KAFINI – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: TIF, ELGRANDETOTO

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and cultural journey with "KAFINI" by TIF and ELGRANDETOTO. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn the nuances of Arabic dialects from Algeria and Morocco, woven into the global language of hip-hop. The lyrics, rich with expressions of struggle, resilience, and cultural pride, provide a special window into the hearts and minds of North African youth. Learning the language of "KAFINI" is not just about words, but about understanding a shared heritage and the powerful emotions that connect people across borders.

[English]

I have a green stamp in my passport

I don’t think we were made the same

When my mom was watching for the dealer

I only had my hunger, it was my guide

I make music that gets exported,

I’m not running for a salary anymore

One hand screwing things up, 10, I shouldn’t prolong this

I wanted the cash, but there’s prestige in the packaging

I’m still the same, but stronger

It brings in the money, it makes you poorer

There are always 2-3 scoundrels, but that’s normal, it’s the game

You spend money, you lock up feelings

I have what you lack, I’m your antidote

You’re not doing so bad, even if my heart is bleeding

I haven’t said a word, but you’ll know, some silences have weight

2-3 kilos, some are dead, it’s hard not to get lost in it

He put all his hatred into the bump (drugs)

I’m not necessarily doing well, but

Bro, it’s not that bad

That’s the life of an artist

If you’re not doing so bad

Goodbye, green buildings

I already know what I need to do

We need to look at the life we lead

We need to look at the life we lead

It’s not so easy, I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

Turn the ember around without adding to it

I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

It’s already been 9 years and we’re still shooting (drugs)

Just with a drum, we’ll do it

Several cities, several departments, we’re getting by with music and hustle

We’re growing up with our homeland, we’re getting used to it

Mom, dad, and that’s good

I’m not your friend even if you offered me a drink

There are no buddies, no little brothers

There are no buddies, no little brothers

You’re not the one to tell us what we’re doing

You’re not the one to tell us how much the hero (drugs) costs

You’re not the one to tell us how much we sell it for

We saved for a visa, a place, and my languages

If I didn’t rap, I’d be getting by

If we were still hustling in the white city, we’d be getting by

Your Sofitel (luxury hotel) reminds me of you on summer evenings

Bre-som (a place) towards the end, even though I started to romanticize

Bro, it’s not that bad

That’s the life of an artist

If you’re not doing so bad

Goodbye, green buildings

I already know what I need to do

We need to look at the life we lead

We need to look at the life we lead

It’s not so easy, I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

Turn the ember around without adding to it

I’ve already had enough with what’s inside me

[French]

J'ai couleur verte sur le passaporte

J'crois pas qu'on soit fait pareil

Quand la dar' guettait le biff

J'n'avais que ma dalle c'était le guide

J'fais de la peufra qui s'exporte,

j'cours plus pour un salaire

Une main en visser 10, nachav faut pas qu'j'méternise

J'voulais que le cash mais y'a de la fame dans le packaging

J'suis toujours le même mais en plus fort

Ça ramène l'oseille ça te rend plus pauvre

Y'a toujours 2-3 bâtards mais normal c'est le makachi

Argent tu dépenses, sentiments tu coffres

J'ai ce dont tu manques, j'suis ton antidote

T'es jamais mal visser, même si j'ai l'coeur qui saigne

J'ai pas dit un mot mais tu sauras, certains silences ont de l'aura

2-3 kils y'en a qui dead, difficile de pas s'y perdre

Il a mis toute sa haine dans le bum-al

Là j'suis pas forcément dans le bon mais

Gros c'est pas si mauvais

La vie d'artiste en fait

Si t'es pas si mauvais

Adios bâtiments verts

J'sais déjà c'qu'il faut faire

Faut voir la vie qu'on mène

Faut voir la vie qu'on mène

Pas si facile déjà kafini li fiya

Déjà kafini li fiya

Tfatel jemra bla matzidili kiya

Déjà kafini li fiya

Ca fait deja 9 piges w 7na kan tiro

Gha b'tam-tam binga ndiro

Plusieurs villes plusieurs départements zerna b'mezzika w'mélo

Hna kayrebbiwna mawatna nti3ou

Lwalida walid w c bon

J'suis pas ton poto wakha chetni f l'apéro

Y'a pas de sahbi y'a pas de frérot

Y'a pas de sahbi y'a pas de frérot

Machi nta li atgoulina ch'han dirou

Machi nta li tgoulina bch7al l'héro'

