They formed in 2000 in Oslo, Norway and released their first EP in 2004, Glasskår. They later released their first full-lenght album titled Rett fra hjertet in 2006.
Karpe Diem was established when the two wanted to enter a music competition, which they ended up winning with the song "Hvor er Willy?" and have been rapping together ever since.
They have performed live at more than 200 shows and the number is just growing. Karpe Diem is notorious for their sarcastic and politically engaged lyrics, and for their down-to-earth and nobel personalities.
On March 5th, 2011, they received the greatest Norwegian musical prize there is, "Årets Spellemann".
This was the first time in history that a hip-hop/rap group received this award.
Discography:
2006 - "Rett fra hjertet"
2008 - "4 vegger"
2010 - "Aldri solgt en løgn"
2012 - "Kors på halsen, ti kniver i hjertet, mor og far i døden"
2015 - "Heisann Montebello"
2019 - "SAS PLUS / SAS PUSSY"
2022 - "Omar Sheriff"
Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
KarPe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
Ankerbarna dine kom, så mokkamenn kan vinne i lotteri?
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
De sa de kom fra fattigdom, men hadde råd til båt hit
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
Hunder født i staller er'ke hester eller gårsdyr
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
(Alle skal bli knulla)
Mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla
Dere er alle av samme ulla
(Alle skal bli knulla)
Mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla
Om du visste hva jeg ville gi for å bli som deg
Bli som deg, baba, bli som deg
Om du visste hva jeg ville gi for å bli som deg, din feiging
Og det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din, din feiging
Jeg skiter i om du er Tshawe eller Vinz eller Nico
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
Du er kanskje kul i dag, men hun gifter seg med Kygo
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
Har du hijaben i baksetet, skal hun bli muslim nå?
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
Jeg er ikke rasist, men skal liksom liksom-passet ditt bety noe?
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
Plukker frukt i våre haver
(Du blir aldri skandinaver)
NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer
Plukker frukt i våre haver
(Du blir aldri skandinaver)
NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer
Om du visste hva jeg ville gi for å bli som deg
Bli som deg, baba, bli som deg
Om du visste hva jeg ville gi for å bli som deg, din feiging
Og det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din, din feiging
Gutta mine bare: «fuck, fy faen, fy søren
Hvem passer på purken, hvem klipper frisøren?»
Stiller provoserte spørsmål, kvasi-smarte
Drikker Nikka, røyker noe som gjør de asiater
Til noen sier hver regjering trenger sin ape
Alle synes at det er et godt ordspill
For det betyr to ting
Og det er på en måte kravet for noe sånt, yeah
Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Svartinga mine sa noen kloke ord:
«Karpe har åpna nok dører nå, på tide å lukke noen»
Hvis ikke Arif eller Kaveh eller asylbarna slipper inn
Hva faen skal du gjøre da, bror?
Si det til Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Lett å være rebell i leiligheten din
Tett av skjelett i kjellerleiligheten min
Jeg kommer til å ende opp som deg feig
Oh lord, oh lord, kan du tilgi Lillelord
For å ville ha bil og båt nei
Oh lord, oh lord, kan du tilgi Lillelord
For å ville ha bil og båt nei
The lyrics of KarPe's song "Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din" address various social and political issues, including immigration, racism, and cultural integration. In the first verse, the lyrics express frustration with the government's allocation of funds to aid immigrants and refugees, questioning the rationale behind allowing refugees to come to Norway while some locals are struggling to make ends meet. The reference to "Apekatter i min blokk og Abu Bakr i min cockpit" highlights the fear and paranoia towards immigrants and Muslims, as some may inaccurately associate them with terrorism.
The second verse takes a more personal tone, criticizing those who adopt a "rebellious" persona without actually taking any real risks or action. The chorus emphasizes the ease of being a rebel in the comfort of one's home, without actually risking anything, calling out those who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. The third verse shifts focus to the issue of race and cultural integration, insinuating that no matter how well someone may adapt to the Norwegian culture, they will always be seen as outsiders by the natives.
