MINUUT ZÉRO – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: ZKR

Lyrics & Translation

Thinking of learning French? Let ZKR's “MINUUT ZÉRO” be your powerful and unfiltered introduction. This track is a masterclass in modern French slang and the raw poetry of street life. By diving into the lyrics, you'll not only expand your vocabulary with authentic language but also gain a deeper understanding of the culture and realities of urban France. The song's relentless flow and clever wordplay make it a special and engaging way to challenge and advance your language skills.

[English]

Midnight zero, I summon them to the office.

Visual suspect, the face on the album cover.

ZKR, sometimes the tricks.

Let me explain a bit.

New Roubaix, we're gonna bounce back in no time.

Delivering the heavy stuff, bringing in profit like the B22.

I'm from the era of the V6, four-cylinders of the R32.

If there's a chase, heading towards the E42.

I used to sell all types of drugs, I make all types of rap.

I make a lot of slips, I think I'm Toni.

I listen to opinions but no one will dictate.

In terms of writing, I might have a doctorate.

The streets are tough, but it's not like Wilkinson.

They hold out their hand with Parkinson's.

There are a lot of actors like Mattkinson.

I add them up, no, there's no Fit zone.

Social mobility, we're stuck in the stairwells.

Burner phones, we throw them away when we're targeted.

I want to make a profit, I don't want to waste my time.

I see myself again in front of the block with my Capri alone.

We were really stupid when we were younger.

Even to steal a parked car, we would have taken the gun.

It's therapy, I vent through writing.

And it makes a story, let those who want it like it.

Sometimes I'm sharp, sometimes I'm an asshole.

When I want to impress, I put on a pair worth a thousand bucks.

Rick Lo's mindset, I gel my hair.

It smells like the hospital when you're nominated.

We play dominoes, we're here to dominate.

The young ones deliver faster than Domino's.

They act like givers, they're just schemers.

Clown, you turn around, the party's over.

I'm going to exterminate.

My back is heavy for life, I've taken more than just one of yours.

It's not rap anymore, it's torture.

We're all a bit messed up.

Yeah, we're all a bit like hustlers.

We come out of the building, we had to adapt.

Like the Awa in Milan.

At 200, I drive on autopilot, my knee holds the steering wheel.

I think back to past troubles while laughing.

Walls have ears but no insulation.

We found the flame again with a stimulant.

All days are similar, I need to get away to Seville.

Not to do a seminar.

The OPG conducts its investigations.

Karlu does his shopping.

Business is booming thanks to the storm.

Why is there always someone who gossips?

Why is there always someone who makes a big fuss?

To each their own destiny, we're not competing.

From Roubaix comes, there are many who are hungry.

There are many who have plenty.

Finally, I'm calm, I have the complete kit.

I take shots, my pocket is swelling.

To provide for my loved ones, I play the flute.

I just need to rap for it to become cult.

It's good you've changed but you're still a whore.

I only listen to my father and he's proud to see it.

Deep in trouble, it's not just a small sip we're going to drink.

I have mouths to feed, I increase my fees.

We arrive, we shake hands and goodbye.

If there are snitches, we deal with them, it's the star system.

They loaded their nose.

I'm not an influencer, I'm not going to snap my family.

Look what we've done, imagine if we drill, that's what's up.

New Roubaix, visual suspect, a hard rock.

There's something fishy in my steak.

Third album, I'm taking a step up after the mixtape.

At the check, there's no minimum. That's the style.

My lawyer isn't Proctor.

My accountant isn't Martial.

They come to talk to me about offshore.

The setup to cushion the blows that I leave to you, Cerberuses.

Here I'm dissecting us, we'd better shut up.

They play with words, I no longer swear on my mother, I've lost the outcome.

You've fallen on your head.

To wake up one day and think I'm scared of you.

We anticipate, we arm ourselves.

We're done talking. The cylinder is empty, they came too late.

With my name or my face, you're blacklisted.

You should have helped me when I was on the stretcher.

Don't get sidetracked, you have to keep moving, stash it.

Close your jacket properly.

Life is full of tests.

Some days I have the same bad luck as an American.

Or chain, we won't empty the coffers.

The vultures scavenge when the turkey is stuffed.

Life is more beautiful through my Cartier glasses.

Give way to hatred when love is gone.

My city rhymes with criminality.

Bold is the chopped language.

Regarding the methods, don't overdo it, they're like bikers.

To have the heart of a quinquin.

Hard words make delicate texts.

Shut your mouth since no one will tell you, your place is on the shelf.

Five minutes zero, I summon them to the office, I recharge at Zo at Le Militant.

Why do it another day?

Break the lock, there are many exits behind the door.

