When it comes to Latin trap, there’s no doubt that Bad Bunny, “El Conejo Malo,” marks a before and after. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican singer, whose colorful and eclectic sense of style has changed the game in the “urban” genre, has single-handedly made trap mainstream in Latin America, all the way from Buenos Aires to Tijuana. These days, it’s impossible not to hear his most popular hits, whether you’re at the club or just catching the bus to work.
However, just because everyone’s dancing and singing along to his songs doesn’t mean that everyone knows what he’s saying. Yes, he’s singing in Spanish, but he’s Puerto Rican, and the Spanish spoken on the island is pretty different from how other people speak throughout Latin America. So, in order for everyone to be on the same page, here’s a “translation” of some of his lyrics that only Puerto Ricans understand.
“Estamos Bien”
Hoy ando algarete / Como un graduado tirando el birrete / Como narco contando billetes
Translation: “algarete” means crazy or out of control.
Vivo como soñé a los diecisiete / El que no logró na’ es porque no le mete
Translation: Those who haven’t made it, it’s because they don’t work hard enough.
“Chambea”
Chambea, jala, cabrón ya no te quedan balas
Translation: Cock it, pull the trigger, motherf*cker, you ran out of bullets
Yo siempre picheo, enrolo otra vez
Translation: I don’t give a damn, I keep rolling
La gente ya sabe, por eso ni ronco
Translation: Everyone already knows, that’s why I don’t say anything
“I Like It” – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Ya mudé la Gucci pa’ dentro de casa / Cabrón, a ti no te conocen ni en Plaza (no)
Translation: Plaza refers to Plaza Las Américas, the biggest mall on the island, where everyone goes to hang out. So, if nobody knows you there, it’s kind of sad.
“Soy peor”
A mami dile que por mí no rece / Que yo salgo esta noche virao’ pa’ la calle / Y nadie va a hacer que yo me enderece
Translation: when you’re “virao,’” it means you’re looking for trouble, or you’re up to no good.
“Krippy Kush” – Farruko, Bad Bunny, Rvssian
Y el shipping se lo cobramo’ al bobo de tu ex / Que tiene un guille de bichote y lo que fuma es regular
Translation: Your ex thinks he’s a big shot
“Solo de mí”
Yeah, a ti nadie te llamó, arranca pa’l carajo
Translation: Yeah, nobody called you, so get the f*ck out
Hoy e’ noche ‘e travesura, hoy e’ pata’ abajo
Translation: We’re having fun tonight, we’re really going hard
¿”Bebé” de qué cojone’? Eso fue ayer / Sorry, te tocó perder / Me vio con otra y se mordió (¿Qué?)
Translation: She saw me with some other girl and got jealous
Yo no como mierda y meno’ pa’l bellaqueo / En bajita no me veo / La madre del que me joda el jangueo
Translation: I don’t waste time, especially when it comes to sex / You’ll never see me down / F*ck you, I’m gonna party
“Cuando perriabas”
Baby no te hagas que yo sé que le metías hasta abajo cuando perriabas
Translation: Baby, don’t act like you didn’t use to get low
Una galla, no se deja / No la cogen de pendeja
Translation: “galla” is like a female rooster, which means the woman he’s talking about is pretty badass.
“Tú no metes cabra”
Tú no metes cabra, sarabambiche
Translation: you can’t fool me, you son of a b*tch
“Como soy”
Tú sabes cómo soy, cómo es que brego / Que pesar las malas, to’s me tienen miedo / ¿Dónde están los chavos? / Que yo le llego
Translation: “bregar” means deal or do, so he’s saying “You know me, you know how I do things. Then, “chavos” means money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt6cm401h9k
“Ser bichote”
De chamaquito yo capeaba como Polaco
Por eso tengo un flow bellaco
Translation: “capear” means to buy drugs. And “flow bellaco” means his flow is dope.
So, there you go. Those are some very rough translations of a few words from Bad Bunny’s lyrics that Spanish speakers from other parts of Latin America might not get. Think of them as fun yet useless facts you can drop on your friends next time you hear one of his songs, or maybe as a small introduction to the world of Puerto Rican Spanish and culture.
Cover image: @badbunnypr
Write for us!
Would you like to write an article like this? Are you a Latin American music expert? Read our submissions guidelines and send us a 500-word article to storyteller@culturacolectiva.com
Here are other articles you might like:
Jimmy Fallon And Bad Bunny Hung Out In Puerto Rico Just Before Carnival
Latinos Have Conquered the Music Industry And Coachella Is Proving It
Erotic Songs That Will Give You The Best Sensual Rhythm
Who Could Possibly Beat The Beatles On The Charts? Winning Combo Bad Bunny And Drake Are The Kings Now
