Tag: Genre: Hip Hop

“Como Los Olivos” (Like the Olive Trees) by Bebe, English translation

“Like the Olive Trees” Lyrics
Album: Pafuera Telarañas (Out with the Cobwebs), 2004
Style: Flamenco hip/hop, song about a passionate romance against the peaceful backdrop of Spain’s pastures.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Lyrics Translation:

Como los olivos
Sudan aceite,
Mi cuerpo resbala sobre tu piel.
Duerme hombre tranquilo en el jardín del edén
Que la humedad desprende sabor a miel.

Like the olives
Sweat oil,
My body slips over your skin.
Sleep, man, serenely in the garden of Eden
For the humidity gives off a taste of honey.

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“1977” by Ana Tijoux, English translation and analysis

“1977”
Album: 1977, released 2010
Style: Rap, hip-hop influence, autobiographical, origin story. “1977” is an autobiographical rap about Ana Tijoux’s birth, her childhood, and the start of her career. It is a catchy and poetic song. This song was also featured in an episode of Breaking Bad.
Countries: France (born), Chile (parents)
Listen: YouTube

Lyrics Translation:

Announcer audio clips:
====================================
Cuando las serpientes se evolucionaron —
Más rapido —
Que en muchas creencias —
Se nota la diferencia entre una serpiente venenosa y otra que no lo es por las marcas de dejan…

When snakes evolved —
Faster —
That in many religions — [*alt. That many cultures believe –]
One can tell the difference between a poisonous snake and one that is not (poisonous) by the markings they leave behind…
====================================

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“No Pidas Perdón” (Don’t Ask Forgiveness) by Mala Rodríguez, English translation

“Don’t Ask Forgiveness”
Album: Dirty Bailarina (Dirty Ballerina), 2010
Style: Hip hop, with a spoken word vibe.
Country: Spain

About:

I was listening to an NPR short about Mala Rodriguez and they mentioned that she calls herself “Mala” (Bad) Rodriguez because her aunt would always scold her and call her a bad kid. That’s so sad, a little cute maybe, and also a great story. Mala Rodriguez has been gaining acclaim these past few years for her distinctive rap/hip hop style and her poetic lyrics. She collaborated with Julieta Venegas on the MTV Unplugged version of Julieta’s “Eres Para Mi.”

Two lines in this song’s transcription are a little iffy, so check back for edits in a few months. The song has been on my list since the NPR short in 2011, so it makes more sense to just post it as is and wait for comments. It’s a great song. Listen to it at YouTube here.

Lyrics Translation:

Sa’ [sabe]
Lo peor ya ha pasa’o [pasado].
Dime, ¿de qué sirve seguir doblega’o [doblegado].

You know
The worst has already passed.
Tell me, what use is it to keep bowing down (in defeat)?

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“Algo Con Sentido” (Something With Meaning) by Calle 13 feat. PG-13, English translation

“Something With Meaning”
Album: Residente o Visitante (Resident or Visitor), 2007
Style: Hilarious but explicit rap song, slow tempo, increasingly disturbing lyrics. This song is hilarious because of its disturbing build-up and then the abrupt end after the first end. Residente Calle 13’s voice acting in this song is great.
Country: Puerto Rico

***Warning: Explicit language, graphic descriptions of violence.***

Lyrics Translation:

La gente está jugando con mi mente
Y ando con la mirada borracha.
Mi cabeza está pensando en remolacha,
Por eso no tiene sentido esta guaracha.

People are playing with my head
And I walk around with a drunk look.
My head is thinking about beets;
That’s why this song makes no sense.

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“Malo” (Evil) by Bebe, English translation of lyrics

“Evil”
Album: Pafuera Telaraña (Outtahere, Spiderwebs), 2005
Style: Rock/flamenco/hip hop, wispy voice, anti-domestic violence. This artist won a Latin Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Apareciste una noche fría
Con olor a tabaco sucio y a ginebra,
El miedo ya me recorría
Mientras cruzaba los deditos tras la puerta.

You appeared one cold night
With the smell of dirty tobacco and of Ginebra, [*brand of alcohol]
The fear already ran through me
While I crossed my little fingers behind the door.

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“Silencio” by Ojos De Brujo, English translation of lyrics

“Silence”
Group: Ojos de Brujo (Wizard Eyes)
Album: Techari, 2006
Style: Hip hop/flamenco fusion.
Country: Barcelona, Spain
Listen: YouTube. If you liked this song, you might also like “Papeles Mojados” by Chambao.

Translation:

Silencio.
Cuando llama uno a la suerte
No comparece en ese momento,
En silencio.

Silence.
When one calls on luck
It doesn’t present itself in that moment,
In silence.

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“Todo Tiende” by Ojos de Brujo, English translation of lyrics

“Todo Tiende”
Album: Techarí (Free), 2006
Style: Fast-paced flamenco/hip hop.
Country: Spain
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Mendigando eternidades,
Mendigos piden a mendigos
Lo que no tienen ni pueden darse.

Panhandling eternities,
Vagrants ask vagrants
For what they do not have nor can give each other.

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“Atrévete-te-te” by Calle 13, English translation of lyrics

“Dare-are-are” Lyrics Translation
Album: Calle 13, 2005
Style: Urban, hip hop and reggaeton fusion encouraging women to be daring and show off their bodies, dance wild, and party without reservations. The music video won “Best Short Form Music Video” at the 2006 Latin Grammy Awards.
Country: Puerto Rico
Listen: YouTube (Explicit)

Translation:

REFRAIN:
————————————–
Atrévete-te-te salte del closet,
Destápate, quítate el esmalte.
Deja de taparte que nadie va a retratarte.
Levántate ponte hiper.

Dare-dare-dare, get out of your closet*,
Uncover yourself, take off your nail polish.
Stop covering yourself ‘cuz no one’s gonna take your picture.
Get up, make yourself hyper.

Préndete, sácale chispa al estalter,
Préndete en fuego como un lighter,
Sacúdete el sudor como si fueras un wiper,
Que tú eres callejera*, street fighter.

Light yourself, draw sparks from the starter,
Light yourself on fire like a lighter,
Shake off your sweat like if you were a wiper,
‘Cause you’re a street girl, a street fighter.
—————————————

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“Pa’l Norte” by Calle 13 ft. Orishas, English translation of lyrics and spoken parts

“To The North” Translation
Album: Residente/Visitante (Resident/Visitor), 2007
Style: Urban/hip hop
Countries: Puerto Rico, Cuba
Listen: YouTube (uncensored but no video or music video but silenced swear words)

Translation:

Girl:
Unas piernas que respiran…
Veneno de serpiente…
Por el camino del viento…
Voy soplando agua ardiente*

A pair of legs that breathe in…
Venom from snakes…
By the way of the wind…
I go exhaling blazing water…

Announcer:
El día habia comenzado entusiasmado y alegre.

The day had begun enthusiastically and joyfully.

Spoken:
-Dice… Pasaporte!
-Ha donde va por ahí, luminario, en esta noche tan fea?
-Usted no se anima?
-Mire como ‘sta el camino. ‘Ta negaiiiito!
-No hombre, cómo, el camino es lo de menos.
-Lo importante es que haiga bronca.

-(He) says… Passport!
-Where you goin’, luminary, in this night so ugly?
-Don’t you dare?
-See how the road is. It’s terrible!
-No man, how (can you say that), the road is the least of it.
-What matters is for there to be a fight in you.

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