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Arif Zahir

Arif Zahir
Born
Arif Zahir Lopes-Thrower[1]

(1994-04-15) April 15, 1994 (age 30)[2]
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Other names
  • Azerrz
  • 4rif
Alma materHussian College (Didn't finish)[3]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
  • internet personality
Years active2007–present
Musical career
Genres
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2007–present
Genres
Subscribers
  • 7.17 million (Azerrz)
  • 191K (4rif)
Total views
  • 794 million (Azerrz)
  • 8.8 million (4rif)
100,000 subscribers2015 (Azerrz) • 2019 (4rif)
1,000,000 subscribers2017 (Azerrz)
Last updated: March 11, 2021

Arif Zahir Lopes-Thrower (born April 15, 1994) is an American actor, musician, and Internet personality. His YouTube channel, Azerrz, has over 7 million subscribers[4] and features voice impressions of a plethora of celebrities and cartoon characters.[5] Since 2021, he has replaced Mike Henry as the voice of Cleveland Brown on Family Guy.

Early life and education

Zahir is of African-American and Cape Verdean descent and was born on April 15, 1994, in Berkeley, California. He was partially raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he attended Nativity Preparatory School and Keith Middle School before moving back to California in 2007.[6]

Zahir began doing voice impressions in middle school to impress his classmates. He originally made a YouTube channel in 2007 which focused on performing magic tricks.[7] After doing so and finding success he started attending Hussian College's campus in Los Angeles. He later dropped out to spend more time focusing on his YouTube career.[3]

Career

Zahir created his YouTube channel in 2012 but posted his first video in 2013.[4][8] He started out by posting comedic sketches, gaming videos, and videos of himself performing voice impressions of both cartoon characters and real celebrities.[5][9][10] Zahir garnered initial success through his voice impressions which he started doing in 2011.[11][12][13] One of the first voices Zahir did was of Cleveland Brown, whom he would go on to voice several years later.[14][15][16]

Zahir landed his first acting role playing a character named Arif in the short film No One But Lydia. Starting in 2018, he became a recurring cast member on How It Should Have Ended voicing Black Panther / T'Challa.[17] Through community challenges and his first viral hit with "Ted Plays Call of Duty" (which has over 20M+ views), Arif quickly grew his channel to over 6.5+ million subscribers and 650+ million views.[18]

He is also a rapper and singer and releases music under the moniker 4rif.[19] He released his debut album At Last Sight on August 30, 2019.[20] He followed it up with an EP called Go Gadget/Blues Clues which was released on April 29, 2020, in collaboration with rapper Dlngqnt.[21]

On June 26, 2020, Mike Henry, who had voiced Cleveland Brown since 1999, announced he was stepping down and believed a person of color should voice the role.[22] On September 25, 2020, it was announced that Zahir would be voicing Cleveland starting in Season 20 of Family Guy.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2014 No One But Lydia Arif Short film; credited as Arif Lopes
2016 Eraser Death Short film; credited as Arif Lopes
The Invisible Shadow The Bagged Man Short film; credited as Arif Lopes
2017 Everyone But Me Andre[23] Short film
Hues and Hidden Kings A Hidden King Short film
2019 The Golden Realm: An American Larping Experience Peter, Kalthor Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Cliffhanger Ted 3 episodes
2018 G.P.A. Xander Holland[24] 4 episodes[25][26][27][28]
2018–present How It Should Have Ended[17] Black Panther / T'Challa 3 episodes; voice role[29][30][31]
2019 Internet Rich Himself 1 episode
2020 Party Chat[32] Arif[33] Web series; also producer[34]
2020 VENN: Arcade Live[35] Himself Episode "Voice Impressions with Azerrz + WWE Superstar Zelina Vega Throw Down"[36]
2021–present Family Guy[37][38][39] Cleveland Brown[40][41][42] Voice role; main role, replaced Mike Henry starting in season 20 after he stepped down[43][5][44]
2021 Rocky Clubber[45] Voice role
2022 American Dad! Reginald 1 episode; voice role
Robot Chicken Nelson Mandela 1 episode; voice role

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2018 No Way Out – A Dead Realm Tale Edgar, William Huxley, librarian, Clown Voice roles