Overall, the song sheds light on the underlying tensions and conflicts present in Norwegian society, addressing themes of fear, mistrust, and social inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
Apekatter i min blokk og Abu Bakr i min cockpit?
There are monkeys in my neighbourhood and people with extremist beliefs flying planes?
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
(Is this where my tax money is going?)
Ankerbarna dine kom, så mokkamenn kan vinne i lotteri?
Did you bring in refugees so that people with darker skin can win the lottery?
De sa de kom fra fattigdom, men hadde råd til båt hit
They said they were poor, but could afford a boat to get here
Hunder født i staller er'ke hester eller gårsdyr
Dogs born in a stable are not horses or farm animals
(Er det dette skattepenga mine går til?)
(Is this where my tax money is going?)
Dere er alle av samme ulla
You are all the same
(Alle skal bli knulla)
(Everyone will be screwed)
Mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla, mulla
Imam, imam, imam, imam, imam
Om du visste hva jeg ville gi for å bli som deg
If you knew what I would give to be like you
Bli som deg, baba, bli som deg
Become like you, father, become like you
Og det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
And it's so easy to be a rebel in your basement apartment
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din
It's so easy to be a rebel in your basement apartment
Det er så lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din, din feiging
It's so easy to be a rebel in your basement apartment, you coward
Jeg skiter i om du er Tshawe eller Vinz eller Nico
I don't care if you're Tshawe, Vinz or Nico
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
(Are you the one taking my daughter to the movies?)
Du er kanskje kul i dag, men hun gifter seg med Kygo
You may be cool today, but she'll marry Kygo
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
(Are you the one taking my daughter to the movies?)
Har du hijaben i baksetet, skal hun bli muslim nå?
If you have a hijab in the back seat, will she become a Muslim now?
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
(Are you the one taking my daughter to the movies?)
Jeg er ikke rasist, men skal liksom liksom-passet ditt bety noe?
I'm not a racist, but is having a passport supposed to mean something?
(Er det du som skal med dattera mi på kino?)
(Are you the one taking my daughter to the movies?)
Plukker frukt i våre haver
Picking fruit in our gardens
(Du blir aldri skandinaver)
(You'll never be Scandinavians)
NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer
Welfare, welfare, welfare, welfare, welfare
Plukker frukt i våre haver
Picking fruit in our gardens
(Du blir aldri skandinaver)
(You'll never be Scandinavians)
NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer, NAVer
Welfare, welfare, welfare, welfare, welfare
Gutta mine bare: «fuck, fy faen, fy søren
My boys just say: 'fuck, damn, damn'
Hvem passer på purken, hvem klipper frisøren?»
Who watches the cops, who cuts the hairdresser's hair?'
Stiller provoserte spørsmål, kvasi-smarte
Posing provocative questions, quasi-smart
Drikker Nikka, røyker noe som gjør de asiater
Drinking Nikka, smoking something that makes them Asian
Til noen sier hver regjering trenger sin ape
Until someone says every government needs its monkey
Alle synes at det er et godt ordspill
Everyone thinks it's a good pun
For det betyr to ting
Because it means two things
Og det er på en måte kravet for noe sånt, yeah
And that's kind of the requirement for something like that, yeah
Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Svartinga mine sa noen kloke ord:
My black friend said some wise words:
«Karpe har åpna nok dører nå, på tide å lukke noen»
"Karpe has opened enough doors now, it's time to close some"
Hvis ikke Arif eller Kaveh eller asylbarna slipper inn
If Arif or Kaveh or asylum children don't get in
Hva faen skal du gjøre da, bror?
What the hell are you gonna do then, brother?
