Rap das Armas - Cidinho e Doca in English (Commented)

Cidinho E Doca - Rap Das Armas (Original Version)

Cidinho E Doca - Rap Das Armas (Remix)

(possibly an European Summer Hit in 2009)

(Este post vai ser em inglês pois alguns amigos aqui da Eslováquia pediram para traduzir um dos hits da Europa no verão de 2009.

Mal sabe a Europa do que se trata. Mas enfim, pedido é pedido..)

I usually post in Portuguese but due to some requests (from friends) to translate this European hit "Rap das Armas", I'll write in English.

"Rap das Armas" (meaning Guns' Rap) is originally from the Brazilian movie "Tropa de Elite" which, along with "Cidade de Deus" (City of God), represent a series of Brazilian movies introducing the concept of reveling the shocking life at Brazilian favelas. Same-old same-old: lack of security, cops, drugs, urban war, etc..

As a natural thing for Brazilian rappers (we actually call it "funk" over there) raised in favelas, singing this music makes them feel like promoting their neighborhood somehow, proudly singing how strong they are (specially by use of guns, in this case). More guns, more macho, more powerful.

Sometimes I chose to use a word-by-word translation to give you a proper idea on how singers/composers actually express themselves in the music.

The composers also let major Portuguese spelling/grammar mistakes along the lyrics to express the colloquial way of talk (e.g, wrong: nóis; right: nós) - I'll try to expose them too with a star (*). This is hard because Portuguese and English grammar are NOT close.

Moreover, "Rap das Armas" uses heavy Brazilian Portuguese slangs (and I'm not keen on it) so I say sorry for mistakes already now.

The following lyrics is based on the original version - it's the uncut version (you can easily assembly the remix version using this one).

No more words, here we go:

Guns' Rap

Composers: Cidinho and Doca

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Paparapaparapapara clack bum

(onomatophea used for gun shots + explosion "boom!")

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Morro do Dendê é ruim de invadir

Dendê's Hill is hard to invade

Nóis, com os Alemão, vamo se diverti

Wee* together with the German will has* fun

Porque no Dendê eu vo dizer como é que é

Because in Dendê I'll tell you how it is

Lá não tem mole nem pra DRE

There is no "easiness" for DRE up there

Pra subir aqui no morro até a BOPE treme

To get up (here) the hill even the BOPE fears ("treme" means "shakes", "shaking of fear")

Não tem mole pro exército civil nem pra PM

There is no "easiness" for Army, Civil Police and not even to the Military Police

Eu dou o maior conceito para os amigos meus

I give all the respect for all my friends

Mais Morro do Dendê também é terra de Deus

But* (mais means "plus"; they should have written "mas" - "but") Dendê's Hill is also God's land

Vamo lá

Let* go

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Paparapaparapapara clack bum

(onomatophea used for gun shots + click "boom!")

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Morro do Dendê é ruim de invadir

Dendê's Hill is hard to invade

Nois, com os Alemão, vamo se diverti

Wee* together with the German will have fun

Porque no Dendê eu vo dizer como é que é

Because in Dendê I'll tell you how it is

Aqui não tem mole nem pra DRE

There is no "easiness" for DRE

Pra subir aqui no morro até a BOPE treme

To get up (here) the hill even BOPE fears ("treme" means "shakes". Shaking of fear)

Não tem mole pro exército civil nem pra PM

There is no "easiness" for Army, Civil Police and Military Police

Eu dou o maior conceito para os amigos meus

I give all the respect for all my friends

Mas Morro do Dendê também é terra de Deus

But Dendê's Hill is also God's land

Vem um de AR15 e outro de 12 na mão

One is coming with AR-15 and another with 12mm

Vem mais um de pistola e outro com 2oitão

Another one comes with pistol and another with 7mm

Um vai de URU na frente escotando o camburão

One goes holding an URU machine gun escorting the police car

Tem mais dois na retaguarda mas tão de Glock na mão

There are two more on the rear but they are holding a Glock

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Paparapaparapapara clack bum

(onomatophea used for gun shots + click "boom!")

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Amigos que eu não esqueço nem deixo pra depois

Friends I don't forget I don't leave it for later (probably kill them)

Lá vem dois irmãozinho de 762

Here it comes two little brothers carrying a 762

Dando tiro pro alto só pra fazer teste

Shooting the skies just for test

De ina-ingratek, pisto-uzi ou de winchester

Holding a INA, INGRA(m), pisol, UZI or winchester

É que eles são bandido ruim e ninguém trabalha

These people are "true" bandits and none of them work

De AK47 e na outra mão a metralha

With AK47 and in the other hand a machine gun

Esse rap é maneiro eu digo pra vocês,

This rap is cool and I'll tell you,

Quem é aqueles cara de M16

Who is* those guys with M16

A vizinhaça dessa massa já diz que não agüenta

The neighborhood of this mass (people) says that they can't stand it anymore

Nas entradas da favela já tem ponto 50

In the favela's gateway there is 50 caliber already (probably delivery)

