In early 2014, Arif signed a career management deal with Nora Collective. While working on his long-play debut, Arif released one of the biggest urban hits of the summer of 2014; “Lowkey” and in January 2015, he released the radio-friendly “Kanke Gi Opp” (feat. Magnus Eliassen), the first single from the April 2015 album “HighEnd / Asfalt” - raising the expectations for his album debut even further.
Background:
In the wake of the critically acclaimed EP, along with the national hit “Gal”, Arif was named Untouched Artist of The Year - a prestigeful aknowledgement for new, independent artists, presented by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). After his performance at Norwegian music festival by:Larm, Arif was hailed as a rising star by VG, P3, Dagbladet and Aftenposten - some of Norway’s largest media outlets. This paved the way for a career step in the right direction when major label EMI/Warner Music Group signed Arif in early 2013. He released his well recieved sophomore-EP “Aldri & Alltid” in the fall of 2013, which had a more dark and serious theme than his debut release.
Arif’s music and impressively energetic live performances, combined with his charismatic appearance, has helped earn Arif gigs at the biggest festivals, his own t-shirt collection together with the Varner Group, as well as several radio and TV performances, including a guest role in TV show “Helt Perfekt” with comedian Thomas Giertsen.
Flammer
Arif Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Når Madcon lagde "Beggin", når Karpe Diem kom og redda verden
Satt jeg i en kjellerleilighet med mor'n min ned på Haslum
Tenkte: "Fuck dette livet, vi fortjener mye bedre"
Kom inn uten noen rapbeef eller [?] snakk
Hakke no' manager fra Idol, jeg sa nei takk
Vi lagde lego som var som en paraply
Hakke no' bondelåter, hakke no OL-låter
Fuck outta here, den shitten der er corny
Pass it, TP, Nord og ne, Jørgen, åpna dører, vår tur
Midt i tåken av O-S-L-O
Røyker på no' grønt og lilla sånn som Donatello
Åpner kjeften hennes som en tannlege
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Alle med homies kom opp uten hjelp
Busy med å synge, snakker om deg
Du vet da vi kom og vi lagde vår vei
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
Lukk øyne, bare rim med, nigga
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
Fuck alle, for vi lever nå
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
Mens de lå og sov, så går vi på jobb
Mamma vet vi må
Lukk øyne, bare rim med, nigga
Endelig har dem åpna Kolsås banen
Fra Skullerud til Haslum, du kjenner hele saken
Damer syns jeg er digg, jeg ser bedre ut naken (god damn!)
Jeg retta håret for å passe inn
Men det stod fortsatt neger på det norske passet mitt
Kjøpte bestemor en Jeep Cherokee
Kjøpte onkel'n min en van, neger'n ville kjøre taxi
Du finner meg i byen min, byen min
Kjører rundt i sykkel'n min, sykkel'n min
For en enkel mann, enkel glede
Enkeltmannsforetak, men jeg har et par gjeller
Fatter'n var en OG, grønn 300 benzo
Shitten var så slick, kunne hett Lorenzo
Etter; enda en classic "Kjølig"
High-End / Asfalt, enda en classic
Shit, nigga
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Alle med homies kom opp uten hjelp
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
The lyrics of Arif's song Flammer are about embracing one's identity and heritage, despite facing adversity. In the first verse, the singer reflects on his past and the struggles he faced growing up. However, he refuses to let those struggles define his future, rejecting any potential rap beef or record label deals that go against his values. Instead, he focuses on his passion for music with his companions and takes pride in their successes. The chorus serves as a rallying cry for those who have also faced discrimination, telling them to close their eyes and rhyme freely without fear of judgment. The second verse highlights the singer's confidence in his abilities, referencing his good looks, success, and acceptance of his racial identity. He moves past any obstacles and remains present in his city, using his voice and experiences to make meaningful art.
Overall, Flammer promotes positivity, self-love, and unity. The song encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and their roots, not letting anyone else's opinions or societal pressures hold them back. It also showcases Arif's lyrical prowess and his ability to mix personal anecdotes with uplifting messages.