Machi nta li tgoulina bch7al nbi3oh

Sauvatna visa, mouka w mes langues

Koun ma rap koun rah kandi3o

Koun rah chaddine zan9a f lbayda nbi3o

Ta sofitel kayfekkerni m3ak f oumsiate

Bre-som vers la fin wakha bdit romancier

Gros c'est pas si mauvais

La vie d'artiste en fait

Si t'es pas si mauvais

Adios bâtiments verts

J'sais déjà c'qu'il faut faire

Faut voir la vie qu'on mène

Faut voir la vie qu'on mène

Pas si facile déjà kafini li fiya

Déjà kafini li fiya

Tfatel jemra bla matzidili kiya

Déjà kafini li fiya

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
verte /vɛʁt/ A1	adjective - green
fait /fɛ/ A1	verb - made verb - done
guettait /ɡɛtɛ/ B2	verb - was watching
biff /bif/ B1	noun - money (slang)
dalle /dal/ B1	noun - hunger (slang)
guide /ɡid/ A2	noun - guide
peufra /pœfʁa/ C1	noun - music, sound (slang)
exporte /ɛkspɔʁt/ B1	verb - exports
cours /kuʁ/ A1	verb - run
salaire /sɑlɛʁ/ B1	noun - salary
visser /vise/ B2	verb - to screw (slang: to be well-off, established)
nachav /naʃɑv/ C1	verb - to make someone wait, to stall (slang, from Arabic)
m'éternise /metɛʁniz/ B2	verb - to eternalize myself, to make myself last
cash /kaʃ/ A2	noun - cash
fame /fem/ A1	noun - fame
packaging /ˈpækədʒɪŋ/ B1	noun - packaging
fort /fɔʁ/ A1	adjective - strong
ramène /ʁamɛn/ B1	verb - brings
oseille /ɔzɛj/ B2	noun - money (slang, literally 'sorrel')
pauvre /pɔvʁ/ A2	adjective - poor
bâtards /batɑʁ/ B1	noun - bastards (derogatory term)
normal /nɔʁmal/ A1	adjective - normal
makachi /makatʃi/ C2	noun - enemy, adversary (slang, potentially from Arabic)
dépenses /depɑ̃s/ B1	verb - spend
sentiments /sɑ̃timɑ̃/ B1	noun - feelings
coffres /kɔfʁ/ B2	verb - lock away, store (slang for 'keep safe')
manques /mɑ̃k/ A2	verb - lack
antidote /ɑ̃tidɔt/ B2	noun - antidote
visser /vise/ B2	verb - screwed (slang: in a bad situation, not well-off)
saigne /sɛɲ/ B1	verb - bleeds
aura /oʁa/ B2	noun - aura
kils /kilo/ B1	noun - kilos (kilograms, often referring to drugs)
dead /dɛd/ A1	adjective - dead
perdre /pɛʁdʁ/ A2	verb - to lose
haine /ɛn/ B1	noun - hate
bum-al /bum.al/ C2	noun - money (slang, from Arabic)
mauvais /movɛ/ A1	adjective - bad
artiste /aʁtist/ A2	noun - artist
mène /mɛn/ B1	verb - leads, conducts
facile /fasil/ A2	adjective - easy
kafini /kafini/ C2	adjective - enough, sufficient (slang, potentially from Arabic)
fiya /fiya/ C2	noun - fire (slang, potentially from Arabic)
Tfatel /təfɛtɛl/ C2	verb - you spread, you scatter (slang, potentially from Arabic)
jemra /dʒɛmra/ C2	noun - ember (slang, potentially from Arabic)
kiyà /kiya/ C2	noun - coal, char (slang, potentially from Arabic)
pig /piʒ/ B1	noun - year (slang, short for 'pige')
tiro /tiʁo/ B2	verb - shoot, aim (slang: to strive, to work hard)
tam-tam /tɑ̃tɑ̃/ B2	noun - drum (onomatopoeia)
binga /biŋɡa/ C2	noun - drug, ecstasy (slang, potentially from Arabic)
ndiro /ndiʁo/ C2	verb - we do, we make (slang, potentially from Arabic)
villes /vil/ A2	noun - cities
départements /depaʁtəmɑ̃/ B1	noun - departments
zerna /zɛʁna/ C2	noun - bagpipes (slang, potentially from Arabic)
mezzika /mɛzzika/ C2	noun - music (slang, potentially from Arabic)
melo /mɛlo/ C2	noun - melody (slang, potentially from Arabic)
kayrebbiwna /kajʁebbiwna/ C2	verb - they raise us, they nurture us (slang, potentially from Arabic)
mawatna /mawatna/ C2	noun - our death (slang, potentially from Arabic)
ntîi3ou /ntiɛtu/ C2	verb - we obey, we follow (slang, potentially from Arabic)
Lwalida /lwalida/ C1	noun - mother (Arabic term)
walid /walid/ C1	noun - father (Arabic term)
poto /poto/ B2	noun - mate, buddy (slang)
chetni /ʃɛtni/ C2	verb - saw me (slang, potentially from Arabic)
apéro /apeʁo/ B1	noun - aperitif, pre-dinner drink/snack
sahbi /sahbi/ B2	noun - my friend (Arabic term)
frérot /fʁɛʁo/ B1	noun - little brother, bro (affectionate term)
Machi /matʃi/ C2	adverb - not (slang, potentially from Arabic)
atgoulina /atɡulina/ C2	verb - you tell us (slang, potentially from Arabic)
ch'han /ʃan/ C2	pronoun - what (slang, potentially from Arabic)
dirou /diʁu/ A1	verb - do
bch7al /bəʃħal/ C2	adverb - how much (slang, potentially from Arabic)
héro' /ero/ C1	noun - heroin (slang, contraction)
nbi3oh /nbiɛoh/ C2	verb - we sell it (slang, potentially from Arabic)
Sauvatna /sovɑtna/ C2	verb - saved us (slang, potentially from Arabic)
visa /viza/ A2	noun - visa
mouka /mouka/ C2	noun - face (slang, potentially from Arabic)
langues /lɑ̃ɡ/ A2	noun - languages
rap /ʁap/ B1	noun - rap (music genre)
kandi3o /kandiɛo/ C2	verb - we perish, we get lost (slang, potentially from Arabic)
chaddine /ʃadɛn/ C2	verb - we hold, we catch (slang, potentially from Arabic)
zan9a /zanqa/ C2	noun - street, alley (slang, potentially from Arabic)
lbayda /lbayda/ C2	noun - the white (slang, possibly referring to cocaine or something else white)
nbi3o /nbiɛo/ C2	verb - we sell (slang, potentially from Arabic)
Sofitel /sofitɛl/ B2	proper noun - Sofitel (hotel chain)
fekkerni /fɛkɛrni/ C2	verb - reminds me (slang, potentially from Arabic)
oumsiate /umsjate/ C2	noun - memories (slang, potentially from Arabic)
Bre-som /bʁɛsom/ C2	noun - sleep (slang, potentially from Arabic)
vers /vɛʁ/ A1	preposition - towards
fin /fɛ̃/ A1	noun - end
romancier /ʁɔmɑ̃sje/ B2	noun - novelist