E se tu toma um pá, será que você grita

And if you get a bang (shot), would you scream? ("scream" here possibly meaning "stand")

Seja de ponto 50 ou então de ponto 30

Being caliber 50 or caliber 40

Mas se for Alemão eu não deixo pra amanhã

But if it's German I don't leave for tomorrow

Acabo com o safado dou-lhe um tiro de pazã

I finish the bastard I give him a gun shot

Porque esses Alemão são tudo safado

Because these German* are all bastard* (probably meaning corrupted)

Vem de garrucha velha dá dois tiro e sai voado

(They) Come with very old guns, shoot twice and flee

E se não for de revolver eu quebro na porrada

And if it's not with firearm I "break them punching"

E finalizo o rap detonando de granada

I finish the rap detonating with granade

Parapapapapapapapapa, valeu

(onomatophea used for gun shots), thanks

Paparapaparapapara clack bum

(onomatophea used for gun shots + explosion "boom!")

Vem um de AR15 e outro de 12 na mão

One is coming with AR-15 and another with 12mm

Vem mais um de pistola e outro com 2oitão

Another one comes with pistol and another with 7mm

Um vai de URU na frente escotando o camburão

One goes holding an URU machine gun escorting the police car

Tem mais dois na retaguarda mas tão de Glock na mão

There are two more on the rear but they are holding a Glock

Amigos que eu não esqueço nem deixo pra depois

Friends I don't forget I don't leave it for later - (probably killing them)

Lá vem dois irmãozinho de 762

Here it comes to little brothers carrying a 762

Dando tiro pro alto só pra fazer teste

Shooting the skies just for test

De ina-ingratek, pisto-uzi ou de winchester

Holding a INA, INGRA(m), pisol, UZI or winchester

A vizinhaça dessa massa já diz que não agüenta

The neighborhood of this mass says that can't stand it anymore

Nas entradas da favela já tem ponto 50

In the favela's gateway there is 50 caliber already - (probably delivery)

E se tu toma um pá, será que você grita

And if you get a bang (shot), would you scream? ("scream" here possibly meaning "stand")

Seja de ponto 50 ou então de ponto 30

Being caliber 50 or caliber 40

Esse rap é maneiro eu digo pra vocês

This rap is cool and I'll tell you

Quem é aqueles cara de M16Who is* those guys with M16

Mas se for Alemão eu não deixo pra amanhã

But if it's German I don't leave for tomorrow

Acabo com o safado dou-lhe um tiro de pazã

I finish the bastard I give him a gun shot

Porque esses Alemão são tudo safado

Because these German* are all bastard* (probably meaning corrupted)

Vem de garrucha velha dá dois tiro e sai voado

(They) Come with very old guns, shoot twice and flee

E se não for de revolver eu quebro na porrada

And if it's not with firearm I "break them punching"

E finalizo o rap detonando de granada

I finish the rap detonating with granade

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Paparapaparapapara clack bum

(onomatophea used for gun shots + click "boom!")

Parapapapapapapapapa

(onomatophea used for gun shots)

Morro do Dendê: "morro" means "hill" and here it's actually a favela (or slum). "Morro do Dendê" is a favela partially urbanized in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The assumption morro = favela happens because favelas are usually on/around hills.

Alemão: meaning "german person" in this case "foreigner" or a "stranger". This word is usually used to describe copsm or enemies from other favelas: any persona non grata. Remark: There is really NOTHING connected to people from Germany.

mole: it can also mean "soft" - in the lyrics it means "lack of effort", "easy". "easines" - as something is "not hard" to do.

DRE: meaning "Departamente de Repressão a Entorpecentes". It's a division inside Brazilian police which takes care of repressing drug-related issues. Cops.

BOPE: meaning "Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais", it's one of the best-prepared police for urban war :) Read more.

Exército, civil nem pra PM: Army (Exército), Civil Police (civil) and Military Police (PM - Polícia Militar) - militar institutions in Brazil.

My thoughts? I think it's a shame that such music can actually be exported. It sucks - for plenty of reasons.
I also couldn't believe when I saw the happiness of some people (Braziians) when they REALIZED that a Brazilian music (sic!) could possibly hit the discos in Europe like a charm. Hey, wake up call for you: we DO have better singers and songs - remixes of Bossa Nova, for example, are all around! Also, check Bossa Nova's lyrics: I bet you can't find ONE single music mentioning firearm or grenade. If you do so, still, this last lyrics had 10+ different names of firearms..
I may agree with you in case you decide to argue that it's a very nice rythm for disco. I indeed agree - but that's all. You can put any other lyrics there.... but that? Give me a fuck*ng break..