Faris Shafi has spoken for us again.
Faris Shafi is the most explicitly bold rap artist of Pakistan, and for that he will be remembered forever. His bravery is a monument and has set precedence for any rap artist. Perhaps for him, there is very little to rap about other than the agony this country is going through. In ‘Nazar‘, Faris speaks about anxiety and depression and all that keeps us up at night. He speaks of how the millennials have learnt to find comfort in drugs and alcohol but have failed to find comfort in the beds of their own homes.
Saari Saari raat main jaagta, Neend nai aati, baat nai maanta, Main betha, akela, main bistar, main leta, main pasay, palat-ta, main khwabon, main sota, hoon. Meri apnay saath hai jo guftagu, Wo bhi nahi main kabhi sun saka, kiss kashmakash, main gum para hoon? kash pe kash lagaoon, main sab ko sach bataoon, aap ja ke bhund marain, Main kab se tun para hoon.
The flow is then followed by verses that speak about the filth of criticism he has received and how the people that judge him don’t matter.
His rap sets into your bones in a rage that alights when the judgement comes – unwarranted and unwanted.
Aap sab ki sun to raha hoon, its like a Boomerang. Ek kaan se andar ek kaan se bahir, aap saray bandar aap shayar kab se ban gaye? aap saray lagtay nangay, aap saray kartay dhanday, aap saray charhtey Lun pe, aap saray kathey kam thay. Aap saray kathay kab thay? Do sikkon, ke peechay, aap iss game, main bikk gaye, and because, im articulate when im formulatin’ the plot I am oscillating with the beat, you are outta pocket I see, main marasi. Main bari barsi khattan gaya si, khatt ke lyanda flows, laikin afsos, everybody want my sauce, now that I got dough, Oh now bitch u want more?
Aap pehlay kidhar thay? meray paisey kidhar hain? meray jaisay kidhar se lao ge? meray saray bikhar gaye doubters, Aap ki saari biggar gayeen daughters, yeh saari soongti hain powder, yeh saray kholtay bottles, main saari raat karoon sajde. Main saray saat hazaar bakray karke, aap sab ke doon Sadqay.
Further on in his rap, he also dwells into the forbidden territory to comment on religion. He speaks about how religious clerics conveniently declare people non-Muslims, dubbing people as “Kafirs”. This is an extremely important aspect of his critique as it refers to certain cases that have happened in the past where mobs have formulated in the name of religion, his commentary highlights the Asiya Bibi case, and the aftermath after the verdict was given or in general, where every other day someone is killed in the name of religion.
Waqt nahi aata hai wapis, kaisay banta hai tu ghafil, apnay kafilay main kaisay boltay hain, ek doosray ko yeh kaafir. Kaheen Nazar na Lag jaye sach main. Main karoon be-shumaar sajde. Main To hoon be-misaal tab se, jab se, lahu mera hai barsey. Yeh kahoon ke yeh sab ghaplay karte karte batvey bharte. Yeh sahoon ke bas ab chadd de? ya laroon main ab in sab se? kya kahoon main ab in sabb ko? ya khaoon bethe ke Nimco? ya piyoon Bhainchod Vimto? block karoon in ke sim ko. Block karoon main in sab ko, i dont even wanna talk, main karoon in ko diss kyun? main karoon in ko disown. main ja ke nachoon disco. Kaheen Nazar na lag jaye khud ko, kaheen bharam na bhar jaye khud main, kaheen nazar na lag jaye sach main, main kabar main ja ke balkay, shikayatein lagaoon ga sab ki, main sabar se betha kab se, main jakar ke betha sapnay apnay.
Faris Shafi’s social commentary through his craft has been a reality check for the masses and has been beacon of light for the rap community of Pakistan.
We see many young rap artists nowadays that follow the legacy of the same craft structure as Faris Shafi, local artists like Iqbal and Manu have all spoken about social stereotypes. Faris has been an idol for millennials and for Gen z’s, not just for his flow in rap but for his courageously unfiltered spewing of the truth about society and Pakistani lifestyle. This song is another addition to his soon to be outstanding legacy. To read more of our stuff, visit our website: Faaris bleeds over a city that’s already dead