Festim Arifi (; born 28 January 1984), known professionally as Lyrical Son, is a Kosovan rapper and songwriter. Born and raised in Pristina, Arifi is credited as a viable hip hop artist in the Albanian-speaking Balkans.
Life and career 1984–2000: Early life and career beginnings Lyrical Son was born as Festim Arifi on 28 January 1984 into an ethnic Albanian family in the city of Pristina, then part of the SFR Yugoslavia, present Kosovo. Arifi began rapping at high school in his youth and started pursuing a music career seriously, after the Kosovo War in 1999. During his elementary school years, he eventually adopted his stage name, which was taken after a notebook entry from his English teacher. Lyrical Son started to become a household name in the Albanian hip hop scene in the early 2000s with his catchy hooks and creative writing and flows on his verses. In October 19, 2008, he released his first solo album titled "Recept" . The outstanding song from the album is the all time classic "Po Pritoj". Three years later, Lyrical Son together with Mc Kresha, Strike Beatz, K-Master and Onufër Berisha started the music label P.I.N.T ( Për Inati T'Njoni Tjetrit ). The music label has become one of the most prominent labels in the Albanian hip hop scene with having several successful albums, signing young artists & producers and elevating their careers.
2019–present: United State Of Albania and Muzikë e Alltisë In July 2018, Arifi was announced as an act at the Sunny Hill Festival on its debut edition in Pristina. In August 2019, Arifi was approached to perform for a second time at the Sunny Hill Festival. In late December 2021, Arifi together with MC Kresha announced their fourth collaborative album, Muzikë e Alltisë, which was eventually released on 12 January 2022.
Personal life Arifi married his longtime partner Gresa Krasniqi on 19 August 2014 in Pristina, Kosovo.
Discography Albums Studio albums Title Album details Recept Released: 19 October 2008 Label: Independent Format: Digital download, streaming Zimasamshevy Released: 13 August 2013 Label: AVD Digital, PINT Format: Digital download, streaming
Collaborative albums Title Album details Peak chart positions SWI Për Inati T'njoni Tjetrit Released: 27 October 2011 Label: PINT Format: digital download, streaming — Rapsodët n'Rap t'Sotit Released: 10 June 2016 Label: PINT Format: digital download, streaming 4 United State Of Albania Released: 17 February 2019 Label: AVD Digital, PINT Format: Digital download, streaming — Muzikë e Alltisë Released: 12 January 2022 Label: AVD Digital, PINT Format: Digital download, streaming 35 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles As lead artist Title Year Peakchartpositions Album ALBNote: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania: For "Hip Hop": For "Hey Girl": For "Sonte": For "Menemadhe": For "Pasite": "Respekt (Kllap)" 2005 rowspan="19" rowspan="3" "Ti vozit më mirë së unë" 2006 "Rram" "Sexy Linda" 2008 Recept "Mu bo estrad" "Tabullarasa" 2010 rowspan="3" "Souljah" "Start" 2011 "Pse t'fola" Për Inati T'njoni Tjetrit "Kon pe shan me non" "Hip Hopin e du" 2012 "Nuk ini gangsta" "Qëllimi" Zimasamshevy "Sensimilia" "La Pintamilja" "Mos shko" 2013 "Me ta pyl" "Special" "Rock N Roll Star" "A thu kush" 2015 — Rapsodët n'Rap t'Sotit "Hey Hey Hey" 2016 — "Ky Tipi" — "Hip Hop" 1 "Thirri krejt shoqet" — "I re pishmon" — "Spo ma nin" — "Jeni marrë" — "Hey Girl" 2017 13 United State Of Albania "Sonte" 22 "Duqa mi duqa" — United State Of Albania "Rruga n'club" 2018 — "Mafia Shqip" — "Menemadhe" 1 "JBMTQR" — "Private" 2019 — rowspan="6" "Pasite" 1 "100" 2020 — "Ajo po don" — "Criminal Immigrant" 2021 — "Dilëm jasht" — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist Title Year Peakchartpositions Album ALBFor peak positions in Albania: For "Pa cenzurë": For "Princess Diana": For "Deja Vu": For "Llafe Llafe": "Ende" 2003 rowspan="16" rowspan="22" "Hot Festival" 2005 "Një mbret një mbretëreshë" "All Night" 2008 "Pun e madhe!" "La Vida Loca (Remix Me Dosta)" 2009 "Shihëm prap" 2010 "Ska kufi" 2011 "Shqiptart e parë n'hane" 2013 "Çele çadrën" "Para" "Facedown" 2014 "Prishtinali" "Shqip Dance" "Beat Murderer" "They Don't Know" 2015 "A t'merr malli" 2016 — "Pa cenzurë" 2017 12 "Andërr" 2018 — "Princess Diana" 3 "Deja vu" 2019 1 "Rick Ross" — "Llafe Llafe" 2021 1 Dafinë moj "Maje" — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other charted songs Title Year Peakchartpositions Album ALBFor peak positions in Albania: For "Hotel Mahalla", "Paret Lejla", "Stuhi mbi oqean" and "Rammstein": "Hotel Mahalla" 2022 34 Muzikë e Alltisë "Paret Lejla" 29 "Stuhi mbi oqean" 3 "Rammstein" 16 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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