Rhetoric of Infestation in Karpe Diem’s «Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din»

My research into Norwegian hip hop is ever evolving. I keep finding new artists and songs everyday, but the one group that has really caught my attention is Karpe Diem, a group that consists of Magdi (Egyptian/Norwegian) and Chirag (Indian/Norwegian). Their 2015–2016 project Heisann Montebello (Hello Montebello) exists as a political statement on behalf of individuals who ask, as Pumba puts it, «Hvor faen jeg ifra?» Heisann Montebello consists of seven songs, released over the course of two years, with accompanying music videos for each one. In April 2017, the played three sold out shows at the Oslo Spektrum, shows that would make up their concert film Adjø Montebello (Goodbye Montebello), a film that I have not seen yet.

Over the next couple of posts, I want to look at some of the songs and videos on Heisann Montebello. Please keep in my mind I am still learning the contextualization, allusions, and other aspects that provide meaning for these songs and videos. I am extremely grateful to Øyvind Holen, Sindre Bangstad, and Genius.com. Today, I’m going to look at the song and video that drew me in to Karpe Diem’s work, «Lett å være rebell i kjellerleiligheten din» (“Easy to be a rebel in your basement apartment”). I will not have the chance to look at every aspect of this song and video, but I want to…