Lyrics Translation: BAD HOP - KAWASAKI DRIFT
*this song contains some explicit lyrics in English
This song is from their BAD HOP HOUSE album (2018). Side note, I was a little more casual and used more slang than I usually do when translating, but it fits the song style better.
KAWASAKI DRIFT Romaji
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki matagari zenkoku
HANDORU kiri Low kara TOP
Kinou no ore furikiru kyou
AKUSERU zenkai de ikou
Machi no fame, kane ni CHENJI
Suruze kono Flow
Kowasu chain, fukasu ENJIN
Machi wo DORIFUTO
[Verse 1: Vingo]
Machi kara kuni e daishibashi no ue
Tokyo kara Kawaski-koku nakama no moto e
Tokyo ga ore PAWAASUPOTTO
Notteru Iketa oto
Majime dattara deki ne
Orera zenkoku muteki menkyo?
Hi wo fuku MAFURAA mitoreru onna
Hayasa wa Kawasaki Ninja H.2.R
Mieru ore wa toughboy
Nokosu TAIYAkon
Hisshi ni senaka otteru dake
De omae no tabi wa long way
Susundara kaerenai Home e
Yasunde mo tomaranai tokei
Kagami ENEMY
Yasumanai oretachi
Furikitta mukashi no DASAkatta ore
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki matagari zenkoku
HANDORU kiri Low kara TOP
Kinou no ore furikiru kyou
AKUSERU zenkai de ikou
Machi no fame, kane ni CHENJI
Suruze kono Flow
Kowasu chain, fukasu ENJIN
Machi no DORIFUTO
[Verse 2: G-k.i.d]
Skrr skrr SATSUyori saki ni
Skrr skrr MAFIA ga ugoki
Mata yobidashi
Naru phone ga mezamashi
Chi de chi arai shigaramu machi
Furyou kara mananda SHINOGI ni reigi
HAMAtteta BARI kara ongaku ni CHENJI
Highway kazakiri wataru hashi
Mirror utsuru Kawasaki ghetto city
[Yellow Pato]
Ima ja kanshi KAMERA no naka tobidashi
SUTEEJI no ue shashin wo torareteru oretachi
ARAsagashi ni Hater wa hisshi
Ogame toki na gamen goshi ni
Saki ga nee sarumane dake no fake
Tsuruma nee subete ga masayume
Orera wa yasuma nee
Wakate chuuken karaku okizari
KYASSHU de omoi BAGGU
Sekai no KAWASAKI
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki matagari zenkoku
HANDORU kiri Low kara TOP
Kinou no ore furikiru kyou
AKUSERU zenkai de ikou
[Verse 3: Bark]
Mata dareka ga tsubuyaku
Kono machi kara derenai
Yokubou ga machi uzumaku
Dedokoro na ikegami
Gang bitch yokome fukasu weed ni AKUSERU
NEZUMI no you CHEDAA ou
KIDS tachi no yume ni naru
Hi wo fuku Ninja KAWASAKI
[Tiji Jojo]
Jamamono tachi furikiru Flow
Orera no mae ja subete ga Slow
SUPINsuru TAIYA agaru kemuri
Kozeni ni surane seikatsu nukete mukau TOP
Sodatte kita machi tobitatsu GARUUINGU
Antei nante iranai tataka nee ishibashi
Yogore teru te de hoshii mono zenbu ubau
JENGA no you kane tsumiageru
[Benjazzy]
Dou kirinukeru
Machi no jiken wa taema nee
Dare ga mukashi KATAGI de
Katae atama to KORUKU METTO
Hayaji ni shite YATSUra no sonae
Te wo nobasu furousha to onaji DNA
Orera kakuse nee
Kenami kara chigee
MISUrya ato ga nee
GAKI no akogare
Mi kara deru sabi de sabita katai chain
Tsunagareru nariagari no tameni
Orera tomaranee
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki matagari zenkoku
HANDORU kiri Low kara TOP
Kinou no ore furikiru kyou
AKUSERU zenkai de ikou
[Verse 4: T-Pablow]
Doromizu kara champagne
KAPPU men kara ROBUSUTAA
Kawarazu owareru mi
Shounen A kara SUPERSTAR
Tsugi ni okumanchouja naru RAPPAA dare
Mochiron sore wa ore (pablow)
Mochiron sore wa ore
NINJA hiku RAJIKON Nintendo FAMIKON
Ore no machi de wa sugi ni hagare sabite kusaru PACHIMON
Kawasaki-ku de yuumei ni naritakya
Hito korosu ka RAPPAA ni naru kada
ARU PACHIINO janakute ARU KAPONE
Yakudzukuri janakute kore wa ikizama
I’m a trouble man
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki matagari zenkoku
HANDORU kiri Low kara TOP
Kinou no ore furikiru kyou
AKUSERU zenkai de ikou
Machi no fame, kane ni CHENJI
Suruze kono Flow
Kowasu chain, fukasu ENJIN
Machi wo DORIFUTO
KAWASAKI DRIFT English Translation
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki takin’ over the country
Swervin’[1] from down Low to the TOP
Today I’m shakin’ off my past
Gonna take off with the accelerator at full throttle
My Flow is gonna change
This town’s fame and my fortune
Breakin’ the chain, revving the engine
Drifting [all over] the city
[Verse 1: Vingo]
Heading to our hometown from the city over the Daishi Bridge
From Tokyo to our native Kawasaki back to the place we all began
Tokyo’s my power-spot
Riding that sound
I can do it if I really try, [2] ya know
Can we get a nationwide license to do what we want[3]?