In green and in joy.

We'll see if my heart is conquered.

There are still places.

Where I'm disliked but dressed in jeans.

The streets, you promised them wonders.

The rumor is making noise around here.

So, we take care of the old woman's mouth.

Add another layer of zeal.

Careful, check that.

Jealousy paralyzes, alert, stay on guard, son.

The artist's life, last time you failed, but I don't talk to you anymore, don't talk about them down low.

Open heart, there's something suspicious, the face on the cover.

Scare the high spheres, the noises, the smells.

It didn't bother them when they needed to find hard workers or soldiers.

You throw out my brother's guardian.

If it's a Pogba-style match.

Everyone has their own fight, those who resemble each other gather, but it attracts its opposite.

We want the source to skip the intermediary.

Behind my back, they call me by hateful terms.

5 minutes of rap without a melodious chorus.

They fire bullets, I get myself a raincoat.

One day it gets stuck, we are not malleable.

My downfall will make few unhappy people.

We all want a warm and pleasant lifestyle.

What doesn't bring problems.

What also doesn't bring trouble?

You don't even need to break through.

Roubaix, Roubaix, man.

Visual suspect, the face on the album cover.

You are only two times the Red Brick.

[French]

Minuit zéro, je les convoque au bureau.

Visual suspect, la tête à la pochette.

Zeteska de fois les retrics.

Laisse-moi un peu que je t'explique.

Nouveau Roubaix, on va se refaire en moins de deux.

Passer le lourd, rapporter comme la B22.

Je suis de l'époque du V6, quatre cylindres du R32.

S'il y a poursuite, direction la E42.

Je vendais tout type de guedro, je fais tout type de rap.

Je fais plein de dérapages, je me crois en Toni.

J'écoute les avis mais personne dictera.

En terme d'écriture, j'ai peut-être un doctorat.

La rue c'est rasoir mais c'est pas Wilkinson.

Ça tend la main avec la Parkinson.

Il y a plein de comédiens qu'en Mattkinson.

Je les additionne, non il y a pas de Fit zone.

Ascenseur social, on est bloqués dans les stasses.

Téléphone de Schlag, on les jette quand on les cernes.

Je veux rentabiliser, je veux pas perdre mon temps.

Je me revois devant le bloc avec mon Capri seul.

On était bien cons quand on était plus jeunes.

Même pour voler garer, on aurait pris le gun.

C'est une thérapie, j'évacue par écrit.

Et ça fait un récit, qu'aime ceux qui veulent.

Des fois je suis vif, des fois je suis un trou de balle.

Quand j'ai envie de plaire, je mets une paire à mille balles.

Mental de Rick Lo, je me gomina.

Ça sent l'hôpital quand tu es nominé.

On joue au domino, on est pour dominer.

Les petits délivrent plus vite que Dominos.

Ils me font les donneurs, c'est des piernilais.

Guignol, tu te retournes, la fête est terminée.

Je vais exterminer.

Le dos lourd à vie, j'ai pas pris qu'une de ta.

C'est plus du rap, c'est de la torture.

On est tous un peu des bâtards.

Ouais, on est tous un peu des sorteurs.

On sort du bâtiment, on a dû s'adapter.

Comme les Awa à Milan.

À 200 je roule en pilote, c'est mon genou qui tient le volant.

Je repense aux peines du passé en rigolant.

Les murs ont des oreilles mais pas de isolant.

On a retrouvé la flamme en Simulant.

Tous les jours sont similaires, faut que je me casse à Séville en.

Pas pour faire un séminaire.

L'OPG fait ses enquêtes.

Karlu fait ses emplettes.

Le ventre tourne grâce à la tempête.

Pourquoi il y en a toujours un qui fait la pipelette ?

Pourquoi il y en a toujours un qui fait la trompette ?

À chacun son destin, on fait pas la compète.

De Roubaix vient, il y en a plein qui ont faim.

Il y en a plein qui ont plein.

Enfin, je suis serein, j'ai la panoplie complète.

Je me des piqûres, ma poche fait de la gonflelette.

Pour assurer mes proches, je joue de la flute.

Il suffit que je rappe pour que ça devienne culte.

C'est bien tu as changé mais tu restes une pute.

Je n'écoute que mon père et il est fier de le voir.

Mouiller jusqu'au cou, c'est pas que la tasse qu'on va boire.

J'ai des bouches à nourrir, j'augmente les honoraires.

On arrive, on se serre les mains et au revoir.

S'il y a des giches, on les giches, c'est le star system.

Ils ont chargé leur pif.

Je suis pas un influenceur, je vais pas snaper ma miff.

