I'm looking for partners to make a 3D animation about Sabotage's music.
This is a powerful and heavy task. You’ve pasted the lyrics to "Canão foi tão Bom" (and parts of "País da Fome"), which serves as both a biography of Sabotage’s life in the favela and a tragic prophecy of his own death.
To translate Sabotage, one must understand that he wasn't just rapping; he was reporting from a "war zone." His slang is deeply rooted in the São Paulo underworld of the 90s and early 2000.
"The rapper Sabotage was murdered in São Paulo. The 29-year-old musician was shot four times this Friday. In a crime still without explanation. He was rescued, but he didn't make it."
The Verse: Life in Canão
"Senhor, a dor dos seus herdou, ao menos peço a paz, o pobre réu agora é fel, perante os animais"
Translation: Lord, he inherited the pain of his people, I only ask for peace; the poor defendant is now bitter (gall), facing the animals (corrupt police/enemies).
The Slang & Context:
- Animais (Animals): Usually refers to "homens animais" (animalistic men), a term Sabotage used for police or those lost to the violence of the system.
- Jão: Short for "João," used like "Bro" or "Man."
- Clima embaçado: Literally "blurred weather." It means "tense/sketchy situation."
- 1000 Grau (Mil grau): "1000 degrees." Means something is intense, hardcore, or high-stakes.
- Esquenta o prato, estica: References to preparing cocaine (heating the plate, lining it up).
The Code of the Streets
"Aderiu 157, não quis pra ele o 12"
- 157: The Brazilian Penal Code for Armed Robbery. In the favela hierarchy, a "157" (robber) often had more respect than a "12."
- 12: The Penal Code for Drug Trafficking.
- Assinou e foi de bonde: "Signed [the papers] and went with the convoy." Means getting arrested and sent to prison.
- Rá-tá-tá: Onomatopoeia for gunfire.
The Reality of the "Espraiada" (Slum area)
"Na miguelagem ou então já sabe, só no sapatinho. Jamais irei dar mi..."
- Na miguelagem: To act sneaky or play dumb to get an advantage.
- No sapatinho: "In little shoes." Meaning keeping a low profile or acting stealthily.
- Dar mi (Dar milho): "To give corn." It means to mess up, to blow your cover, or to act like a "chicken" (snitch/coward).
- Zé Povinho: A very famous term in Brazilian rap. It refers to nosy people, haters, or snitches who watch your life just to see you fail.
- DEIC: The State Department of Criminal Investigations (Police).
The "Film" of the Crime
"Nem me liga ser uma vítima do crime genocida. Crocodilagem, traição..."
- Crocodilagem: "Crocodile move." Betrayal or a "snake" move. Someone pretending to be a friend to trap you.
- Enquadra a barca: When the police car (barca/ship) pulls you over or corners you.
- Cantar cromada: "The chrome [gun] sings." Meaning to open fire.
Grief and Loss
"O Binha chegou lá em casa... o Bagana tomou seis."
- Tomou seis: "Took six." Meaning he was shot six times.
- Pagou de xú: Acted like a fool or a "sucker."
- Descolar: To find out/uncover.
- Noves fora: A math term (casting out nines). Here it means "all things considered" or "in the end."
| Slang | Literal Translation | Meaning in the Song |
| Canão | Big Pipe | The name of the Favela where Sabotage lived. |
| 157 / 12 | Penal Codes | Robbery vs. Drug Dealing. |
| Lóki | Lucky/Loki | A "sucker," an amateur, or someone who talks too much. |
| Falsas biatch | False bi***es | Untrustworthy women/people in the scene. |
| Guerreiro | Warrior | Anyone surviving the hardships of the periphery. |
All credit to #sabotage