Key Grammar Structures

• J'ai couleur verte sur le passaporte

  ➔ Use of 'avoir' (to have) to express possession/characteristic.

  ➔ The sentence means 'I have a green color on my passport,' implying a foreign passport. The verb **'avoir'** is used to indicate possession of the characteristic 'green' in relation to the passport.

• J'n'avais que ma dalle c'était le guide

  ➔ Use of 'n'…que' construction for emphasis (only).

  ➔ This translates to 'I only had my hunger as my guide.' The **'n'…que'** construction emphasizes that hunger was the *sole* motivating factor. It's a strong way to express limitation and prioritization.

• J'suis toujours le même mais en plus fort

  ➔ Use of comparative adverb 'plus' (more) with an adjective.

  ➔ This means 'I am still the same, but stronger.' **'Plus fort'** is a comparative construction indicating an increase in strength. It shows a change in degree.

• Argent tu dépenses, sentiments tu coffres

  ➔ Use of direct address and parallel structure (verb + object).

  ➔ This translates to 'Money you spend, feelings you lock away.' The sentence uses direct address (**'tu'**) and a parallel structure to create a stark contrast between how money and feelings are treated. The repetition of **'tu'** emphasizes the directness of the statement.

• Y'a toujours 2-3 bâtards mais normal c'est le makachi

  ➔ Use of colloquial language ('bâtards', 'makachi') and 'y'a' as a contraction of 'il y a'.

  ➔ This means 'There are always 2-3 bastards, but that's normal, that's the game.' **'Y'a'** is a very common colloquial contraction of 'il y a' (there is/are). **'Makachi'** is slang for 'the game' or 'the hustle'.