Did this moment ever come to you when you have discovered some new music and sort of jumped from the chair to say - “Fuuuuuck! This. is. exactly. what. I. want.”? That moment came to me 5 days back when I discovered Bhanga Bangla.
I was looking for something to listen to while working and very casually searched Spotify. The title ‘4 AM In Dhaka’ gave a vibe that it could be cool. And boy oh boy! It was some experience.
Let me give you a little context about the band. The band has 3 members, Ivory Shakur, Young Prince and 41X. They all are Bangladeshi - Americans and because they are born and brought up somewhere else other than Bongo, they don’t speak Bangla very well. Thus the name of the band. Bhanga mean broken in Bangla.
They expertise in mumble rap. Following is a quick definition from Wikipedia.
“Mumble rap is a loosely defined microgenre of hip hop that largely spread on the online audio distribution platform SoundCloud in the 2010s. The term implies a mumbling or unclear vocal delivery by artists, and may generally refer to rappers who do not share the genre’s typical emphasis on lyricism”
The descrption of this video gives a brief understanding. Let me put the whole thing below.
“The Evolution Of Mumble Rap.
Mumble rap - the most recent art form of rapping - or arguably the art of not rapping. Rather than rapping clearly, eloquently, articulately and with prowess and esteem, mumble rappers string occasional words together, like “cat”, “sat” and if you’re lucky, “mat”. And mumble rappers tend to do just that, they mumble. #hiphopuniverse #evolutionofhiphop
Hip-hop has arguably been the best genre of music in the past two decades. As hip-hop maintains its title, a lot has changed about the genre, such as the lyrics. Hip-hop has two phases, old school and new school each of which give off a different vibe.
Old School “Hip-Hop” has music based prevalently on African American culture. Artists such as Tupac, Biggie Smalls, and Eazy-E often rap about the struggles of growing up in a racialized environment and the work they put in to get where they are today.
In popular songs such as “Changes” by Tupac and “Juicy” by Biggie Smalls, the artists explain how they went from “negative to positive” as Biggie put it.
Old school hip-hop is still popular today and is regarded as “classic” by many hip-hop fans.
“New school” hip-hop has different types of lyrics. Rappers from today’s generation sing typically about girls, money, and cars they have. Some even sing about how they do drgs, drink alchl, and party which sets a bad example for some listeners. Some of these rappers today did not have it as hard as rappers back in the old days. Also Hip-hop artists now are racially diverse, so African American culture is not necessarily found in music today.
People who grew up listening to Tupac, Biggie, Eazy-E, and so on typically do not enjoy hip-hop in today’s era. Songs written when rap was introduced were lyrically better because rappers were able to tell a story using words that rhyme and flow.
Some songs are also more appealing to fans because they can relate to the struggles their favorite rappers faced.
People of this generation are used to listening to new school hip-hop which is the most played genre on the radio. These same fans reject old school Hip-Hop as a part of the music genre. There are even rappers who know nothing about the most influential Hip-Hop artists.
Growing up listening to Eminem has caused me to fall in love with him as an artist. He introduced me to Hip-Hop. But I noticed a change in the music industry. Artists wanted to be part of the mainstream industry and they had to change their music to fit into the mainstream category.
Because of new artists in hip-hop, many lessen known artists are rarely noticed. These artists are said to be “underground.” Underground rappers usually do not make it big because they have music related to the messages embodied by old school hip-hop artists would say.
Some people think old school Hip-Hop is better than new school Hip-Hop. And there are many people who prefer underground Hip-Hop to mainstream Hip-Hop. What do you think?”
Since the lyrics are not that important, the prime focus goes on towards the delivery and music arrangement. But even if the lyrics are not important, passing the message is still important. And they do it really well with only a few key-words. Rap is still poetry and that game is strong with them.
They have received both extreme love and extreme criticism from general people. Extreme love from people who understood / didn’t care about the lyrics. Extreme hate from people who didn’t like the lyrics and are more concerned about them being linked to Illuminati, Satan worship etc.