Music videos

Year Song Artist Role Director
2018 Down the Line[46] Lokl Yokl The Bartender Ryan Rosenblum
Drunk With You[47] Joe Thomas Carter featuring 4rif Himself Zane Morrow
2019 August[48] 4rif Fowluh
Gimme Ya Lovin'[49][50] Joe Thomas Carter featuring 4rif Christina Xing
2020 At Last Sight/Kids[51] 4rif
The Window[52] Ryan Rosenblum

Discography

Albums

List of albums
Title Details
At Last Sight
  • Released: August 30, 2019[20]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of extended plays
Title EP details
Go Gadget/Blues Clues (with DLNQNT)
  • Released: April 29, 2020[53]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Venture
  • Releasing: 2021 or 2022[54][55]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist

Title Year Album
"August"[56] 2018 At Last Sight
"Summers End"[57] 2019 Non-album single
"Wonderful Miracle"[58] At Last Sight
"Channel Lovely"[59]
"Go Gadget" (with DLNQNT)[60] 2020 Go Gadget/Blues Clues[61]
"Blues Clues" (with DLNQNT)[60]
"Favorite Girl"[62] TBA
"Ignore Me"[63] TBA
"Cafe in LA"[64] 2021 TBA
"Leave Me (August II)"[65] TBA
"Note to Me"[66] 2022 TBA

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist

Title Year Album
"Hope County" (NerdOut featuring 4rif and Legiqn)[67] 2018 Year 3
"Drunk With You" (Joe Thomas Carter featuring 4rif)[68] Non-album single
"Gimme Ya Lovin'" (Joe Thomas Carter featuring 4rif)[49] 2019 Non-album single
"G League"(DLNQNT featuring 4rif)[69] DZJNTD Vol. 1 – DNT PLY

