They were discovered after the compilation Rapattitude was released in the early 90's. Two official albums were released by Raggasonic: Raggasonic and Raggasonic 2, both produced by Frenchie. Their biggest hit was Sors Avec Ton Gun released in 1995 in conjunction with the cult French film by Matthieu Kassovitz, La Haine.
The two members of Raggasonic, Big Red and Daddy Mory are each now persuing solo carreers.
Rude Boy
Raggasonic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
{Refrain:}
Les bads-boys sont là
Les rude-boys sont là {x2}
Man lève-toi et surtout ne baisse pas les bras
Souviens-toi quand nos refrés étaient des rois
Je bluffe pas, black man sors de la lèrega
Il y a des frontières entre ton monde et le mien
L'un est presque sincère, l'autre est vraiment malsain
Tous nés de la lumière mais pas sur le même chemin
Nous sommes sensés être frères et nous donner la main
Mais là où il y a les affaires, il y a des opportuns
Qui violent le continent-mère et lui prennent ses biens
T'apprends pas ça dans des livres ou quand t'es lycéen
À croire que les profs préfèrent te voir grandir avec les tiens
{au Refrain}{x2}
L'enfer se trouve sur terre, il ne se trouve pas ailleurs
Ceux qui disent le contraire ne sont que des menteurs
Pourquoi tant de misère, et cela dans tous les secteurs?
Comment peut-on être fier de faire mourir avant l'heure
Des hommes, des familles entières sous l'oeil de l'oppresseur
Des enfants et des femmes qui crient dans la douleur?
Quand je vois tout ça, ça me fait mal au coeur
Tant que l'homme sera cruel, la vie ne sera pas meilleure
Il faut combattre les régimes totalitaires
Éliminer tous les fachos, tous les fefas qui sont sur cette terre
Tout ce que je te dis, faut pas le prendre à la légère
Si tu veux vivre en harmonie, faut arrêter la guerre
{Au refrain}{x2}
Partout ça tire et partout ça saigne
À chacun son martyre bouffé par les hyènes
Sur les murs il y a des slogans qui se peignent
Que crève ton pouvoir et que pourrisse ton règne!
Eh renoi pourquoi faut-il toujours que tu te plaignes?
Tu as pieds et mains libres mais à ton cerveau il y a une chaîne
Regarde les chinois et souviens-toi de Tien-Anmen
Ils n'ont pas lâché le combat jusqu'à ce que Hong-Kong leur revienne
{Au refrain}{x2}
The song "Rude Boy" by Raggasonic challenges the oppressive structures in society and encourages black men to stand up against them. The refrain begins with the lines "Les bads-boys sont là, Les rude-boys sont là" which translates to "The bad boys are here, the rude boys are here." This phrase is repeated twice, followed by the uplifting call to action "Man lève-toi et surtout ne baisse pas les bras" which means "Get up and don't give up." The song takes on a deeper meaning as it discusses the inequality and injustice that exists between different social classes, especially concerning people of different races. The lyrics mention how the world is divided into two categories, one that is almost honest and the other which is really unhealthy. The song references the divide between Africa and the rest of the world, stating that those in power exploit the African continent and take its resources. The song also advocates for ending totalitarian regimes and eliminating all forms of fascism.
The lyrics of "Rude Boy" offer a wake-up call to listeners, urging them to acknowledge and confront the injustices in society. Raggasonic's lyrics are a powerful message to people of all walks of life, encouraging them to stand up against oppression and work towards a more just future.
Line by Line Meaning
{Refrain:}
The bad boys are here, the rude boys are here. Man, stand up and don't give up. Remember when our brothers were kings. I'm not bluffing, black man, come out of the darkness. Wake up or the system will defeat you.
Il y a des frontières entre ton monde et le mien
There are borders between your world and mine. One is almost sincere, the other is really unhealthy. All born from the light but not on the same path. We are supposed to be brothers and give each other a hand.
L'un est presque sincère, l'autre est vraiment malsain
One is almost sincere, the other is really unhealthy.
Tous nés de la lumière mais pas sur le même chemin
All born from the light but not on the same path.
Nous sommes sensés être frères et nous donner la main
We are supposed to be brothers and give each other a hand.
Mais là où il y a les affaires, il y a des opportuns
But where there are business, there are opportunists. They violate the mother continent and take her goods. You don't learn this in books or when you're in high school. It's like the teachers prefer you to grow up with your own people.
Qui violent le continent-mère et lui prennent ses biens
They violate the mother continent and take her goods.
T'apprends pas ça dans des livres ou quand t'es lycéen
You don't learn this in books or when you're in high school.
À croire que les profs préfèrent te voir grandir avec les tiens
It's like the teachers prefer you to grow up with your own people.
{au Refrain}{x2}
The bad boys are here, the rude boys are here. Man, stand up and don't give up. Remember when our brothers were kings. I'm not bluffing, black man, come out of the darkness. Wake up or the system will defeat you.
L'enfer se trouve sur terre, il ne se trouve pas ailleurs
Hell is on earth, it's not somewhere else.
Ceux qui disent le contraire ne sont que des menteurs
Those who say otherwise are liars.
Pourquoi tant de misère, et cela dans tous les secteurs?
Why so much misery, in every sector?
Comment peut-on être fier de faire mourir avant l'heure
How can anyone be proud of making someone die before their time?
Des hommes, des familles entières sous l'oeil de l'oppresseur
Men, entire families, under the oppressor's watchful eye.
Des enfants et des femmes qui crient dans la douleur?
Children and women screaming in pain?
Quand je vois tout ça, ça me fait mal au coeur
When I see all this, it breaks my heart.
Tant que l'homme sera cruel, la vie ne sera pas meilleure
As long as man is cruel, life will not be better.
Il faut combattre les régimes totalitaires
We must fight totalitarian regimes.
Éliminer tous les fachos, tous les fefas qui sont sur cette terre
Eliminate all fascists, all fools who are on this earth.
Tout ce que je te dis, faut pas le prendre à la légère
Don't take what I'm telling you lightly.
Si tu veux vivre en harmonie, faut arrêter la guerre
If you want to live in harmony, you have to stop the war.
{Au refrain}{x2}
The bad boys are here, the rude boys are here. Man, stand up and don't give up. Remember when our brothers were kings. I'm not bluffing, black man, come out of the darkness. Wake up or the system will defeat you.
Partout ça tire et partout ça saigne
Everywhere there's shooting and bleeding.
À chacun son martyre bouffé par les hyènes
Everyone has their own martyrdom, devoured by hyenas.
Sur les murs il y a des slogans qui se peignent
On the walls, there are slogans being painted.
Que crève ton pouvoir et que pourrisse ton règne!
Let your power die and your reign rot!
Eh renoi pourquoi faut-il toujours que tu te plaignes?
Hey black man, why do you always have to complain?
Tu as pieds et mains libres mais à ton cerveau il y a une chaîne
You have free hands and feet, but your brain is chained.
Regarde les chinois et souviens-toi de Tien-Anmen
Look at the Chinese and remember Tiananmen.
Ils n'ont pas lâché le combat jusqu'à ce que Hong-Kong leur revienne
They didn't give up the fight until Hong Kong was returned to them.
{Au refrain}{x2}
The bad boys are here, the rude boys are here. Man, stand up and don't give up. Remember when our brothers were kings. I'm not bluffing, black man, come out of the darkness. Wake up or the system will defeat you.
Contributed by Jasmine A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.