Personally, I think these are a bunch of extremely talented musicians. And the reason for me saying is the diversity in their music. All their songs are very different from each other. They of course, stay in the genre of mumble rap, but do change the story multiple times. They’ve created the group only for 2.5 years. At least, the first YouTube upload was in Jan, 2018. And in this timespan they’ve produced 9 songs, out of them I liked 8. Not just liked, I loved them. That’s insane for somebody like me who does not have a fixed set of favorite singers. Probably that happens when you understand what you are singing and you just don’t sing someone else’s writing for money. Ivory Shakur used to go by the name Gamble earlier and used to rap in English. His talent was apparent there as well. That’s why it feels like each of the songs are very carefully crafted, and has its own flavor. It doesn’t feel like noob music at all, because they’re actually not noobs.
The POV which I took while listening to them is that they always say things which they experience. And those take into account the fact all the hardships immigrants have to go through. Remember, that these people who migrated from Bangladesh to USA mostly are not very rich compared to their American neighbors. They are still richer than their countrymen but their children, the next generation of those immigrants don’t care about that and are looking for an identity. They also are victims of racism much and thus they speak against that also.
If you take a random very stressed person and track down his/her thought process you’ll understand how they match with Bhanga Bangla’s lyrics. A stressed person will sometimes be numb to more stress, sometimes will try to escape. Sometimes s/he will curse an imaginary and vague enemy, sometimes the whole damn society. Those curses will also not have any specific meanings in many cases. They’ll just be random badmouthing to the enemy’s family members or women in his family.
The following are their songs that I liked, in no particular order, with YouTube links.
I didn’t like their latest release, Rani. Also, the village is practically an English rap with Bangla words sprinkled on it.
Listen all their songs in Spotify.
Media presence:
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/music/news/la-hip-hop-crew-bhanga-bangla-outs-their-new-single-borof/articleshow/69903981.cms
- funny fake interview, fans will like it: https://bengalbeats.com/interview-with-ivory-shakur
- https://hifipublic.com/2019/07/03/bhanga-bangla-on-sony-music-are-you-happy-or-terrified/
Surprisingly, I didn’t spot any serious discussion on their creations online. Most of the discussions are either cussing them for keeping a different hairstyle, Illuminati and not understanding the lyrics. Either that, or some reaction videos where some say it’s good and some say it’s not. Although, IMHO, their lyrics are extremely good, hits all the right spots and there should be a serious critique of these creations rather than just brushing them off as something which you’ll listen to only when you are high.
I thought in this case, I’ll go through some of their songs and will try to explain the way I understood them line by line. As of now, I’ve just penned down the lyrics of the song that I liked most. It’s something difficult given it’s mumble and their Bangla is actually, in the true sense of the word, ‘Bhanga’. So, takes some time to understand what actually they meant and sometimes I have to look up to the English translation to get it.
Verse of Ivory Shakur -
সমস্যা নাই
transliteration: somossa naai
translation: No problem
ঝামালা নাই
transliteration: jhamala naai
translation: No worries
ঝামালা নাই
transliteration: jhamala naai
translation: No worries
আমাদের মুখে তো হাসি
টাকাটা সুন্দর লাগে হাবিব
transliteration:
amader mukhe to haasi
taka ta sundor lage habib
translation:
We have smiles on our faces.
Money is pretty like Habib.
Explanation:
Despite poverty and struggle we are extremely happy and cheerful bunch of people. I’m yet to figure out the connection between money & Habib.
আমরা খাই রুটি আর ভাজি
আমার সব ভাইয়েরা পাজি
transliteration: amra khai ruti aar bhaji amar sob bhai era paji translation: We eat flatbread with stir fry (popular Bengali breakfast) All my brothers are hooligans (keep away from us) explanation: This first verse slowly introduces the kind of background the rapper comes from.
তোমাদের মাইয়ারা মাগি
তোমাদের মাইয়ারা মাগি
transliteration:
tomader maiya ra maagi
tomader maiya ra maagi
translation:
Your women are hoes
Your women are hoes
explanation: Nothing much. Just plain badmouthing the enemy, whosoever he considers as enemy.
চল না হাতে তো চাবি
চুল পুরা বাঙলা টেকাশি
transliteration:
cholo na haate to chabi
chul pura Bangla Tekashi
translation:
Let’s go (to a room, you hoe), I have keys in my hand
Colored hair like Tekashi, I am Bangla Tekashi
Explanation:
He’s behaving like a frustrated person. At one moment, he thinks the women are are hoes here. But at the same moment he asks those same women to have sex with him. Tekashi is a famous rapper with multi-colored hair.
তোমাদের মুখে তো রাগ রাগ
আমরা খাই লেবু আর শাক
transliteration:
tomader mukhe to rag (rag)
amra khai lebu aar shak (shak)
translation:
You guys are angry with us, mad at us
We eat lemons and leafy veggies. They mentioned spinach in their translation.
