The Kult of Karpe

Karpe, Norway’s biggest musical stars, have consistently shattered expectations. The rappers speak to Tatler about what it means to be beacons of light for generations of immigrants and their descendants

By Aaina Bhargava.

East-west fusion elicits a mixed bag of reactions; sometimes it hits, but sometimes it just doesn’t, whether it’s in food, art, dance or music. It’s difficult to strike the right balance because there is no formula. But Norwegian rap duo Karpe might have cracked the code. Imagine this surreal scene: a 2,000-strong, predominantly Norwegian crowd in a packed theatre in north London belting out Allah Allah ya baba (Allah Allah, oh Father) at the top of their lungs. Standing on a raised podium in the middle of the floor section, Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid, who is of Egyptian and Norwegian descent, raises his hand and sings the next line of the duo’s hit song: “Wa salam alaik ya baba” or “And peace be upon you”. Fans of all cultural backgrounds…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2023

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