Kareem Rahma: The Creator Turning Street Talks Into Viral Content

Kareem Rahma is an Egyptian-born comedian, filmmaker, musician and digital creator who has built a distinctive place in online entertainment through conversations about everyday life

He is best known as the creator and host of SubwayTakes, a short-form interview series filmed on New York City subway trains.

The show invites guests to share unusual opinions and defend their personal viewpoints in quick, entertaining conversations.

Rahma’s content stands out because it gives ordinary opinions the attention usually reserved for major debates.

A guest might argue that restaurants should stop singing “Happy Birthday” or share an unexpected view about relationships, food or city life.

His journey reflects persistence and a willingness to experiment until he found a format that connected with a large audience.

In 2026, SubwayTakes reached another important milestone when it received a Primetime Emmy nomination.

That recognition helped bring further attention to Rahma and the unusual interview concept he developed independently.

This article explores who Kareem Rahma is, his early life, career, rise to popularity and the creative ideas behind his street-interview style.

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Who Is Kareem Rahma?

Kareem Rahma is a comedian, interviewer, filmmaker, musician and content creator best known for creating SubwayTakes.¹

The series features short conversations with people who share strong or unusual opinions while sitting on a New York City subway train.

Rahma was born in Cairo, Egypt and moved to Minnesota in the United States when he was seven years old. He later studied journalism at the University of Minnesota before moving to New York City.

His professional experience includes working at Vice and in the video department of The New York Times. Although many people know him mainly as a social media personality, Rahma has worked across several creative fields.

He has explored comedy, acting, music, poetry, film production and digital media. He has also been involved in projects that go beyond short-form entertainment.

His best-known project, SubwayTakes, began in 2023. The format is simple: Rahma asks a guest for their take on a subject and gives them a short space to explain it.

He may agree, disagree or challenge the guest, creating a conversation that feels spontaneous and entertaining. The show has featured everyday New Yorkers as well as public figures.

Its appeal comes from the idea that anyone can have an interesting opinion. A person does not need to be famous or professionally trained to take part in a lively discussion.

One detail worth clarifying is that SubwayTakes is not simply a series of random interviews with unsuspecting strangers.

Rahma has explained that guests are booked through a deliberate mix of personal connections, friends of friends and people he has met.

The conversations may feel casual but the show is produced with a clear format and editorial approach.

The worst part about running is actually going for a run!! Feat @runna

Runna knows the best runs are the ones you dread the most 🤝 https://t.co/iXC8cLgVXh

— SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma (@SubwayTakes) October 30, 2026

Early Life and Childhood

Kareem Rahma was born in Cairo and spent his early childhood in Egypt before moving with his family to a suburb outside St. Paul, Minnesota. Growing up between two cultures played an important role in shaping his personality and ability to communicate with different kinds of people.

When Rahma first moved to the United States, English was not a language he spoke comfortably. He has spoken about struggling in preschool because he could not communicate with other children.

In an interview with The Guardian, he recalled being sent home from preschool because of the language barrier and feeling isolated. His family spoke Arabic at home, while the world outside the house operated mainly in English.

As he grew older, he became more aware of the cultural differences between his family and the people around him. He has described being one of the few Muslim children in a largely white environment.

At first, he wanted to fit in. He learned how to adjust his behaviour and communication depending on the people around him.

Over time, that experience helped him become comfortable talking to people from different backgrounds. This ability to connect with people would later become central to his work.

SubwayTakes depends on making guests feel comfortable enough to share their thoughts in front of a camera.

Rahma’s childhood experiences may help explain why he is drawn to conversations with people who have different experiences and perspectives.

His early life was not limited to school. Rahma has also described working from a young age.

According to The Guardian, he held several jobs while he was still in middle school, including work as a telemarketer, busboy and McDonald’s line cook. He saved money to buy his first car as a teenager.

These experiences reflect a childhood shaped by adaptation, ambition and curiosity. Rather than following one fixed path, Rahma developed an interest in many different activities.

That tendency would continue throughout his adult life.

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Kareem Rahma’s Early Career Journey

Rahma attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. His education gave him a foundation in communication and storytelling.²

It also connected him with the media world that would become an important part of his career. While he was still a student, he gained experience in advertising and online media.

After graduating, he continued working in marketing and content-related roles. He later moved to New York City, where he worked at Vice and The New York Times video department.

These jobs gave him exposure to digital storytelling, video production and the business side of media. They also helped him understand how online content could reach audiences.

However, Rahma eventually realised that a traditional media career was not enough to satisfy his creative interests. He wanted to perform, make people laugh and develop projects of his own.