Explanation:
The rapper mentions about racism and veganism for the first time in this song.
আমার মেয়ের শাড়িটা লাল
transliteration: amar meyer shari ta laal
translation: my girl wears a red sari
Explanation:
Nothing much.
এখানে আন্টিরা পান খায়
transliteration:
ekhane auntie ra paan khay
translation:
Ladies here eat paan.
Explanation:
He’s again talking about his own folks. The Indian subcontinent people traditionally consume tobacco with Paan. Before British people came, paan was the way of consuming tobacco with Jorda. (Not to be confused with Jorda rice.)
বাংলাদেশ থেকে তো মুম্বাই
transliteration: Bangladesh theke to Mumbai
translation: From Bangladesh to Mumbai
Explanation:
Draws a boundary of Indian subcontinent from East to West.
যেফের এর মতো তো গান গাই
transliteration: Xefer er moto to gaan gaai
translation: I sing like Xefer.
Explanation: Xefer is a Bangladeshi female hiphop singer who sings in English.
কথাটা কম, তুমি কে? কে?
কথাটা কম, তুমি কে? কে?
transliteration:
Kotha ta kom, tumi ke? (ke?)
Kotha ta kom, tumi ke? (ke?)
translation:
Shut your mouth, who are you?
Shut your mouth, who are you?
Explanation:
This is how brown households shut their children up. This is an extremely common technique of scolding children and not paying attention to them just because they are younger and inexperienced. Teenagers are major victim of this kind of behavior and they themselves also learn to scold others like that.
আমরা তো রাতে তো নাচছি (নাচছি)
শিশা আর গাঞ্জা তো খাচ্ছি (খাচ্ছি)
transliteration:
amra to rate to nachchhi (nachchhi)
shisha aar ganja to khachchhi (khachchhi)
translation:
We are dancing all night.
We are having sheesha and ganja.
Explanation:
He’s again explaining the kind of life he goes through.
আমাদের সবকিছু দামী, দামী
transliteration:
amader sob kichhu daami (daami)
translation:
Everything here is expensive.
Explanation:
This talks about the high living cost in big cities in USA. It’s difficult to make a living there, more so if you are an immigrant not with a six-figure job.
আমার মেয়ের বিয়ে তো চাই
ওর আব্বু তো এমবিএ তো চাই
আমার তো এমবিএ নাই
transliteration:
amar meyer biye to chai
or abbu to MBA chaay
amar to MBA naai
translation:
My girlfriend wants to maary
But her Abbu (father) wants (her husband to have) an MBA
I don’t have an MBA
Explanation:
The brown households have a lot of say in marriages of their children. Indian & BDeshi & Pakistani people still have the concept of arranged marriage very much and they do look for swanky jobs (at least financial stability) when they marry their daughters off.
বুদ্ধি আর টাকাটা লম্বা
নিচে নাম মুখে নাও কলা
transliteration:
buddhi aar taka ta lomba
neeche naam mukhe naao kola
translation:
intellect and money too long
get down and take banana in your mouth
Explanation:
Intellect and money too long (for me, for I am a dumbo.)
(I don’t want to think about this any further, so get the fuck outta here. Let’s stop this discussion.)
সমস্যা নাই
সমস্যা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration:
somossa naai
somossa naai aai aai aai
translation:
No worries
No worries …
Explanation: Nada.
সমস্যা নাই
সমস্যা নাই
transliteration:
somossa naai
somossa naai aai aai aai
translation:
No problem
No problem …
Explanation:
Nada.
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
ঝামালা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration:
jhamala naai
jhamala naai aai aai aai
translation:
no worries
no worries …
Explanation:
Nada.
সমস্যা নাই
সমস্যা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration:
somossa naai
somossa naai aai aai aai
translation:
no problem
no problem …
Explanation:
Nada.
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
transliteration:
jhamala naai jhamala naai
jhamala naai jhamala naai
jhamala naai jhamala naai
translation:
no worries no worries
no worries no worries
no worries no worries
Explanation:
NA
Verse of 41X -
ঝামালা আমার তো নাই
ত্র মাইয়া তো আমাকে চায়
transliteration:
jhamala amar to naai
tor maiya to amake chaay
translation:
I don’t have any worries.