Line by Line Meaning
Lukk øynene, bare rim med en nigga
Close your eyes, just rhyme with a black person
Når Madcon lagde 'Beggin', når Karpe Diem kom og redda verden
When Madcon made 'Beggin', when Karpe Diem came and saved the world
Satt jeg i en kjellerleilighet med mor'n min ned på Haslum
I was sitting in a basement apartment with my mother in Haslum
Tenkte: 'Fuck dette livet, vi fortjener mye bedre'
Thought: 'Fuck this life, we deserve much better'
Kom inn uten noen rapbeef eller [?] snakk
Came in without any rap beef or [?] talk
Hakke no' manager fra Idol, jeg sa nei takk
Don't have any manager from Idol, I said no thanks
Vi lagde lego som var som en paraply
We made Lego that was like an umbrella
Som når det regner på meg, drypper det på mine Gs
Like when it rains on me, it drips on my gang
Hakke no' bondelåter, hakke no OL-låter
Don't have any country songs, don't have any Olympic songs
Fuck outta here, den shitten der er corny
Fuck outta here, that shit is corny
Pass it, TP, Nord og ne, Jørgen, åpna dører, vår tur
Pass it, TP, Nord and Ne, Jørgen, opened doors, our turn
Midt i tåken av O-S-L-O
In the midst of the fog of O-S-L-O
Røyker på no' grønt og lilla sånn som Donatello
Smoking on some green and purple like Donatello
Åpner kjeften hennes som en tannlege
Open her mouth like a dentist
Fucker med neger, bare lev
Fuck with black people, just live
Alle med homies kom opp uten hjelp
Everyone with homies came up without help
Busy med å synge, snakker om deg
Busy singing, talking about you
Du vet da vi kom og vi lagde vår vei
You know when we came and made our way
Akkurat som de har noe å si
Just like they have something to say
Fresh to death, som jeg var en jævla lyd
Fresh to death, like I was a fucking sound
For vi ser det de ikke ser, ikke ser
Because we see what they don't see, don't see
Overalt ting, ikke tenk, ikke tenk
Everything everywhere, don't think, don't think
Endelig har dem åpna Kolsås banen
Finally they opened the Kolsås line
Fra Skullerud til Haslum, du kjenner hele saken
From Skullerud to Haslum, you know the whole story
Damer syns jeg er digg, jeg ser bedre ut naken (god damn!)
Ladies think I'm hot, I look better naked (god damn!)
Jeg retta håret for å passe inn
I straightened my hair to fit in
Men det stod fortsatt neger på det norske passet mitt
But 'neger' was still on my Norwegian passport
Kjøpte bestemor en Jeep Cherokee
Bought grandma a Jeep Cherokee
Kjøpte onkel'n min en van, neger'n ville kjøre taxi
Bought my uncle a van, the black guy wanted to drive a taxi
Du finner meg i byen min, byen min
You can find me in my city, my city
Kjører rundt i sykkel'n min, sykkel'n min
Riding around on my bike, my bike
For en enkel mann, enkel glede
For a simple man, simple pleasure
Enkeltmannsforetak, men jeg har et par gjeller
Sole proprietorship, but I have a couple of flaws
Fatter'n var en OG, grønn 300 benzo
Dad was an OG, green 300 benz
Shitten var så slick, kunne hett Lorenzo
The shit was so slick, could have been named Lorenzo
Etter; enda en classic 'Kjølig'
After; yet another classic 'Kjølig'
High-End / Asfalt, enda en classic
High-End / Asphalt, yet another classic
Shit, nigga
Shit, nigga
Lukk øyne, bare rim med, nigga
Close your eyes, just rhyme with a black person
Hva kan dem, hva kan dem si?
What can they, what can they say?
Fuck alle, for vi lever nå
Fuck everyone, because we're alive now
Mens de lå og sov, så går vi på jobb
While they were sleeping, we were going to work
Mamma vet vi må
Mom knows we have to
Lukk øyne, bare rim med, nigga
Close your eyes, just rhyme with a black person
Contributed by Camden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Selina Jeanette
on Flexnes
Where is the french part?