Regarde ce qu'on a fait, imagine si on drille, c'est qu'est-ce pas.

Nouveau Roubaix, visual suspect, un hard rock.

Il y a du poisson dans mon bifteck.

Troisième album, je passe un stepp après la mixtape.

Au check, il y a pas de minimum. C'est le style.

Mon baveux c'est pas Proctor.

Mon comptable, c'est pas martiel.

On vient me parler d'offshore.

Le montage pour amortir les bat que je vous laisse cerbères.

Là je nous décortique, on ferait mieux de se taire.

Ils jouent sur les mots, je jure plus sur ma mère, j'ai perdu le résultat.

Tu es tombé sur la tête.

Pour se lever un jour et croire que j'ai peur de toi.

On anticipe, on s'arme.

On passe ces mots. La bonbonne est vide, ils sont passés trop tard.

Avec mon nom ou ma tête, tu tricard.

Fallait m'aider quand j'étais sur le brancard.

Dévis pas faut marcher, niche en.

Referme bien ta veste.

La vie est remplie de test.

Il y a des jours j'ai la même poisse qu'un Rican.

Ou chaîne, on fera pas le fond des caisses.

Les vautours charognes, quand la dinde est farcie.

La vie est plus belle sous ma paire de Cartier.

Mets ta place à la haine quand l'amour est parti.

Ma ville rime avec criminalité.

Hardi est la langue hachée.

Sur les moyens, ne l'usine pas, c'est des motard.

D'avoir le cœur de quimtain.

Des mots durs, font des textes délicats.

Ferme ta gueule vu que personne te le dira, ta place au rayon.

5 minutes zéro, je les convoque au bureau, je me ressource à Zo au Militant.

Pourquoi le faire un autre jour ?

Fais sauter la serrure, il y a plein d'issus derrière la porte.

En vert et en joie.

On verra si mon cœur est conquis.

Il y a encore des endroits.

Où je suis mal vu mais habillé en jean.

La rue tu as promis de les merveilles.

La rumeur fait du bruit dans les parages.

Du coup, on s'occupe de la bouche de vieille.

Rajoute encore une couche de zele.

Attention, vérifie ça.

Jalousie paralyse, alerte, aurant, fis.

La vie d'artiste, la dernière fois tu manquais, mais je te parle plus, parle plus d'eux bas.

À cœur ouvert, il y a du suspect, la tête à la cover.

Fais peur aux hautes sphères, les bruits, les odeurs.

Ça dérangeait pas qu'en fallait trouver des bosseurs ou des soldats.

Toi jette le gardien de mon frère.

Si c'est un match à Pogbag.

Chacun son combat, qui se ressemble, s'assemble mais attire son contraire.

On veut la source pour sauter l'intermédiaire.

Dans mon dos, ils m'appellent par des termes odieux.

5 minutes de rap sans refrain mélodieux.

Ils pleurent des balles, je me vise un imperméable.

Un jour ça coince, on est pas malléable.

Ma chute fera peu de malheureux.

On veut tous un train de vie chaleureux et agréable.

Ce qui ramène pas de soucis.

Qu'est-ce qui ramène pas du cisse aussi ?

Tu as même pas besoin de percer.

Roubaix, Roubaix, gros.

Visual suspect la tête à la pochette.

Vous êtes qu'deux fois les Red Brick.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Minuit /minɥi/ A2	noun - midnight; twelve o'clock at night
Suspect /syspɛkt/ B1	noun - suspect (person thought to be guilty) adjective - suspicious; questionable
Bureau /byʁo/ A1	noun - office; desk
Roubaix /ʁubɛ/ C2	noun - Roubaix (a city in northern France)
guedro /ɡədʁo/ C1	noun - drugs, narcotics (slang)
dérapage /deʁapaʒ/ B2	noun - skid, swerve (car); blunder, mistake (figurative)
doctorat /dɔktɔʁa/ B2	noun - doctorate degree, PhD
rasoir /ʁazwaʁ/ B2	noun - razor adjective - boring, tedious, dull (informal, figurative)
ascenseur /asɑ̃sœʁ/ A2	noun - elevator, lift
rentabiliser /ʁɑ̃tabilize/ B2	verb - to make profitable, to monetize, to optimize returns
thérapie /teʁapi/ B1	noun - therapy
trou de balle /tʁu d(ə) bal/ C2	noun - asshole (vulgar insult for a despicable person)
exterminer /ɛkstɛʁmine/ B2	verb - to exterminate, to wipe out
bâtard /bataʁ/ B2	noun - bastard (illegitimate child or pejorative/slang for a tough, resilient, or unpleasant person) adjective - illegitimate; hybrid; bastard (pejorative)
pipelette /piplɛt/ B2	noun - chatty person, blabbermouth, gossip
serein /səʁɛ̃/ B1	adjective - serene, calm, peaceful
pute /pyt/ C1	noun - whore, slut, bitch (vulgar insult)
honoraires /ɔnɔʁɛʁ/ B2	noun - fees (professional fees for services)
criminalité /kʁiminalite/ B2	noun - criminality, crime
malléable /malɛabl/ B2	adjective - malleable, pliable, adaptable; easily influenced

Key Grammar Structures

• Laisse-moi un peu que je t'explique.

