I never thought I'd see the day where gangster rap becomes mainstream in Vietnam, but apparently it's slowly getting there. Traditionally, Vietnamese cultures don't advocate violence, gang activities, stuff like that, so I'm kind of shocked to see these gangster rappers becoming more and more mainstream. PS: These guys aren't posers either.
I'm gonna attempt to translate the lyrics for you guys.
Title: My hood Artists: Wowy feat. Karik
Lyrics Wowy: Knight, pawn, and bishop are what my brothers had tattooed. Good vehicles, clothes, what I've always been on the look out for. The local police wall has my mug shot on it 48th alley has never been peaceful. Today's morning is just like yesterday's What I do everyday, that fucker Karik would know. Back to my hood, I do my things. When everything's become a problem, I'll let my knife do the talking. I don't look for trouble, but I'll fuck you up if you got beef. Tools in my pants, making it baggy and saggy. When my brothers see me, we toast to the end. But you? Come to 48th alley, I'll take you on.
Chorus: In my hood, if you want, I got cocaine If you're here looking for trouble, I'll have the tools up in your neck I ain't your brother, your home ain't safe from trouble Beer and alcohol, like lil Khanh, brothers in equal.
Karik: This is 48th alley, Bui Thi Xuan street, District Tan Binh (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) This hood composes of prostitutes, bars, all kinds of people. This is a Catholic hood, so we don't have no boss But if you stir up troubles here, I dare you to find your way out Step outside, you gotta be on the look out Cuz this is a drinking hood, so strange stuffs might fly into your head Elders, children, old or young, everyone's equal here. But if you run your mouth, watch out for your head I live here like an honest citizen If I owe money, I'll still have to do manual labors to repay Like any other hood, this one talks with money Name, fame, power, authority, but with no money? Get the fuck out!
Chorus
Karik: Hey! Wowy: Hey what motherfucker? Karik: How 'bout po-po (police) man? Wowy: Like shit motherfucker Karik: How 'bout your hood man?
Wowy: Like shit! This hood has no street light, and I was raised since little not to be a chicken. If you see me, you'd haul ass outa here like a dog But how could you not, when you have no guts? Tell me, how is your hood? When the enemies are near, can you still handle the knife? Do you live for one another? Or do you wanna fuck with me? Come to 48th alley, to see how I live.
Karik: You aint me, and I ain't you. My brothers in trouble, I stay, you'd dart If I run into them robbers, I'd pull out my knife, but you'd be on your knees begging them. To sum it up: I'm tough, you're a chicken. I know if I tell people that, no one would believe me. Because in your eyes, I'm just a frail scholar Wearing glasses, with soft and gentle appearance, especially not the trouble-maker type Well then try me, we'll see who'd fall first.
These guys look like absolute retards. They aren't posers? Really? Why do you say that? Looks like they watched a lil too much 50 cent and decided, cool! lets make a song like him.
On December 15 2010 12:22 UrASofty wrote: These guys look like absolute retards. They aren't posers? Really? Why do you say that? Looks like they watched a lil too much 50 cent and decided, cool! lets make a song like him.
Because of what I heard of them. I don't live in Vietnam so I don't know. Perhaps your definition of a gangster is different.
Definitely not gangsters. The only gangsters in Vietnam need to use swords (lol) as their primary weapon (only the military can carry guns). And I'm 100% sure he doesnt sell cocaine like he claims. I went to an international school in Vietnam for a year (SSIS, I'm half vietnamese) and I know enough about the drug culture to know there is absolutely no cocaine anywhere. Ecstasy, marijuana and opium are easy to find in certain districts but lol cocaine? It would have to be imported like the ecstasy. And to say outloud that you have cocaine is laughably stupid especially if you live in Vietnam (death penalty).
On December 15 2010 12:30 billyX333 wrote: Definitely not gangsters. The only gangsters in Vietnam need to use swords (lol) as their primary weapon (only the military can carry guns). And I'm 100% sure he doesnt sell cocaine like he claims. I went to an international school in Vietnam for a year (SSIS, I'm half vietnamese) and I know enough about the drug culture to know there is absolutely no cocaine anywhere. Ecstasy, marijuana and opium are easy to find in certain districts but lol cocaine? It would have to be imported like the ecstasy. And to say outloud that you have cocaine is laughably stupid especially if you live in Vietnam (death penalty).
Yeah, swords. The term is "dao" or "ma tau" which roughly translate to knife or machete (spelling?). I don't think anyone mentioned guns.
Funny thing is if you let them supposed gangsters to choose a weapon, they'd more likely pick a knife/machete because somehow it portrays toughness vs the use of guns which, traditionally, has never been a street gangster's weapon of choice for whatever reason. I know it's the same situation in other Asian countries like Korean or Hong Kong, Taiwan. Maybe someone knows better can come in and shed a light?
I live here like an honest citizen If I owe money, I'll still have to do manual labors to repay
Hell yeah motherfucker.
I don't listen to American gangster rap either so I wouldn't know what constitute good or not, but those lyrics are interesting. Funny to see an SC forum filled with nerds try to judge what truly is "gangster".
