Born in Oslo, Norway in 1986, the attention surrounding Arif (previously kn… Read Full Bio ↴Born in Oslo, Norway in 1986, the attention surrounding Arif (previously known as Phil T. Rich) excelled after his debut release EP "Kom, Så, Tok, Færdiih" in August 2012, where Arif demonstrated his unusually playful and uncompromising style of rap.

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.

Intro
Arif Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tilbake der vi starta mutherfucker
Tilbake der vi starta
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Dopflow, dopflow
Ekke rart, faren min var en narkoman og en dopdealer, yo
Søppelsekker fylt med tusenlapper inni skapet
Mamma løy, sa han negern jobbet inni banken
Romantisk tanke, jeg så jo opp til han

Han var jo høyere enn taket (yeah, yeah)
Livet på Bogerud
Vi lekte i en sølepytt
Joe Erling Jahr kalte oss neger når han gikk forbi
De drepte Benjamin, de drepte Benjamin
De fittenazistene var voksne og vi var bare kids men
Dette er ikke jovial shit
Det ekke for de lytterne
Dette er for gangene vi sloss og poppa hyppere
Fikk på pepper, ble Machiavelli
Røyka weed, våkne to netter, sov på belly (yeah)
Dreper meg at jeg ikke var der når du ble gravlagt
Så denne her går til Barstad
Negern din har starta

Kom inn på stedet som her var det liv mor, eller hva Gina?
Hva faen kan dem si bror, som jeg ikke har sagt
De vil ha meg på min rapshit
Snakke om bitches som er ratchet
De vil ha meg på min fleksnes-shit
Er i 2020, hør på min gamle shit
(Kan du snu nå, kan du snu nå)
Bare gjort det i to år, flowen er mye fetere enn sumo
Du må slutte å henge på min pikk
Silkeboxern er dobbel xl nå
Liten by, store drømmer
Så opp til Gs, tomme tønner
Fuck gaver til jul, bare trøbbel
Ventet på Gud, svåre bønner
Eneste vi gjorde var drømme fire bønner
Halla på nå billig høne hvis en stunner var en?
Gi sex nå, gi sex nå, (hvis du skjønner) ha på fisk som er nystekt nå
Vi ses når du vi få, du vil få
Hver helg, eneste jeg duger for
Lover deg gull og grønne skoger men vet at negern har jugekors
Åh spiller, ikke hat fordi du er en innbytter
Gjør tingen, alle rundt meg spiser
Jeg Spiser
Axxe spiser
Filip spiser
Nora spiser
Baws spiser

Fuck nominasjoner, fuck priser
For folket, alltid vært det, alltid sagt det

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Arif's "Intro" take us back to his childhood and upbringing in a neighborhood called Bogerud. He confronts the harsh and painful realities of growing up in a challenging environment, with a father who was a drug addict and dealer, and a mother who lied about his father's employment. Arif's perspective is that of an outsider, a young boy who witnessed violence, racism, and death while struggling to find his identity, purpose, and voice. He acknowledges his admiration for his father, who was seen as a hero despite his flaws, and his own journey to self-discovery through music and rap.

Arif's "Intro" is a powerful piece of music that reflects his personal and cultural experiences, challenges, and aspirations. The lyrics are raw, honest, and emotional, highlighting his talent as a rapper and storyteller. The song sets the tone for his album, setting a personal and honest narrative that resonates with many listeners. The themes of pain, loss, struggle, and hope are universal, and Arif's delivery is compelling and authentic.

Line by Line Meaning

Tilbake der vi starta mutherfucker
Returning to the place where we began, motherfucker

Tilbake der vi starta
Returning to the place where we began

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Indicating agreement or excitement

Dopflow, dopflow
Referring to the flow of drugs

Ekke rart, faren min var en narkoman og en dopdealer, yo
It's not surprising, my father was a drug addict and dealer, yo

Søppelsekker fylt med tusenlapper inni skapet
Trash bags filled with thousands of bills in the closet

Mamma løy, sa han negern jobbet inni banken
Mom lied, said he worked at the bank

Romantisk tanke, jeg så jo opp til han
A romantic thought, I looked up to him

Han var jo høyere enn taket (yeah, yeah)
He was taller than the ceiling (yeah, yeah)

Livet på Bogerud
Life on Bogerud

Vi lekte i en sølepytt
We played in a puddle

Joe Erling Jahr kalte oss neger når han gikk forbi
Joe Erling Jahr called us niggers when he walked by

De drepte Benjamin, de drepte Benjamin
They killed Benjamin, they killed Benjamin

De fittenazistene var voksne og vi var bare kids men
The fucking Nazis were adults and we were just kids but

Dette er ikke jovial shit
This is not jovial shit

Det ekke for de lytterne
It's not for the listeners

Dette er for gangene vi sloss og poppa hyppere
This is for the times we fought and popped more frequently

Fikk på pepper, ble Machiavelli
Got in trouble, became Machiavelli

Røyka weed, våkne to netter, sov på belly (yeah)
Smoked weed, woke up for two nights, slept on belly (yeah)

Dreper meg at jeg ikke var der når du ble gravlagt
It kills me that I wasn't there when you were buried

Så denne her går til Barstad
So this one goes to Barstad

Negern din har starta
Your nigger has started

Kom inn på stedet som her var det liv mor, eller hva Gina?
Come to the place where there was life, mother, or what Gina?

Hva faen kan dem si bror, som jeg ikke har sagt
What the fuck can they say bro, that I haven't said

De vil ha meg på min rapshit
They want me on my rap shit

Snakke om bitches som er ratchet
Talking about bitches who are ratchet

De vil ha meg på min fleksnes-shit
They want me on my Fleksnes shit

Er i 2020, hør på min gamle shit
It's 2020, listen to my old shit

(Kan du snu nå, kan du snu nå)
(Can you turn now, can you turn now)

Bare gjort det i to år, flowen er mye fetere enn sumo
I've only been doing it for two years, the flow is much fatter than sumo

Du må slutte å henge på min pikk
You have to stop hanging on my dick

Silkeboxern er dobbel xl nå
The silk boxers are double xl now

Liten by, store drømmer
Small town, big dreams

Så opp til Gs, tomme tønner
Looked up to Gs, empty barrels

Fuck gaver til jul, bare trøbbel
Fuck Christmas gifts, just trouble

Ventet på Gud, svåre bønner
Waiting for God, difficult prayers

Eneste vi gjorde var drømme fire bønner
The only thing we did was dream four prayers

Halla på nå billig høne hvis en stunner var en?
Hey now cheap chick if a stunner was one?

Gi sex nå, gi sex nå, (hvis du skjønner) ha på fisk som er nystekt nå
Give sex now, give sex now, (if you understand) have fish that's freshly cooked now

Vi ses når du vi få, du vil få
We'll see each other when we get you, you'll get it

Hver helg, eneste jeg duger for
Every weekend, the only thing I'm good for

Lover deg gull og grønne skoger men vet at negern har jugekors
Promise you gold and green forests but know that the nigger has a lying cross

Åh spiller, ikke hat fordi du er en innbytter
Oh player, don't hate because you're a substitute

Gjør tingen, alle rundt meg spiser
Do the thing, everyone around me eats

Jeg Spiser
I eat

Axxe spiser
Axxe eats

Filip spiser
Filip eats

Nora spiser
Nora eats

Baws spiser
Baws eats

Fuck nominasjoner, fuck priser
Fuck nominations, fuck awards

For folket, alltid vært det, alltid sagt det
For the people, always been it, always said it