Gorillaz new single 'Damascus' features Syrian singer Omar Souleyman, Yasiin Bey

Gorillaz's new single "Damascus" features famed Syrian singer Omar Souleyman and US rapper Yasiin Bey, taking listeners on an auditory journey spiced with Middle Eastern sounds.

The song is the latest drop from the animated band's upcoming album "The Mountain".

Souleyman, who has gained something of a cult following among English-speaking audiences, sings back-to-back with Bey in a song that combines both Arabic and English.

"No, my first love/If you were dirt I wouldn’t step on you," Souleyman says in one verse, according to Rolling Stone.

In another line, Bey - who has long been vocal in his support of the Palestinian cause - appears to take a dig at US coffee giant Starbucks - a company that has been a key target of those boycotting brands seen as supporting Israel.

"I say Hallelujah, Hallah, Yella, Yalla/ Turkish coffee, Starbucks, you're corny," Bey says in the song.

Social media users lauded the song's release, with many celebrating the nod to Syria.

"The only orientalism I approve of is when gorillaz does it (their new song "damascus" rules)," wrote one user on X.

"Damascus is such a fucking banger holy shit, this new Gorillaz record gonna hit so good," said another.

The release of Damascus follows "The Happy Dictator", "The God of Lying", and "The Manifesto" from the upcoming album.

The Mountain will also include features from DJ Bizarrap, Kara Jackson, and Anoushka Shankar.