Khaled Arnaaout, known as Big.K, was a Syrian rapper, executive producer, and co-founder of the Bilad El‑Sham movement. He was also a co-founder of the Syrian hip-hop group Sham MC’s, whose 2009 release is recognized as one of the first officially distributed Syrian rap albums to be sold in stores. Earlier, from the late 1990s through the early 2000s, he was a co-founder and member of the pioneering Syrian group Area 51.

Through his work as an artist, organizer, and producer, Big.K helped shape the early foundations of Syrian hip-hop and created space for a new generation of Arabic rap voices. His vision for Bilad El‑Sham united hip-hop with regional musical influences, cultural identity, social awareness, and the spirit of Levantine unity. Though he passed away in 2010, his influence remains at the heart of Bilad El‑Sham’s continuing legacy.