1) A rapper from Sweden.
2) … Read Full Bio ↴Two artists share the name Timbuktu.
1) A rapper from Sweden.
2) A rapper from London, Ontario.
1) Jason Diakité (born 11 January 1975 in Lund, Sweden), known under the stage name Timbuktu, is a Swedish rapper.
He is from Scania, the southernmost part of Sweden, and raps with a slight scanian accent. Having released four studioalbums and a live album he has firmly established himself as a political rapper, borrowing influences from folk music, American blues as well as music from West Africa and Jamaica. A Tribe Called Quest was Timbuktu's favourite rap group when he was a kid.
Timbuktu started rapping in the early 1990s, and quickly became very popular in the hip hop scenes of Malmö, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. In the mid 90s he formed the group Excel with the Danish producer Obi. In 2000, his first solo album, T2: Kontrakultur, was released, produced by Breakmecanix. The double album features one disc with tracks in English and the other disc in Swedish. At the same time as he was recording T2, Timbuktu toured with Petter and Thomas Rusiak.
Timbuktu has also recorded with members of Looptroop and he is a member of the Swedish Reggae group Helt Off and has played alot with the funk-group Damn!
Discography:
High five og 1 falaffel (2008)
Oberoendeframkallande (2007)
Alla vill till himlen men ingen vill dö (2005)
Live! m/ damn! (2004)
The båtten is nådd (2003)
W.D.M.D. (Wått's dö madderfakking diil?) (2002)
T2: Kontrakultur (2000)
2) Timbuktu is a member of the London, Ontario based hip hop group Toolshed. Timbuktu is also a member of Canada's Backburner crew.
Livets Samba
Timbuktu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Försöker sprida ljus o vill va som en liten lampa
Ibland känns det som en promenad i en sankmark
Som att nån har dubbat hela filmen på danska
Som att hela världens hopp fått plats i ett handskfack
Att min nästa anhalt är slutenanstalt
Jag reser mej som Fenix eller snubben från Framfab
O seglar sju hav utan att skutan den kantrarVill att solnedgångarna ska se ut som en Fanta
Att min röst hörs från Ulan Bator till Halmstad
Världen e upptagen med sökandet av slantar
Men jag vill tjäna en förmögenhet i handklapp
Jag har växt genom asfalt som jag va en planta
Upprepat jag kan jag kan som det va ett mantra
O bara fortsatt att banka som jag varit pantad
Tills jag fått höra livets harmonier i samklang
Livet ska va en samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Livet ska va en samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
Livet ska va en samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Livet ska va en samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
Rappar om livet för liv o rim e det samma
Lämnar du inga luckor så hinner du inte andas
Fick en ring under ena ögat sen under det andra
Jag kollade mej i spegeln jag såg ut som en panda
Sprang o sprang o sprang vill inte stanna
En fis från att korthuset det ramla
Jag trodde nog min skjorta va gjuten i pansar
Men varenda jävla ursäkt kändes begagnadTrodde Alexander Lukas men jag va Kalle Anka
Nya problem innan jag hade löst dom gamla
Så långt krig inom mej jag kunde hetat Sri Lanka
Måste böjt minst varannan spik på plankan
Cementskor stora nog o jobba på Skanska
För lite luft höll mej strandsatt i en ankdamm
Så man får va samlad o ta korrekt ansats
Annars kanske drömmarna hamnar i nån sorts pantbank
Livet ska va en samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Livet ska va en samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
Livet ska va en samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Livet ska va en samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
The lyrics of Timbuktu's song "Livets Samba" convey a message about embracing life and spreading positivity. The artist raps about the challenges and setbacks that life presents but emphasizes the importance of persevering and finding happiness in the midst of it all.
In the first verse, Timbuktu describes life as a samba, a lively and energetic dance. He compares his efforts to spread light and positivity to that of a small lamp. However, he acknowledges that sometimes life feels like walking in quicksand or watching a movie dubbed in a language he doesn't understand. Despite these obstacles, he maintains hope and determination. He references mythical and historical figures like the phoenix (Fenix) and the explorer from Framfab, symbolizing his resilience and ability to overcome adversity. He desires that his voice reaches far and wide, from Ulan Bator to Halmstad, indicating his aspiration for his message to resonate globally. The world may be focused on the pursuit of material wealth, but Timbuktu's aspiration is to make a fortune through applause, emphasizing the value he places on his creative expression.
