Karpe Diem

Biography

Magdi and Chirag first met in 1998 in Oslo Handelsgymnasium, where they were both studying and were making music individually. The band was formed in 2000 specifically to take part in Ungdommens kulturmønstring (UKM). Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid of mixed Egyptian/Norwegian origin was born on 3 June 1984 in Oslo to an Egyptian immigrant father and a Norwegian mother from Stryn, Sogn og Fjordane. Magdi's father studied in University of Oslo, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Asian and African Studies concentrating on the Middle east and North Africa region. Chirag Rashmikant Patel of Indian origin was born on 20 July 1984 in Lørenskog. His Indian father immigrated from Uganda and Chirag grew up in Oslo. His mother originates from Gujarat, India. Chirag's father graduated from the University of Oslo with a bachelor's degree in Media and Communications.

Career

Their debut release was Glasskår EP in 2004 that was a commercial success and the same-titled single "Glasskår" peaked at #9 on VG-lista, the Norwegian Albums Chart staying 6 weeks in the chart and certified gold. Their debut studio album was Rett fra hjertet released in 2006. It reached #10 on VG-lista and sold 18,000 copies. The band got nominated for "Best Album" in Spellemannprisen in 2006 and Karpe Diem won the Norwegian Alarmprisen in 2007. Their 2008 album Fire Vegger was an even bigger success. The album sold more than 30,000 copies and reached #3 in the Norwegian Albums Chart. Aldri solgt en løgn became their third and biggest album topping the Norwegian charts and making them win the prestigious Spellemannprisen award as "Best Hip Hop album" and the single "Ruter" as "Best hit of the year". Other accolades for the album included the official award Bendiksenprisen, Sigval Bergesen d.y.'s honorary "Almennyttige Ærespris" award and international recognition as "Best Norwegian Act" in MTV Europe Music Awards in 2010. They celebrated the award by donating the proceeds to the Red Cross in Groruddalen and giving a free concert for under-18 youth at the Rockefeller in Oslo.

Karpe Diem were invited to perform their song "Tusen Tegninger" taken from the album Aldri solgt en løgn at the National Memorial Ceremony held on 21 August 2011 in the Spektrum, remembering the victims of the 2011 Norway attacks of 22 July 2011 and exactly one month from the event.

The band also attracted media attention when Karpe Diem agreed to sing "Tusen tegninger" and a modified version of "Byduer i dur" in the Oslo Domkirke Cathedral. This same event was also in commemoration of the July 22 2011 Norway attacks Magdi of Karpe Diem is a Muslim and Chirag Patel a Hindu. In part because of the ethnic roots of their families, as well as their importance in Norwegian pop culture, they became key symbols for the sense of union that the Norwegian people felt after July 22 2011 Norway attacks.

They were the recipients of Spellemannprisen 2012 in the category Pop music, for the album Kors på halsen, Ti kniver i hjertet, Mor og Far i døden. In November 2013 Karpe Diem was honored with the P3 award on the radio station P3s first music award show, P3 Gull at Sentrum Scene in Oslo.

Karpe Diem are often joined in their concerts with the band "Something Sally" and by DJ Marius Thingvald. In addition, a string orchestra joins in their performances. They have built a reputation of being one of the most active live bands in the country. They are also well known for their collaborations with a great number of other Norwegian artists like Definite, OnklP, RSP, Apollo, DJ Don Martin, Emire, Jesse Jones, Vinni and others.

In 2016 a kulturkommentator for Aftenposten said that one song's lyrics has been claimed to be anti-Jewish slur, because "in the same breath", the word Jew is being reeled off together with negatively loaded expressions such as "dog", "cunt" and "prick".

Honors

EPs