In 2019, he made a plan to focus seriously on becoming a comedian and entertainer. He was in his early thirties at the time.

Rather than treating his age as a reason to give up, he decided to work hard and build the career he wanted. His decision was not an instant success.

He tried different formats and creative ventures before finding a concept that gained widespread attention. That period of experimentation became an important part of his professional journey.

How Kareem Rahma Became Famous

Kareem Rahma became widely recognised through his online interview and entertainment projects. His popularity grew as he developed formats that were easy to understand but offered something different from conventional interviews.

One of his earlier projects was Keep the Meter Running. In this series, Rahma got into New York City taxis and asked drivers to take him to their favourite places.

The conversations offered viewers a look at the city through the experiences of the people who worked and lived there. The show was not just about visiting restaurants or discovering hidden locations.

It was also about listening to people whose stories might otherwise go unnoticed. Taxi drivers spoke about their favourite places and shared personal experiences while taking Rahma around the city.

The project helped establish his interest in informal conversations. It also showed that he could create engaging content without relying on celebrity guests or elaborate studio settings.

However, the format involved practical costs. Rahma needed to pay for the rides and production.

He eventually looked for another concept that would allow him to continue making videos with fewer expenses. That idea became SubwayTakes.

What Is SubwayTakes?

SubwayTakes is Kareem Rahma’s best-known digital interview series. It began in 2023 and is filmed on New York City subway trains.

The format is built around one simple question: “What’s your take?” Rahma asks a guest to share an opinion on a particular subject.

The guest then explains why they believe it. Rahma may challenge the idea or offer a different perspective.

The conversation is usually short, direct and often humorous. The subjects can be almost anything.

Some guests discuss food habits, dating, social behaviour or everyday annoyances. Others share opinions about culture, politics and larger social issues.

The show’s strength is its simplicity. It does not require a complicated set or a long introduction.

Viewers can understand the idea within seconds and quickly become interested in the guest’s answer. The subway setting also gives the series a recognisable identity.

Instead of filming in a studio, Rahma uses a familiar part of New York City as the show’s backdrop. The moving train adds energy and gives the interviews a distinctly urban atmosphere.

In an interview published by YouTube in August 2026, Rahma explained that he wanted to create a short-form show in which ordinary people could be treated like celebrities.

He also said that the subway offered an affordable filming location when he did not have the money to rent a studio.

This approach helped the series stand apart from traditional talk shows. It was designed as a complete short-form programme rather than a collection of clips taken from a longer studio interview.

Why Kareem Rahma’s Street Interviews Attract Attention

Kareem Rahma’s interviews attract viewers because they capture opinions that are often unexpected. People enjoy hearing someone defend an unusual belief or explain a point of view that they may never have considered.

Several elements help make the format engaging.

1. The opinions are easy to understand

The show often begins with a simple subject. Viewers do not need specialist knowledge to follow the conversation. Even a small disagreement about food or daily habits can become entertaining.

2. Guests have room to express themselves

Rahma gives guests an opportunity to explain their opinions rather than simply asking questions that require short yes-or-no answers. This creates space for personality and humour.

3. The conversations feel informal

The subway setting makes the interviews feel less formal than a conventional television programme. The guest and host are sitting close together and the conversation moves quickly.

4. The show mixes familiar people with public figures

The guest list includes everyday people as well as recognised names. This variety supports the show’s central idea that an interesting opinion can come from almost anyone.

5. The format works well on social media

Each conversation is short enough to watch on a phone. The central question also gives viewers an immediate reason to keep watching.

They may stay to hear the guest’s argument or to see whether Rahma agrees. These qualities have helped SubwayTakes become a recognisable online programme.

The series has also attracted attention beyond social media, including coverage from major publications and recognition from the television industry.

Other Creative Projects and Interests

Although SubwayTakes is his most recognisable project, Rahma has never limited himself to one type of entertainment. He has worked in film, music, poetry and comedy.³

His interest in different forms of storytelling has helped him build a career that reaches beyond online interviews.

Keep the Meter Running

Keep the Meter Running is another series that reflects Rahma’s interest in ordinary people and their experiences. He rides with taxi drivers and asks them to visit places they personally enjoy.

The project gives drivers an opportunity to talk about their city from their own perspective. It also creates a more personal portrait of New York than a typical travel video.

Film and Acting

Rahma has also worked as a filmmaker and actor. His film projects include Out of Order and Or Something. The latter is a feature film he co-wrote and starred in with Mary Neely.