Si det til Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Tell it to Anders, Anders, Anders Anundsen
Lett å være rebell i leiligheten din
Easy to be a rebel in your apartment
Tett av skjelett i kjellerleiligheten min
Full of skeletons in my basement apartment
Jeg kommer til å ende opp som deg feig
I'm gonna end up like you, coward
Oh lord, oh lord, kan du tilgi Lillelord
Oh lord, oh lord, can you forgive Lillelord?
For å ville ha bil og båt nei
For wanting a car and a boat, no
Oh lord, oh lord, kan du tilgi Lillelord
Oh lord, oh lord, can you forgive Lillelord?
For å ville ha bil og båt nei
For wanting a car and a boat, no
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chiraq Patel, Eirik Saga, Magdi Abdelmaguid, Martin Tjarnberg, Thomas Kongshavn, Tobias Jimson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thenarfer
ENGLISH EXPLANATION: The song was based on racist comments from online forums (see examples below). In a conform society like Norway, subtle racism has profound consequences for people trying to gain approval. When you have a non-native look or name, the road to approval and being seen as normal in the eyes of others can be long, as depicted by the "Paradis" rock-throwing game lighting up at the end of the video.
Being seen as normal in the eyes of others in an essential part of the video as the black eyes of the participants labels them unchangeably as different. The only resolve would be to hide your eyes, your looks, your clothes, your name and identity. The question remains: "Is looking, acting, dressing, etc. as a Norwegian the only way to be seen as a Norwegian?"
The insects in the video show how, in racist debate forums, immigrants are labeled as unworthy, leeching members of society. Though, in the video, we see the insects as struggling individuals in need of a helping hand.
The end of the video (slaughter house etc.) is a rant against the politicians and the public debate where words are politically correct and those with clever words set the agenda. There is also an appeal to not be a coward and go with the political norms, but instead open up the debate and speak truthfully about the issues, such as presented in this video.
In the last two phrases of the song he asks for forgiveness for wanting a car, a boat, essentially normal life goals for a Norwegian family. The problem being that wishing for these things are, by some, perceived as greed when you or your family has an immigration background.
Racist Online Comments as part of the lyrics:
"Monkeys in my apartment building and Abu Bakr in my cockpit? Is this what my tax money is going to?"
"Your anchor-children came here, so that mocca-men can follow and win the lottery. Is this what my tax money is going to?"
"They said they came from poverty, but they could afford a boat to come here. Is this what my tax money is going to?"
"Dogs born in stables are not horses or useful/domestic animals. Is this what my tax money is going to?"
@shemanahassan5518
I think karpe diem is the most underrated musical artist i've come across so far..!
They definitely should be internationally recognized, so amazingly relevant and meaningful, compared to a lot of lifeless music nowadays <3 <3
@cronchybread8177
agree
@UserName23567
Enig
@francescascalera8537
One of the best song i've ever heard. Reading the words in english, understanding them and then coming back to watch the video again gave me goosebumps.
@akselp
Ingen stor Karpe-fan, men denne låta sier mer om Norge enn Frp har å si klart på 40 år. Ja, jeg er feig. Men ikke så feig som mange andre. Lenge leve Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid og Chirag Rashmikant Patel. De er det beste som kunnes skjedd Norge, og forhåpentligvis skjønner nok folk det. Verset ditt på slutten er ren power Chirag, all respekt for alltid.
@yellownapkins9922
Jeg elsker denne låten
@HellaNGMusic
Forandring kommer aldri fra toppen og nedover, men fra bunnen og oppover. Utrolig bra at dere setter ord på denne saken i en fantastisk fengende sang, Karpe. Er det virkelig så galt at de som ikke har en dritt, også ønsker et ordentlig liv?
@guledgcg3091
I hvertfall ikkje positive forandringer
@kaysmilepeacelove
Wow, this is so powerful. I don't understand the words, but I can still feel so much of the power. This is amazing. I wish here in America we listened to foreign music as a regular thing. Cause this is fantastic.
@AngieAJ
It's about discrimination and how easy it is to be an asshoel online.