check out the video and English translated lyrics below.


Per Jada Pinkett Smith IG post -

Yo, you seem to be forgetting that today is the 10th
That means no need for taxis
The steering wheel in my hands
I smash the pedal under my foot
I won't need anyone to drive me
I'll help myself by myself
I've got the drivers license ready with me
So put the seat belt on the abaya (the outfit she's wearing)
And keep an eye on the sidewalks and the other on the mirror
R is for going back, D is for going seeda (straight)
Watch out for every car
If it was a Ford or Cressida, your life won't be great
Come! Pick me up! Take me there! Bring me back!
That'll ruin the plan
If you want me to come pick you up, you gotta pay up
Gas money! Don't underestimate it!
Debt! If you pay or don't that's still debt
"Careful, don't slam the door hard" that was before
Now if you slam it hard, I'll tie you with the seat belt

Now women can drive in Saudi Arabia and are spitt’n barzzzzzz! I love it @leesaseal . Yo, you seem to be forgetting that today is the 10th That means no need for taxis The steering wheel in my hands I smash the pedal under my foot I won’t need anyone to drive me I’ll help myself by myself I’ve got the drivers license ready with me So put the seat belt on the abaya (the outfit she’s wearing) And keep an eye on the sidewalks and the other on the mirror R is for going back, D is for going seeda (straight) Watch out for every car If it was a Ford or Cressida, your life won’t be great Come! Pick me up! Take me there! Bring me back! That’ll ruin the plan If you want me to come pick you up, you gotta pay up Gas money! Don’t underestimate it! Debt! If you pay or don’t that’s still debt “Careful, don’t slam the door hard” that was before Now if you slam it hard, I’ll tie you with the seat belt
A post shared by Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapinkettsmith) on

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