Ladies so attracted to the flames shooting outta my tailpipe
Our speed is like a Kawasaki Ninja H.2.R[4]
I look like such a toughboy
Leavin’ behind tire tracks
All [you see] is my back as you desperately try to keep up
But you got a long way to go [to catch up]
If you keep moving forward, you may not ever make it Home
Even if you stop to rest, the clock won’t stop ticking
The ENEMY is in the mirror
So we ain’t never gonna rest
[Til] I’ve outraced my messed-up past
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki takin’ over the country
Swervin’ from down Low to the TOP
Today I’m shakin’ off my past
Gonna take off with the accelerator at full throttle
My Flow is gonna change
This town’s fame and my fortune
Breakin’ the chain, revving the engine
Drifting [all over] the city
[Verse 2: G-k.i.d]
Skrr skrr [stayin’] ahead of the cops
Skrr skrr the mafia [5] is on the move
Another call comes in
Blowing up [6] my phone
Their bloody feuds are tied to this city
Because of the gangs, I learned how to survive
But because of those snags that tore at me, I became a musician
Blowing down the Highway crossing that bridge
My Mirror reflecting Kawasaki ghetto city
[Yellow Pato]
Now we’re busting out of the surveillance cameras
And they’re snapping photos of us on the stage
Haters always tryna find fault with us
While they worship us through the screen
First off, yo they ain’t nothing but fake imitators
It’d be a dream come true to never have to deal with them
Yo, we ain’t ever gonna stop
Leaving those trivial, mediocre kids [in the dust]
Our wallets fat with cash
[That’s] world-famous KAWASAKI
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki takin’ over the country
Swervin’ from down Low to the TOP
Today I’m shakin’ off my past
Gonna take off with the accelerator at full throttle
[Verse 3: Bark]
Someone’s bitchin’[7] again
Ain’t never getting out of this town
Desire [for more] flooding the whole city
My birthplace, Ikegami[8]
Glancin’ at that Gang bitch smokin’ weed as I fly by
Chasin’ after that cheddar like a rat
Becoming the dream of all the KIDS
My fire-spouting Ninja KAWASAKI
[Tiji Jojo]
Leavin’ those lame-asses in the dust with my Flow
Everything in front of us is movin’ so Slow
Raisin’ smoke with my spinning tires
Heading towards the TOP to a lifestyle where money ain’t no thing
In this town where I was raised, them gull-wing doors [9] going up
Don’t need no predictability; I just go for it[10]
Snatchin’ up everything I want with my grubby hands
Stackin’ up that money like [I’m playin’] Jenga[11]
[Benjazzy]
How you gonna survive?
The trouble in this city is endless
[Honestly,] who’s that out of touch with reality[12] ?
So hard-headed [it’s like they’re wearing] a helmet[13]
This goes out to all those guys who died too young
Reachin’ out my hand to all you outcasts [14] with the same DNA
We ain’t gonna hide
We can’t change who we are
It ain’t no mistake
We’re what little punks [15] aspire to be
We’re like family[16]; sendin’ this out to all the young wannabes
Rust rubbing off on their skin from their tarnished chains
We ain’t gonna stop
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki takin’ over the country
Swervin’ from down Low to the TOP
Today I’m shakin’ off my past
Gonna take off with the accelerator at full throttle
[Verse 4: T-Pablow]
From muddy water [17] to champagne
From cup-noodles to lobster
Unrelenting in the pursuit of my true self
[I went] from “Boy A[18] ” to SUPERSTAR
And then which rapper was it who turned into a millionaire?
It was me, obviously (pablow)
It was me, obviously
Runnin’ you over with my R/C[19] NINJA [got my] Nintendo Famicom[20]
My town used to be a cheap imitation, rusting and peeling
But I’ve gotta become famous in Kawasaki ward
[The only way to do it is] to become a murderer or a rapper
Like Al Capone instead of Al Pacino[21]
This ain’t about having influence, it’s a way of life
I’m a trouble man
[HOOK: YZERR]
Kawasaki takin’ over the country
Swervin’ from down Low to the TOP
Today I’m shakin’ off my past
Gonna take off with the accelerator at full throttle
My Flow is gonna change
This town’s fame and my fortune
Breakin’ the chain, revving the engine
Drifting [all over] the city
Translator’s Notes:
[1] This uses a phrase that basically means “cutting the steering wheel” (ハンドルきる/HANDORU kiru).