The second verse deepens the narrative, highlighting the challenges and struggles Timbuktu has faced. He compares life to a samba once again, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. He mentions feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, with no time to catch his breath. The rings around his eyes symbolize fatigue and stress, as he compares his appearance to that of a panda. He expresses a fear of stopping and the constant need to keep moving forward. He thought he was invincible, with a metaphorical armor made of concrete, but every excuse he made felt recycled and no longer viable. He admits to experiencing a series of new problems before solving the old ones, illustrating the complexity and relentlessness of life. At times, the internal conflict within him feels like a war, comparing himself to the strife in Sri Lanka. He describes feeling trapped and stagnant, like wearing cement shoes while working on construction sites. This lack of freedom holds him back in a metaphorical duck pond, where dreams may end up in a pawnshop if not approached with the correct mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
Rappar om livet för livet ska va en samba
I rap about life because life should be like a samba
Försöker sprida ljus o vill va som en liten lampa
I try to spread light and want to be like a small lamp
Ibland känns det som en promenad i en sankmark
Sometimes it feels like a walk in a swamp
Som att nån har dubbat hela filmen på danska
As if someone has dubbed the entire movie in Danish
Som att hela världens hopp fått plats i ett handskfack
As if all the hopes of the world fit into a glove compartment
Att min nästa anhalt är slutenanstalt
That my next destination is a closed institution
Jag reser mej som Fenix eller snubben från Framfab
I rise like a phoenix or the guy from Framfab
O seglar sju hav utan att skutan den kantrar
And sail seven seas without the ship capsizing
Vill att solnedgångarna ska se ut som en Fanta
Wishing sunsets to look like a Fanta
Att min röst hörs från Ulan Bator till Halmstad
That my voice is heard from Ulan Bator to Halmstad
Världen e upptagen med sökandet av slantar
The world is preoccupied with the search for money
Men jag vill tjäna en förmögenhet i handklapp
But I want to earn a fortune in applause
Jag har växt genom asfalt som jag va en planta
I have grown through asphalt as if I was a plant
Upprepat jag kan jag kan som det va ett mantra
Repeatedly I can, I can, as if it was a mantra
O bara fortsatt att banka som jag varit pantad
And just continued banging as if I've been pawned
Tills jag fått höra livets harmonier i samklang
Until I've heard life's harmonies in harmony
Livet ska va en samba
Life should be like a samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Straighten your back and go for it
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
We can't stand aside
Rappar om livet för liv o rim e det samma
I rap about life because life and rhymes are the same
Lämnar du inga luckor så hinner du inte andas
If you leave no gaps, you won't have time to breathe
Fick en ring under ena ögat sen under det andra
Got a ring under one eye and then under the other
Jag kollade mej i spegeln jag såg ut som en panda
I looked at myself in the mirror and looked like a panda
Sprang o sprang o sprang vill inte stanna
Ran and ran and ran, don't want to stop
En fis från att korthuset det ramla
One fart away from the house of cards falling
Jag trodde nog min skjorta va gjuten i pansar
I thought my shirt was made of armor
Men varenda jävla ursäkt kändes begagnad
But every damn excuse felt used
Trodde Alexander Lukas men jag va Kalle Anka
Thought I was Alexander Lukas but I was Donald Duck
Nya problem innan jag hade löst dom gamla
New problems before I had solved the old ones
Så långt krig inom mej jag kunde hetat Sri Lanka
Such a long war within me, I could have been called Sri Lanka
Måste böjt minst varannan spik på plankan
Had to bend every other nail on the plank
Cementskor stora nog o jobba på Skanska
Cement shoes big enough to work at Skanska
För lite luft höll mej strandsatt i en ankdamm
For lack of air kept me stranded in a duck pond
Så man får va samlad o ta korrekt ansats
So you have to be collected and take the correct approach
Annars kanske drömmarna hamnar i nån sorts pantbank
Otherwise, dreams may end up in some kind of pawn shop
Livet ska va en samba
Life should be like a samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Straighten your back and go for it
Livet ska va en samba
Life should be like a samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
We can't stand aside
Livet ska va en samba
Life should be like a samba
Sträck din rygg o ta i
Straighten your back and go for it
Livet ska va en samba
Life should be like a samba
Vi kan inte stå bredvid
We can't stand aside
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRIK JAN COLLEN, JASON MICHAEL DIAKITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind