Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo (born 28 August 1986 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republi… Read Full Bio ↴Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo (born 28 August 1986 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo), known professionally as Mohombi, is a Swedish-Congolese R&B singer-songwriter and dancer. Mohombi is RedOne's first signing to 2101 Records in joint venture with Universal Music Group. From 2004 to 2008 Mohombi was part of the Swedish hip hop group Avalon with his brother Djo Moupondo. Mohombi released his debut solo single "Bumpy Ride" in August 2010. The single became a top-ten hit in many European countries, and was followed his debut studio album, MoveMeant in February 2011.

Mohombi was born to a Swedish mother and Congolese father. Raised as a child in the Congo, Mohombi and his family escaped the war-torn country for Stockholm, Sweden in 1999 when Mohombi was 12. His parents regularly exposed him to varied musical influences from early on in his childhood so that Mohombi soon developed his passion for song. Mohombi studied at Rytmus Music High School in Stockholm and made his stage debut at seventeen in the Swedish revival production of the cult show Wild Side Story. He pursued his studies and obtained his bachelor's degree in music and song from Stockholm’s Music Conservatory. He speaks Swedish, French, English and Lingala.

In Stockholm Mohombi and his brother Djo Moupondo, a local club DJ known as DJ Djo formed the group Avalon combining the dancehall and hip hop of the time with the distinctive African beats on which they were raised. From 2004 to 2008 the group sold over half a million records and won the All African Kora Awards, an African equivalent of the Grammy for the category Best Group - Diaspora Europe/Caribbean category, while Mohombi became a prolific songwriter in his own right. At this point music was only a part-time job, and looking for something more Mohombi headed to L.A. for a solo career.

Mohombi collaborated with Swedish rapper Lazee on "Do It", which was released in Sweden on 31 May 2010. It debuted at number nine on the Swedish Singles Chart. In Los Angeles Mohombi was introduced through friends to producer RedOne, whose own background is Swedish-Morrocan. The singer's debut single, "Bumpy Ride" is the first release on RedOne's label 2101 Records, a joint venture with Universal. It was released in the United States on 24 August 2010. Mohombi released "Miss Me" as his debut single in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2010. It features American rapper Nelly. His third single called "Dirty Situation" was released in Europe on 11 November and features R&B singer Akon. "Dirty Situation" is played at the beginning and then again later on in the middle of the music video for "Miss Me". Mohombi's debut album, MoveMeant was released in Europe Monday 28th February 2011 and is scheduled to be released in the US by the end of 2011.

Maraca
Mohombi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let me see your body
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Let me see your body
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!

Got my feet back on the floor
Hands on your bum bum
From behind girl you remind of a tam, tam
I got them lines
That'll make you wind
I'll make you smell, I'll make you taste like coco rum rum

This boy is there to get ya, and mami is latina
We run the club togeher
Tonight we gonna oh oh
Dale bonita... going loco
Keep moving on the dancefloor
Tonight we gonna oh oh

Let me see your body
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Let me see your body

Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!

We gonna sound like an orchestra... come come
You'll be rocking, I'll be rolling when we're done done
So dutty whine, DJ rewind
Now turn around let me enjoy your pretty front front

This boy is there to get ya, and mami is latina
We run the club togeher
Tonight we gonna oh oh
Dale bonita... going loco
Keep moving on the dancefloor
Tonight we gonna oh oh

Let me see your body
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Let me see your body
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
I wanna take you home
Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
Shake it up, shake it low
It's like that, ride the show
When your body goes
Like maraca-ca-ca-ca

Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!

Maraca-ca-ca, shake!
Maraca-ca-ca, shake!

Overall Meaning

The song Maraca by Mohombi is an upbeat dance track that encourages listeners to let go and shake their bodies like a maraca. The lyrics repeat the same phrases, alternating between English and Spanish, with the singer asking to see the listener's body and to take them home. The words also describe the physical sensations and movements of dancing, such as shaking and low-riding. The verses contain more explicit sexual references, with lines such as "hands on your bum bum" and "I'll make you smell, I'll make you taste like coco rum rum."

While Maraca's lyrics may seem repetitive and shallow at first glance, the song's true meaning lies in its ability to make listeners feel good and let loose. The catchy rhythm and danceable beat are meant to evoke a feeling of joy and freedom, urging listeners to forget their worries and embrace the present moment. The mix of English and Spanish also adds to this message, suggesting that music and dance can bring people of different cultures and backgrounds together.

Line by Line Meaning

Let me see your body
The singer is requesting to see the physical form of the person they are addressing

Like maraca-ca-ca-ca
The singer is asking the person to move their body in a way that imitates the sound of maracas

I wanna take you home
The singer desires to bring the person they are addressing back to their residence

Man, pa ra pa pa pa pa
An exclamation used to indicate excitement or enthusiasm

Shake it up, shake it low
The singer is requesting the person to move their body in a shaking motion, while keeping it close to the ground

It's like that, ride the show
The singer is describing a feeling of ease and effortlessness while performing

When your body goes
The singer is referencing the movements of the person they are addressing

Maraca-ca-ca-ca
The sound of maracas

Got my feet back on the floor
The singer is signaling a change in tempo, indicating a shift to a more grounded state

Hands on your bum bum
The singer is describing a personal and intimate interaction with the person they are addressing

From behind girl you remind of a tam, tam
The singer is comparing the person to the sound of a drum, likely referencing the shape or movement of the body

I got them lines
The singer has a way with words, and is confident in their ability to woo the person they are addressing

That'll make you wind
The singer is describing a lyric or set of lyrics that will make the person they are addressing move their body in a way that is pleasing to the singer

I'll make you smell, I'll make you taste like coco rum rum
The singer is promising that the experience of being with them will be sweet and intoxicating

This boy is there to get ya, and mami is latina
The singer is identifying as a boy/man and notes that the person they are addressing is a woman of Latin American descent

We run the club together
The singer and the person they are addressing are taking control of the club, both metaphorically and literally

Tonight we gonna oh oh
The singer is signaling a sense of excitement or anticipation for the events of the night

Dale bonita... going loco
The singer is using Spanish language to indicate excitement, translating to 'go pretty...go crazy'

Keep moving on the dancefloor
The singer is encouraging the person they are addressing to keep moving their body while dancing

We gonna sound like an orchestra...come come
The singer is noting that their combined movements with the person they are addressing will sound like a musical ensemble

You'll be rocking, I'll be rolling when we're done done
The singer is hinting at sexual interaction with the person they are addressing, describing their respective roles in the experience

So dutty whine, DJ rewind
The singer is referencing a Caribbean dance move and asking the DJ to repeat the preceding portion of the song

Now turn around let me enjoy your pretty front front
The singer is requesting the person they are addressing to turn around and show their front side, indicating sexual attraction

Contributed by Aria G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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