I was about to post that too lol, it's definitely the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear Vietnamese rap, and then I start laughing when I think about it
I am Vietnamese and my brother lives in Vietnam right now. He tells me there are a lot of posers similar to these guys who look hard but are sons of wealthy CEOs who live in villas and drive fancy cars; they are mama's boys.
I haven't seen these guys yet so I don't know for sure.
As for gangster rap in Vietnam? I think that's a terrible idea. If you're gonna copy something from America, copy the good stuff.
Here is another rapper named "Rapsoul" spitting about rickshaw drivers. I think it's pretty dope.
So do those guys reference Jane and Finch because they live there? Lol, I live like 10min from there (didn't know there were many vietnamese peopele living there though)..arguably one of the most dangerous areas in Canada.
On December 15 2010 12:30 billyX333 wrote: Definitely not gangsters. The only gangsters in Vietnam need to use swords (lol) as their primary weapon (only the military can carry guns). And I'm 100% sure he doesnt sell cocaine like he claims. I went to an international school in Vietnam for a year (SSIS, I'm half vietnamese) and I know enough about the drug culture to know there is absolutely no cocaine anywhere. Ecstasy, marijuana and opium are easy to find in certain districts but lol cocaine? It would have to be imported like the ecstasy. And to say outloud that you have cocaine is laughably stupid especially if you live in Vietnam (death penalty).
Yeah, swords. The term is "dao" or "ma tau" which roughly translate to knife or machete (spelling?). I don't think anyone mentioned guns.
Funny thing is if you let them supposed gangsters to choose a weapon, they'd more likely pick a knife/machete because somehow it portrays toughness vs the use of guns which, traditionally, has never been a street gangster's weapon of choice for whatever reason. I know it's the same situation in other Asian countries like Korean or Hong Kong, Taiwan. Maybe someone knows better can come in and shed a light?
It takes more skill to use a machete than a gun and you have to actually be physically fit to use blades effectively. With guns a weak ass coward can take down anybody so guns are not an honorable way to fight because it does not represent your true strength and for gangster that is important. It is the same mentality that the samurai class held against western firearm when they first appeared in Japan.
The term gangster is translated to be either xa hoi den (black society) or giang ho (river & lake). Black society is self explanatory but the term river & lake has some origin. That term is deviated from chinese and is used to describe people who don't live anywhere permanently; they drift from town to town like water running through river and lake and live outside the law. The term river and lake has been around for a very long time.
Edit: Those guys are not real gangster. They are retards. Real ones are busying pimping out models, selling drugs and making paper. They don't make youtube videos.
On December 15 2010 12:30 billyX333 wrote: Definitely not gangsters. The only gangsters in Vietnam need to use swords (lol) as their primary weapon (only the military can carry guns). And I'm 100% sure he doesnt sell cocaine like he claims. I went to an international school in Vietnam for a year (SSIS, I'm half vietnamese) and I know enough about the drug culture to know there is absolutely no cocaine anywhere. Ecstasy, marijuana and opium are easy to find in certain districts but lol cocaine? It would have to be imported like the ecstasy. And to say outloud that you have cocaine is laughably stupid especially if you live in Vietnam (death penalty).
Yeah, swords. The term is "dao" or "ma tau" which roughly translate to knife or machete (spelling?). I don't think anyone mentioned guns.
Funny thing is if you let them supposed gangsters to choose a weapon, they'd more likely pick a knife/machete because somehow it portrays toughness vs the use of guns which, traditionally, has never been a street gangster's weapon of choice for whatever reason. I know it's the same situation in other Asian countries like Korean or Hong Kong, Taiwan. Maybe someone knows better can come in and shed a light?
gun possession are illegal in most asian countries.
Had a nice laugh. Claiming to have drugs in Asia? Good luck buddy, chances are you're gonna get hanged pretty soon. Getting executed for drugs is pretty gangsta I heard.
There is nothing that can count as Rap in Vietnam, just a bunch of school boys got affected to much from American culture doing that for the COOL factor. Until now, none of them has emerge to be a serious artist or something similar.
And yeah, this thread could be more useful if the OP related the music video to Nal_ra instead of Vietnamese Rap )
They are embarrassing, they should just leave the rapping to black people. They talk all hard, but I bet they wouldn't even get out of their cars in Los Angeles.
the vietnamese from where im from are portrayed quite negatively. although they're not gangsters, they do come from relatively harsh backgrounds and although they dont tote gats, there have been many drug busts and gang related murders in my city that have been tied to vietnamese gangs
I am Vietnamese and I think I threw up in my mouth a little. Still these guys must get there ass beat by a 5 by 3 from their mom for having a B+ in English.
AHAHAHAHAHAHahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa of course, playing cards and chain smoking cigarettes is GANGSTER. shoot, i play cards sometimes and regularly smoke, and sometimes i like to rock a cap backwards. maybe i should make my own video and song about my "gangsta" life story
On December 15 2010 13:30 KrAzYfoOL wrote: I don't get some of these rappers, they're proud to be Vietnamese yet they act Black? Cognitive dissonance?
Yeah you could say they act "black" but what they are copying is the hip hop culture. Yes the African Americans are the influential race for hip-hop beacuse they created hip-hop, but you cannot say people act black when hip-hop intenationally recognised. So dressing/acting that way isn't acting black anymore imo.
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