Egyptian Lover performs at Som Sevit as part of the Red Bull Music Academy Bass Camp in Seoul, South Korea on Sept. 29, 2017. Credit: SonStar / Red Bull Content Pool

There is no forgetting “Egypt, Egypt.”

The hit song from 1984 defined the decade and remains as recognizable as other hits from the same era including Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message.”

It also inspired an entire generation of would-be beatmakers to save up money to buy a Roland TR-808.

The cut forever changed its creator, too.

Egyptian Lover—born Gregory James Broussard, now 62 years old and still running Egyptian Empire Records—recently reflected on the hit in an interview with Spin magazine, detailing its meticulous creation, and how it still holds up today.

“When I hear it compared to the other songs, I hear how clean it is. I always remember that engineer trying to milk me for that money, making us all better. Even though he did it for money, I thank him because he made it sound great. It was worth it,” Broussard said.

Tickets to see Egyptian Lover at Zodiac in Ybor City on Friday, Aug. 7 are still available and start at $33.30.

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This article appears in August 06 – 12, 2026.