  ➔ Colloquial Subjunctive of Purpose

  ➔ In formal French, expressing purpose usually requires conjunctions like 'afin que' or 'pour que'. However, in informal or spoken French, a simple "que" can introduce a subordinate clause in the subjunctive (here, "je t'explique") to express purpose or an implied command. It's similar to 'Let me explain to you'.

• Même pour voler garer, on aurait pris le gun.

  ➔ Past Conditional (Conditionnel Passé)

  ➔ The "conditionnel passé" (formed with auxiliary 'avoir' or 'être' in the conditional present + past participle) expresses a hypothetical action or event that would have happened in the past under a certain condition, but did not. Here, "on aurait pris" indicates a past action that would have occurred, emphasizing past recklessness.

• j'ai pas pris qu'une de ta.

  ➔ Restrictive Negation "ne...que" (informal "pas que")

  ➔ The phrase "ne...que" means 'only' or 'nothing but'. In informal spoken French, the 'ne' is often omitted. So, "j'ai pas pris qu'une de ta" (short for 'je n'ai pas pris qu'une de tes choses') means 'I didn't just take one of yours,' implying a greater quantity or impact than just one.

• C'est plus du rap, c'est de la torture.

  ➔ Negation "ne...plus" (no longer/not anymore)

  ➔ The negation "ne...plus" indicates that an action or state that was previously true is no longer true. Here, "C'est plus du rap" (informal for 'Ce n'est plus du rap') means 'It's no longer rap,' implying that the music has evolved or become something else (metaphorically, torture).

• on a dû s'adapter.

  ➔ Passé Composé with modal verb "devoir" + reflexive infinitive

  ➔ This structure combines the "passé composé" of the modal verb "devoir" ('to have to') with a reflexive infinitive verb ("s'adapter" - 'to adapt oneself'). "On a dû" means 'we had to' or 'we must have,' expressing a past obligation or necessity, followed by the action 's'adapter'. It translates to 'we had to adapt ourselves'.

• Je repense aux peines du passé en rigolant.

  ➔ Gerundive (Present Participle with "en")

  ➔ The "gérondif" (formed with "en" + present participle) describes an action that occurs simultaneously with the main action, often indicating manner, means, or condition. Here, "en rigolant" ('while laughing' / 'by laughing') specifies how the subject is thinking about past troubles – with a laugh.

• faut que je me casse à Séville en.

  ➔ Impersonal expression "Il faut que" + Subjunctive (colloquial "faut que")

  ➔ The impersonal expression "il faut que" means 'it is necessary that' or 'one must,' and always requires the following verb to be in the subjunctive mood. In informal French, 'il' is often omitted, resulting in "faut que". Here, "faut que je me casse" means 'I must leave' or 'I need to go' (to Seville).

• Il suffit que je rappe pour que ça devienne culte.

  ➔ Complex Subjunctive Usage: "Il suffit que" and "pour que"

  ➔ This sentence features two clauses requiring the subjunctive. "Il suffit que" ('it's enough that') always takes the subjunctive for the following verb, here "je rappe". The result or purpose of this sufficient condition is then introduced by "pour que" ('in order that'), also requiring the subjunctive, here "ça devienne". It expresses a strong cause-and-effect or purpose.

• on ferait mieux de se taire.

  ➔ "Faire mieux de" in Conditional Present for advice/recommendation

  ➔ The expression "faire mieux de" means 'to do better to' or 'it would be better to'. When used in the conditional present ("on ferait mieux de"), it serves to give gentle advice or a strong recommendation. Here, "on ferait mieux de se taire" means 'we would do better to keep quiet' or 'we should really keep quiet'.

• Fallait m'aider quand j'étais sur le brancard.

  ➔ Impersonal verb "falloir" in the Imparfait ("Il fallait")

  ➔ The impersonal verb "falloir" ('to be necessary') is used to express obligation or necessity. In the imparfait, "il fallait" indicates a past obligation or something that was necessary or required at a particular time in the past. In informal French, 'il' is often dropped, as seen here. "Fallait m'aider" means 'You should have helped me' or 'It was necessary to help me'.