Your girl wants me.
Explanation:
Nothing deep, badmouthing enemy.
বন্দুক আর গুলি তো আছে তো (ব্রাআহ)
বাঁড়া তো বাজে তো পায় * (পায়)
transliteration:
bonduk aar guli to achhe to (brrh)
translation:
guns and ammo all on me
Explanation:
Simple bragging.
আমার তো ধৈর্য নাই (নাই)
স্টুপিডেরা মাংস তো খায় (খায়)
transliteration:
amar to dhoirjo naai (naai)
stupid era mangsho to khaay (khaay)
translation:
I don’t have any patience. (none)
Stupid people eat meat. (eat)
Explanation:
They promote the idea of being vegan. Killing an animal for food is bad according to them and they act like people who eat meat are stupid. I disagree with them in this regard, but that’s okay.
গুষ্টিটা মরে তো যায় (গুষ্টি)
আমি কি বলছি তরে, নায়? (বলসি)
transliteration:
gusti ta more to jaay (gusti)
ami ki bolsi tore, naay (bolsi)
translation:
Your people will die (people)
Didn’t I tell you? (I did)
Explanation:
He’s saying people who are not vegan will die and he’s warning everyone multiple times.
এরকম করে খেলে তোমরা সবাই মরে যাবা (ইয়া বা)
মাংস ছেড়ে ফেলে তোমরা সবাই জিতে যাবা (যাবা)
transliteration:
erom kore khele amra sobai more jabo (ya ba)
mangsho chhere fele amra sobai jite jaba (jaba)
translation:
We will all die if this kind of food habit persists.
(but) we can live if we leave meat eating.
Explanation:
NA
বরফ গলাটার উপরে (উপরে)
সকালে বিকালে দুপুরে ((দুপুরে))
transliteration:
Borof gola tar upore (upore)
sokale bikale dupure (dupure)
translation:
Ice on my neck (on my neck)
In the morning, in the afternoon, during the noon (noon)
Explanation:
He’s numb in pain. Pain is ruthless. And that makes his neck numb. Think of a cold revolver pipe touching your neck. It will feel cold. At the same time you’ll feel scared and numb.
মাইয়া তোর ভিজা লাইক পুকুর - এহ (প্ররর)
দিব তো পিছে লাইক কুকুর - এহ (উউহ)
transliteration:
Maiya tor bhija, like pukur - eh (prrr)
dibo to pichhe, like kukur - eh (uuh)
translation:
your girl is wet, like a pond
Will give it to her, like a dog
Explanation:
Random badmouthing to enemy.
৪১, ৪১, ৪১, এক্স
ভাঙ্গা, ভাঙ্গা বাঙলা (বাঙলা)
transliteration:
41, 41, 41 X
রেস্ট ইন পিস, রেস্ট ইন পিস
মিনহাজ মিনহাজ (ভাইয়া)
transliteration:
Rest in peace, Rest in peace
Minhaj Minhaj (bhaiya)
Explanation: In memory of bhaiya (brother) Minhaj who died due to plane crash on the way to NY from BD.
আকাশে ঘুমায় তো বাবা (বাবা)
গান বাজনায় আমি এখানে অনেক বানাই টাকা
transliteration:
akashe ghumay to baba (baba)
gaan bajnay ami ekhane onek banai (taka)
translation:
(My) father sleeps in the sky (father)
I make a lot of money here in music (money)
সমস্যা নাই
সমস্যা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration:
somossa nai
somossa nai aai aai aai
সমস্যা নাই
সমস্যা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration:
somossa nai
somossa nai aai aai aai
সমস্যা নাই
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
ঝামালা নাই আই আই আই
transliteration: somossa nai
jhamala nai jhamala nai
jhamala nai aai aai aai
ঝামালা নাই ঝামালা নাই
transliteration:
jhamala nai jhamala nai
Verse of Young Prince
ঝামালা নাই
আমরা তো গাঁজা খাই ভাই (ভাই))
transliteration:
Somossa nai
amra to ganja khai bhai.
translation:
No worries.
We are weed addicts.
Explanation:
We started to forget all the problems once we started smoking weed.
আকাশে আকাশে (উউহ)
আমরা তো দুবাই তে যাই (যাই)
transliteration:
akashe akashe (uuh)
amra to Dubai to jai (jai)
translation:
In the sky (uuh)
As if we travel to Dubai (Go)
Explanation:
We are so high as if we travel to Dubai every other day.