References

  1. ^ "Venn Guest Azerrz". www.venn.tv. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. ^ Zahir, Arif (April 15, 2020). "Happy birthday babyyyy @Azerrz". Twitter. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Schneider, Michael (October 14, 2020). "How 'Family Guy' Newcomer Arif Zahir Landed His Big Break as the New Cleveland Brown". Variety. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Azerrz's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) – Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Schneider, Michael (September 25, 2020). "'Family Guy' Casts YouTube Star Arif Zahir as the New Voice of Cleveland Brown". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Paleologos, Phil (October 28, 2020). "New Bedford Native the New Voice of Cleveland Brown [Phil-osophy]". 1420 WBSM. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "Arif Lopes's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) – Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "How Arif Zahir Went From YouTube To 'Family Guy'". www.backstage.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Hale, James (September 28, 2020). "YouTuber Arif Zahir To Voice Cleveland Brown On 'Family Guy'". tubefilter. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  10. ^ "YouTuber Arif Zahir is the new voice of Cleveland on Family Guy". News. September 27, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "Watch: This is Wakanda — A hilarious Black Panther parody of Childish Gambino's powerful music video". Firstpost. May 29, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Arif Zahir Breaks Out as the New Cleveland Brown on 'Family Guy'". Animation World Network. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "Family Guy and The Simpsons Recast Major Black Characters". IGN Southeast Asia. September 25, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Young, Julius (September 25, 2020). "'Family Guy's Cleveland Brown to be voiced by YouTube star Arif Zahir". Fox News. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (September 25, 2020). "Cleveland on 'Family Guy' to Be Voiced by Arif Zahir". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  16. ^ "Arif Zahir Replaces Mike Henry as Cleveland Brown on Family Guy". ComingSoon.net. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "How Black Panther Should Have Ended". ScreenRant. May 21, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  18. ^ "Spotlight on Arif Zahir: Unconventional Ways To Land An Acting Gig". forCreators.com. October 19, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "4rif's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) – Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  20. ^ a b At Last Sight by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  21. ^ "Dlnqnt and 4rif Drop "Go Gadget / Blues CLues" EP". Show Out Hip-Hop. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  22. ^ Leah Asmelash (June 27, 2020). "Mike Henry will no longer voice Cleveland on 'Family Guy'". CNN. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Everyone But Me | Narrative Music Video (feat. Azerrz) – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 29, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  24. ^ "G.P.A. Official Trailer – YouTube". www.youtube.com. April 27, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  25. ^ "G.P.A. Episode 1 | "The Team" – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 4, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  26. ^ "G.P.A. Episode 2 | "The Plan" – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 4, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  27. ^ "G.P.A. Episode 3 | "The Heist" – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 4, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  28. ^ "G.P.A. Episode 4 | "The End?" – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 4, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  29. ^ "How Black Panther Should Have Ended – Animated Parody – YouTube". www.youtube.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  30. ^ "How Avengers Infinity War Should Have Ended – Animated Parody – YouTube". www.youtube.com. June 28, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  31. ^ "HISHE Dubs – Avengers Infinity War (Comedy Recap) – YouTube". www.youtube.com. April 18, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  32. ^ "New YouTube show, "Party Chat," is "The League meets Call of Duty: Warzone" | | Marijuanapy The World News". Retrieved September 26, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^ ""Babe Blocked Me!" (Party Chat – Episode 1) – YouTube". www.youtube.com. July 10, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  34. ^ Duwe, Scott (July 13, 2020). "New YouTube show, "Party Chat," is "The League meets Call of Duty: Warzone"". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "Azerrz Episodes". www.venn.tv. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  36. ^ "Voice Impressions with Azerrz + WWE Superstar Zelina Vega Throw Down | VENN Arcade Live | Episode 11 – YouTube". www.youtube.com. August 28, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  37. ^ Jensen, Erin. "'Family Guy': Arif Zahir takes over Cleveland Brown role from white actor Mike Henry". USA Today. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  38. ^ "'Family Guy' Taps Arif Zahir As The New Voice Of Cleveland Brown". shadowandact.com. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  39. ^ "Voice Artists Of Color Join Casts Of 'The Simpsons' And 'Family Guy,' Replacing White Actors". Cartoon Brew. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  40. ^ "'Family Guy' finds new voice for Cleveland Brown in YouTuber Arif Zahir". wusa9.com. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  41. ^ Asmelash, Leah. "'Family Guy' finds a new voice for Cleveland Brown in YouTuber Arif Zahir, known for his voice impressions". Jackson Progress-Argus. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  42. ^ "Family Guy Casts Arif Zahir as Its New Cleveland". TV Shows. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  43. ^ Leah Asmelash (September 25, 2020). "'Family Guy' finds new voice for Cleveland Brown". CNN. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  44. ^ Haring, Bruce (June 26, 2020). "'Family Guy' Voice Actor Mike Henry Stepping Down From 'Cleveland Brown' Role". Deadline. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  45. ^ "Rocky – Animated Series – Trailer! – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  46. ^ "Lokl Yokl – Down the Line". www.youtube.com. December 5, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  47. ^ "Joe Thomas Carter – Drunk With You Ft. Arif (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. May 11, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  48. ^ "4rif – August (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. April 15, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  49. ^ a b "Gimme Ya Lovin': Christina Xing's homage to Chaplin for Joe Thomas Carter's new music video". www.adolescent.net. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  50. ^ "Joe Thomas Carter – Gimme Ya Lovin' Ft. 4RIF (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. May 10, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  51. ^ "4rif – At Last Sight/Kids (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  52. ^ "4rif – The Window (Official Music Video)". www.youtube.com. December 6, 2020. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  53. ^ Vandergast, Amelia (April 29, 2020). "DLNQNT & 4rif are due to drop their smooth grooving feat of Hip Hop "Go Gadget"". A&R Factory. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  54. ^ ""@Azerrz where's the next album/EP bro? I'm listening to roses and I'm getting hype for the next release!🔥🔥" "2021"". Twitter. December 10–11, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  55. ^ Zahir, Arif (September 10, 2021). "leaks_8.10.21". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  56. ^ August – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  57. ^ Summers End – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  58. ^ Wonderful Miracle – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  59. ^ Channel Lovely (Radio Version) – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  60. ^ a b Go Gadget/Blues Clues – Single by DLNQNT & 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  61. ^ "DLNQNT & 4rif Release New 2-Track EP". OnThaRizeMag. May 4, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  62. ^ Favorite Girl – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  63. ^ Ignore Me – Single by 4rif, retrieved February 2, 2021
  64. ^ Cafe in LA - Single by 4rif, retrieved March 11, 2021
  65. ^ Leave Me (August II) - Single by 4rif, retrieved September 22, 2021
  66. ^ Note To Me - Single by 4rif, July 8, 2022, retrieved July 13, 2022
  67. ^ "Hope County (feat. Azerrz & Legiqn) by NerdOut". Apple Music. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  68. ^ Drunk With You (feat. Arif) – Single by Joe Thomas Carter, retrieved February 2, 2021[permanent dead link‍]
  69. ^ G League (feat. 4rif) by DLNQNT, retrieved February 2, 2021
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