rebetiko
what it is
Rebetiko is the Byzantine influenced folk song of early urban centres in Greece, Asia Minor, Alexandria and also the USA, performed by Greek immigrants to the states from Greece. immigration is one moto of the rebetiko tradition, relevant to the wave of immigrants that traveled to Greece from asia minor after the defeat of the Greek army by kemal and the neoturks. Other common places in rebetiko is love, everyday life, conflicts with the police, including the use of guns and finally drugs.
✦ start here: albums



✦ who's making it, level by level
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make rebetiko a playlist
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✦ nearby genres
questions
What is rebetiko?
Rebetiko is the Byzantine influenced folk song of early urban centres in Greece, Asia Minor, Alexandria and also the USA, performed by Greek immigrants to the states from Greece. immigration is one moto of the rebetiko tradition, relevant to the wave of immigrants that traveled to Greece from asia minor after the defeat of the Greek army by kemal and the neoturks. Other common places in rebetiko is love, everyday life, conflicts with the police, including the use of guns and finally drugs.
What are good rebetiko albums to start with?
Try Greek-Oriental Rebetica Songs & Dances by Rita Abadzi, Cannabis Indica in Rebetika Songs Recordings 1931-1946 by Markos Vamvakaris, The Popular Guide to Greek Music Rebetika Recordings 1930-1950 by Stratos Payoumtzis, and To Rebetiko Perivoli by Sotiria Belou, Michalis Violaris, Keti Abavi, Giorgos Mouflouzelis.
Who are some women making rebetiko?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/rebetiko/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making rebetiko, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21