নাচিতে নাচিতে উউহ (উউহ)
বাসা তোর পানির পাশে (উউহ)
ওদেরকে ডুবাইতে চাই (উউহ)
transliteration:
nachite nachite uuh (uuh)
basa tor paanir pashe (uuh)
oder ke dubai te chai (uuh)
translation:
dancing dancing uuh (uuh)
your place is beside the water(body) (uuh)
I want to drown them there (uuh)
ওদের তো বোধ ই তো নাই (উউহ)
transliteration:
oder to bodh i to naai (uuh)
translation:
They got no common sense (uuh)
ওরা ফাজিল খালি বলে
“where’s the party” (huhhh)
transliteration:
ora faazil khali bole
“where’s the party” (huhhh)
translation:
all these fuckboys always asking
“where’s the party” (huhhh)
Explanation:
The usual clash between the conservative usual Indian subcontinent values and the American culture. The teenager friends a kid in an immigrant family will have, will behave very differently than themselves and if they immigrant ones are in poverty, they just can’t decide which way to grow up to.
ছয় ফিট নিচে মাটির রাখি (ওদের বডি)
ইয়ং শারুখ খান, সাল্মান খান
ব্রাউন বেঙ্গালি (ব্রাউন বেঙ্গালি)
আইশার্যা রাই, সুন্দর শাড়ি, লাল পাঞ্জাবি।
transliteration:
Chhoy feet niche matir rakhi (oder body)
(amra) Young Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan
Brown Bengali (brown bengali)
Aisharya Rai, Sundor Shari, Laal Panjabi
translation:
We put six feet down the ground (their bodies)
(we are) young Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan
Brown Bengali, (Brown Bengali)
Aisharya Rai, beautiful sari, red panjabi
Explanation:
What do we even lack? We have Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aisharya Rai etc. We also have beautiful clothes. Why do we even think ourselves as small?
লাল বুগাটি, ল্যাম্বরগিনি, ফেরারি গাড়ি
বড় বাড়ি,
কোথাও যাই, বন্দুক আনি
transliteration:
laal Bugati, Lamborghini, Ferrari gaari
boro baari
kothao jaai, bonduk aani
translation:
Red Bugati, Lamborghini, Ferrari car
I go anywhere, I carry guns
Explanation:
Continuing from previous para, it just means don’t think yourself small.
ঝামেলা ঝামেলা চাই না
ক্লের তো পানি তো খাই না (খাই না)
transliteration:
Jhamela Jhamela chai naa
Koler to paani to khai na (khai na)
translation:
I don’t want any nuissance.
I don’t drink tap water. ( I don’t)
Explanation:
I am not an anybody. I am someone special. I don’t mind general people and their thoughts (tap water).
আমাদের মেয়ে তো finer
অ্যাল্কালাইন পানি ফ্রম থাইল্যান্ড (উউহ)
transliteration:
amader meye to finer
Alkaline water from Thailand
translation:
Our women are finer.
Alkaline water from Thailand
Explanation:
Continuation of previous para. We are so special we import alkaline water from Thailand and drink that in stead of regular tap water.
বাংলাদেশ টাইগার্স, নো লায়ন্স (ইয়িই)
transliteration:
Bangladesh tigers, no lions (yeee)
সমস্যা নাই (সমস্যা নাই)
সমস্যা নাই আই আই আই
সমস্যা নাই (সমস্যা নাই)
সমস্যা নাই ঝামালা নাই
ঝামালা নাই (ঝামালা নাই)
ঝামালা নাই আই আই আই
ঝামালা নাই (ঝামালা নাই)
ঝামালা নাই (ঝামালা নাই)
transliteration:
somossa nai (somossa nai)
somossa nai ai ai ai
somossa nai (somossa nai)
translation:
No problem no worries (multiple times)
Overall Comment
Overall the song pleads the stress of an immigrant kid fighting for identity crises who is stuck between multiple cultures and is on a quest to find out who he is. Brown kids do not have very close relationships with their parents. More so if they are poor. Those kids don’t really know how to help the family even if they want to. That suppressed stress is beautifully portraied in the song.
Young Prince is superb. His verse was extremely good. I didn’t get anything in 41X’s verse. I don’t know if I am misreading it. Ivory Shakur was the hidden rhythm which bound the whole thing together. I am yet to think about the video representation they produced and write my comments on them.