[2] He switches back and forth (as do a few of the other guys) between singular 俺 ore / rough-sounding “I” and rough-sounding plural “we” (using ore with suffixes tachi or ra). I did my best with the pronouns in a couple places, but it wasn’t obvious if he was saying “we” or “I” in this line. He said “I” in the Tokyo power-spot line, and then “we” in the certified invincible line next so…
[3] This seems to be a play on 無免許 mumenkyo, meaning unlicensed (driver). 無敵 muteki means “invincible, unrivaled, undefeatable,” so basically, a license that can’t be taken away or a license to be whatever they want to be without limits.
[4] The Ninja H2R is a hypersport motorcycle produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. It’s apparently only intended for closed-course racing and is not street-legal (so you can’t drive it on public roads or highways). It’s hella fast, with a quoted max speed of 240mph/380kph, and since it doesn’t have to meet sound ordinances for public-street use, it’s also super loud.
[5] Kawasaki has a yakuza presence and is the home grounds of the Yamakawa-ikka syndicate. More info here, though the page is only in Japanese.
[6] The word used is 目覚まし mezamashi meaning “alarm clock” or “keeping oneself awake.”
[7] The word used is つぶやく tsubuyaku, which could mean either “to tweet (as in on Twitter)” or “to mutter/grumble.”
[8] Ikegami is a city in the Kawasaki ward.
[9] Gull-wing car doors hinge at the roof rather than on the sides, so they open upwards. Some older-model cars (Mercedes Benz from the ‘50’s and ‘70’s) had gull-wing doors; as far as I know the only recent-ish model with them is the Tesla Model X. This could also refer to the style of door on many Lamborghinis, which open on an angle rather than a real gull-wing (also called scissor doors or Lambo doors.) More on cars with gull-wing doors here and scissor doors here.
[10] This seems to be a variation of the idiom 石橋を叩いて渡る / ishibashi tataite wataru which is literally translated as something like “inspecting the stone bridge [for damage] before crossing.” The English equivalent is “look before you leap,” meaning, think about what you’re going to do and weigh the consequences before proceeding. The way he’s phrased it (叩かねぇ石橋 / tataka nee ishibashi) has removed the verb for “crossing” but turned the verb for “inspecting” to a negative as well – so it’s literally something like, “I’m not even checking that bridge,” which in turn means he’s not being cautious or careful, but just doing what he wants without really thinking about it too much. More info on the idiom here (in Japanese only).
[11] Jenga is a game of physical skill where players take turns trying to remove and replace wooden bricks from a stack which becomes increasingly unstable as the game progresses. More on Jenga here.
[12] 昔カタギ mukashi katagi literally means “old-fashioned spirit, old-fashioned way of thinking,” which is the kind of thing you’d say about someone who is stuck in the past and doesn’t see what’s going on around them.
[13] He says コルクメット KORUKU METTO, which is literally “cork helmet.” Specifically, pith helmets are made of cloth-covered Indian cork, so I assume that’s what it’s meant to refer to. More about pith helmets here.
[14] This is a little loose. The actual word is 浮浪者 furousha which means “vagrant, vagabond, tramp.”
[15] This is the noun ガキ gaki, which is a kind of derogatory word for kids. It’s usually “brats, urchins, little devils” and the like, not typically well-behaved children. The kids in the tough neighborhoods where they grew up want to be successful like them; they’re not necessarily saying the kids themselves are bad, but the area they’re from is not the greatest, so they’re all kind of assumed (by people who don’t know them) to be punks and hoods.
[16] This isn’t family in the traditional sense – 繋がれる tsunagareru is defined as “to be tied together, to be connected to, to be related to” but not necessarily in a blood-relative kind of way. This is like, “We understand where you’re from because we’re from there, too.”
[17] So, 泥水 doromizu can mean either “muddy water” or “red light district.” I’m going with water, because these lines are saying “We used to be on the bottom, now we’re on top,” or “We went from rags to riches.”
[18] The only real references to 少年A / Shounen A I found online were in relation to the Kobe child murders (the murderer was given the nickname Shounen A since he was too young to have his name released in the media) – but I think this is just meant to mean, “I went from being from some no-name kid nobody knew to being a superstar.”
[19] ラジコン / RAJIKON is short for radio-controlled, often abbreviated R/C. This is usually a toy (typically a car or other vehicle) that you can control with a joystick or buttons to drive it around. From the “Ninja” reference, and the references to the Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle earlier, I’m guessing he’s talking about a radio-controlled motorcycle toy.
[20] 任天堂ファミコン Nintendou FAMIKON was the original Nintendo “Family Computer” platform that was remarketed and exported as the Famicom or simply N.E.S. in the US. It was one of the best-selling game platforms of all time. More info here.
[21] Al Capone (also nicknamed “Scarface”) was a notorious American mafia gangster. Al Pacino is an American actor who plays a lot of gangster-type characters in movies (including a few loosely based on Al Capone), but is not, in fact, an actual gangster. So one is (was) way more dangerous than the other, who is only acting like a gangster.
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