His film work shows that he is interested in longer forms of storytelling as well as short online videos.

Music

Music is another part of Rahma’s creative life. He has performed with the band Tiny Gun and has explored indie rock.

His work as a musician gives him another way to express humour and personality.

Poetry and Writing

Rahma has also published poetry. One of his projects is We Were Promised Flying Cars, a collection of haikus about the future. This reflects his interest in short forms of creative expression.

Across these projects, a common theme is his willingness to experiment. He does not appear interested in building a career around only one medium.

Instead, he moves between different formats depending on the ideas he wants to explore.

Kareem Rahma and the 2026 Emmy Nomination

One of the major milestones in Rahma’s recent career came in 2026 when SubwayTakes received a Primetime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Short Form Series category.

The nomination was significant because the show began as an independently produced digital project. It was not originally created as a traditional television programme backed by a major studio.

YouTube’s August 2026 interview described the nomination as an important recognition for a creator-led series.

The article also explored Rahma’s approach to producing the show and his belief in making work without waiting for permission from established media companies.

The recognition suggests that short-form digital entertainment can be taken seriously as a distinct form of programming. It also highlights how a simple concept can grow into a project with a wider cultural reach.

For Rahma, the nomination was another step in a career that developed through experimentation rather than a conventional route through television or film.

Kareem Rahma’s Personal Life

Kareem Rahma generally keeps the focus of his public work on his creative projects. However, some details about his family life have appeared in interviews.

He is married to Karina Rahma. The couple welcomed their first child in 2024, according to interviews published by The Guardian and Esquire.

He has spoken about fatherhood and how becoming a parent has changed the way he thinks about his time and priorities.

Rahma has also discussed his Egyptian background and the experience of growing up as a Muslim child in Minnesota.

These experiences have influenced how he thinks about identity and belonging. Rather than making his background the only subject of his work, he often allows it to remain part of the wider perspective he brings to conversations.

His ability to connect with people from different backgrounds is one of the qualities that audiences notice in his interviews.

What Makes Kareem Rahma Different From Other Interviewers?

There are many creators who interview strangers in public places. What makes Rahma’s work different is the way he builds a show around the guest’s opinion rather than simply asking about their life or current activities.

The central question gives each episode a clear direction. It also gives the guest control over the subject they want to discuss.

A strong opinion can become the starting point for humour, disagreement or a surprisingly thoughtful conversation. Rahma’s approach also reflects his experience in media and marketing.

He understands the importance of a format that audiences can recognise quickly. The show’s visual setting, recurring question and short length make it easy to identify even when viewers encounter an individual clip without knowing the series.

At the same time, the programme is not built entirely around viral reactions. Its interviews often show a genuine interest in how people think.

Rahma has described the series as a place for conversation and debate rather than a competition to prove who is right. That balance between humour and curiosity is an important part of its appeal.

 

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FAQ’s

1. Who is Kareem Rahma?

Kareem Rahma is an Egyptian-born comedian, filmmaker, musician and digital creator. He is best known for hosting SubwayTakes, an interview series filmed on New York City subway trains.

2. What is Kareem Rahma famous for?

He is famous for SubwayTakes, a short-form show in which guests share unusual or strongly held opinions. Rahma responds to their views and turns the exchange into a quick conversation.

3. Where was Kareem Rahma born?

Kareem Rahma was born in Cairo, Egypt. He moved to Minnesota in the United States when he was seven years old.

4. What did Kareem Rahma study?

He studied journalism at the University of Minnesota and earned a bachelor’s degree.

5. Did Kareem Rahma work at Vice and The New York Times?

Yes. Before focusing on his own creative projects, Rahma worked at Vice and in the video department of The New York Times.

6. When did SubwayTakes start?

SubwayTakes began in 2023. It was created as a short-form interview show filmed on New York City subway trains.

Conclusion

Kareem Rahma’s journey shows how a creator can build a recognisable career by combining curiosity, persistence and a willingness to try new ideas.

Its mix of everyday people, public figures and unexpected viewpoints has helped it reach a wide audience. But Rahma’s career is about more than one viral show.

His work in film, music, poetry and other digital projects reflects a broader creative ambition. The 2026 Emmy nomination for SubwayTakes marks an important achievement and shows that independently created online programmes can earn recognition from the wider entertainment industry.

For viewers discovering Kareem Rahma through his street interviews, the appeal is easy to understand. His videos are funny and accessible but they also remind audiences that interesting conversations can happen anywhere.

Sometimes all it takes is one unusual opinion and someone willing to listen.

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1. theguardian
2. mspmag
3. esquire