Hmmm – English Lyrics

• By: Chris Brown, Davido
• Album: 11:11 Deluxe

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "Hmmm" by Chris Brown and Davido, a vibrant Afrobeat and R&B blend perfect for immersing yourself in new sounds. This song offers a fantastic opportunity to learn Nigerian Pidgin English through Chris Brown's authentic delivery, enhancing your cultural understanding and appreciation for global music. Its catchy rhythms and confident lyrics make it a special and engaging track for any language learner.

[English]

Road clear

Freeway

Yeah, yebo

Ah, who dat?

Baddest

So mi (hmmm)

So mi so-so (hmmm)

I don know know (hmmm)

Make them dey turn up (hmmm)

They no see me coming (hmmm)

Are you ready for me? (hmmm)

Energy like cocaine (hmmm)

Crème de la, de la crème (hmmm)

Ah, ayy

When Oluwa CB enter

Them no go gree you to enter, malo oh

Ah, ayy

Shey you want to see mental?

I don give them back to sender, why not?

Soldier

Policeman

Many, many, many, many men

In my convoy

The boy no dey take insult

If you jonze, dem go give you uppercut

And, as the money don dey come like curse

Nothing will fit stop the sauce

Ah, ayy

When Oluwa CB enter

Them no go gree you to enter, malo oh (ye)

Ah, ayy

Shey you want to see mental?

I don give them back to sender, why not?

Ah, ayy

When Oluwa CB enter

Them no go gree you to enter, malo oh

Ah, ayy

Shey you want to see mental?

I don give them back to sender, why not?

Big bakassi

Under the influence

She wanna get freaky, freaky (she wanna get freaky)

Make your boyfriend no go dey vex

Tell me what you want from me

You wey I see for Ozumba Mbadiwe

She said she tryna get off the streets

You wey I see for Ozumba Mbadiwe

Soldier

Policeman

Many, many, many, many men

In my convoy

The boy no dey take insult

If you jonze, them go give you uppercut

And, as the money don dey come like curse

Nothing will fit stop the sauce (freeway)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
clear /klɪər/ A2	adjective - easy to see, hear, or understand verb - to remove unwanted things or people
freeway /ˈfriːˌweɪ/ B1	noun - a main road for fast-moving traffic, with no turns or crossings
baddest /ˈbædɪst/ B2	adjective - superlative of 'bad'; slang for excellent or formidable
ready /ˈrɛdi/ A1	adjective - prepared or available for something
energy /ˈɛnərdʒi/ A2	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity
cocaine /koʊˈkeɪn/ C1	noun - a powerful illegal stimulant drug
crème de la crème /ˌkrɛm də lə ˈkrɛm/ C1	idiom - the best of the best
enter /ˈɛntər/ A2	verb - to come or go into a place
mental /ˈmɛntl/ B1	adjective - relating to the mind
sender /ˈsɛndər/ B1	noun - a person or organization that sends something
soldier /ˈsoʊldʒər/ A2	noun - a person who serves in an army
policeman /pəˈliːsmən/ A2	noun - a male member of a police force
convoy /ˈkɒnˌvɔɪ/ B2	noun - a group of ships or vehicles traveling together for mutual support
insult /ˈɪnsʌlt/ B1	noun - a disrespectful remark or action verb - to treat with a great lack of respect
uppercut /ˈʌpərˌkʌt/ B2	noun - a blow with a clenched fist, especially one directed upward
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
curse /kɜːrs/ B1	noun - a supernatural force that brings bad luck verb - to utter profanities
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to cease to move or do something
sauce /sɔːs/ A2	noun - a liquid or semi-liquid food, served with other food noun - slang for style, swagger, or charisma
influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ B2	noun - the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something verb - to have an influence on
freaky /ˈfriːki/ B1	adjective - strange and unusual; erotically suggestive
boyfriend /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/ A2	noun - a girl's or woman's male partner in a romantic relationship
vex /vɛks/ C1	verb - to make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially in an unimportant way
streets /striːts/ A2	noun - public roads in a city or town

Key Grammar Structures

• Are you ready for me?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure, present continuous used as a question.

  ➔ This is a direct question to the listener, using the auxiliary verb "are" to form the question. The phrase "ready for me" implies anticipation of something significant.

• Energy like cocaine

  ➔ Simile, using 'like' to compare energy to cocaine (metaphorical).

  ➔ This line uses a strong metaphor to convey intense energy. The comparison to cocaine isn't literal, but suggests a highly addictive and powerful feeling.

• The boy no dey take insult

  ➔ Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) - Negative construction with 'no dey' (does not).

  ➔ "The boy" refers to the artist. "No dey take" means "does not accept" or "will not tolerate". 'Insult' refers to disrespectful behavior.

• If you jonze, dem go give you uppercut

  ➔ Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) - Conditional sentence with 'if' clause and future consequence. 'Jonze' is slang.

  ➔ "Jonze" likely means to act foolishly or provocatively. "Dem go give you" means "they will give you". An "uppercut" is a punch.

• And, as the money don dey come like curse

  ➔ Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) - Continuous aspect ('don dey come') indicating ongoing influx of money. 'Like' used for comparison.

  ➔ The phrase suggests money is arriving rapidly and uncontrollably, likened to a curse (something unwanted but inevitable). 'Don dey' indicates the money has been coming for a while and continues to do so.