In part two of our feature on Norway’s most famous musical act, the duo who inspired viral dance crew Quick Style shares how their music channels resistance in the face of racism
Musical duo Karpe, which consists of Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid who is of Egyptian-Norwegian descent and Chirag Rashmikant Patel who is of Indian descent, has been making waves in Norway’s music industry since they started rapping in 2000. The pair began making music together when “I told my parents I didn’t want to be a doctor, and instead I chose to do music,” Patel tells Tatler. “I had no choice but to be successful”.
At first, the duo set out to impress the local music industry, but as their popularity grew, their creative output evolved. But at the very beginning, the pair had turned to rap and hip-hop as these genres felt “so uncensored and different”, says Abdelmaguid.
Read part one here: Meet Karpe, the Norwegian duo who cracked the code on fusion music and sing about being immigrant kids
“Hip-hop didn’t care about anything other than the neighbourhood for which it was made in, which was super-appealing to me,” Patel adds.
This same unapologetic and unyielding characteristic is reflected in the songs of Omar Sheriff, their latest and most successful project. This album, which reflects an unabashed amalgamation of all their cultural influences, allows them to showcase their experience authentically rather than translate it. By sparking curiosity and inviting viewers to discover their world, they have managed to connect with fans in a more intimate way while still effectively delivering their message.
Striking a balance between creating music that’s audibly pleasing yet still has a substantial, layered message has been the key to the duo’s success and that of Omar Sheriff’s. “You want it to work sonically,” Patel says. “Even though it means a lot to Magdi in Arabic, I can tell him if it doesn’t fit in the song.”
“We adapt it to everyone in the room,” Abdelmaguid says, demonstrating the collaborative nature of process and how the pair acts as sounding boards for each other. “I can tell Chirag when he sings in Gujarati what it sounds like for someone who doesn’t speak [Gujarati], and if it works or not.”
This openness has allowed for an experimental space where unexpected humour is welcome. “What I thought was really interesting was Chirag’s vision of making Indian accent not funny but cool,” Abdelmaguid says.
