Carl Angelo leads this raw track from the album Silab. He writes lyrics that challenge identity and courage, while Bonifacio Abdon, Christian Guerrero, Edwin Maravilla, Elmer Viray, and Reuben Cohen shape the beat. The song stands as a bold statement from a new voice in hip-hop.
Released: September 13, 2023
Aight?
Carl Angelo • From “Silab”
Aight? Lyrics Translation Carl Angelo | Silab
Carl Angelo asks how we can stop decades of pain and still stay true to ourselves. He mentions Lauryn Hill in ’98 and Ruby losing her son in ’91 to show deep roots of loss. The line ‘I see the Pacific on my baby girl’s skin’ ties heritage to memory. He throws his raps in the trash but finds strength again through self-trust.
Paano natin mapipigilan ang mga nangyayari sa mga nakalipas na dekadaHow can we stop the things that’ve happened over the past decades?
Sino pa kaya ang may lakas ng loob para magsalitaWho else would have the courage to speak up?
Paano natin malalaman kung tayo pa rin ang ating tunay na sariliHow will we know if we’re still our true selves?
Don’t swim with the sharks if you not oneDon’t swim with the sharks if you’re not one.
’98 lauryn hill said i’m a lost oneIn ’98, Lauryn Hill said I’m a lost one.
’91 ateh ruby lost sunIn ’91, ‘Elder Sister’ Ruby lost her son.
But i know that she know that we don’t know where we come fromBut I know that she knows that we don’t know where we come from.
See the pacific on my baby girl’s skinI see the Pacific on my baby girl’s skin,
Constant reminder where i been tryin’ to beena constant reminder of where I’ve been trying to go.
Shot raps in a trash can binI threw my raps into a trash bin,
As a little kid they all took away my confidencebecause when I was a kid, they took all my confidence away.
Got it backBut I got it back.
Lord why you never come save meLord, why didn’t you ever come to save me?
Reason i never pray to you no moreThat’s the reason I don’t pray to you anymore.
Y’all prolly think that i’m crazyYou all probably think that I’m crazy,
Can you blame me i don’t wanna be prey no morebut can you blame me? I don’t want to be prey anymore.
Wear in society like a white tee dominant oneI wear society like a white tee, as the dominant one,
Commandin’ control nobody drive mecommanding control so that nobody drives me.
I been pickin’ my pockets only got lint in my palmsI’ve been picking my pockets, but I’ve only got lint in my palms.
Startin’ to feel like eric and rakim i rock ’em hrrI’m starting to feel like Eric B. and Rakim; I’m rocking them.
Aye i go hard thoughAye, I go hard, though.
Yo marvs let’s get itYo, Marvs, let’s get it!
All i ever really wanna do is look myself inside of a mirror and look forward to mañanaAll I ever really want to do is look at myself in the mirror and look forward to tomorrow.
Intuition what i heavily rely upon i used to be into wishin’ with a capital psiIntuition is what I heavily rely upon; I used to be into wishing with a capital ‘Psi’.
Goddamn he goingGoddamn, he’s going.
Ha just because you got eyes doesn’t mean that you seein’ i mean have you seen tophJust because you’ve got eyes doesn’t mean you’re seeing; I mean, have you seen Toph?
Tryin’ to believe in believin’ in tryin’ no matter what the costI’m trying to believe in believing, in trying no matter the cost.
I be definition of the muscleI’m the definition of the muscle.
Been ready mentally physicallyI’ve been ready, both mentally and physically.
You lookin’ and listenin’ to the remedyYou’re looking at and listening to the remedy.
I’m liftin’ up the philippine americansI’m lifting up the Philippine-Americans.
Who better than the boy makin’ noiseWho’s better than the boy making noise?
I be definition of the hustleI’m the definition of the hustle.
I done made a double hundred dollars and invested couple thousandI’ve made a couple hundred dollars and invested a few thousand.
But it ain’t about the salary i’m mountin’ the mentalityBut it isn’t about the salary; I’m building up the mentality.
The rich poor dad in me you catchin’ meThe ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ in me—you’re catching me.
I be definition of the struggleI’m the definition of the struggle.
How the f#ck am i gonna explain myself to the family if this don’t pay my wealthHow the f#ck am I going to explain myself to the family if this doesn’t build my wealth?
To my lady was school a waste i failedTo my lady, I wonder if school was a waste, since I failed.
I be definition of the rumbleI’m the definition of the rumble.
Earthquakin’ up in californiaI’m earthquaking up in California.
Not even the marijuana got me chillin’Not even the mar#juana has me chilling.
I be stressin’ over insignificance blood pressure heightenin’I’m stressing over things that don’t matter, and my blood pressure is rising.
I might end up fightin’ in vainI might end up fighting in vain.
I be definition of the humbleI’m the definition of the humble.
ShhShh.
HeheheheheHehehehehe.
Paano natin mapipigilan ang mga nangyayari sa mga nakalipas na dekadaHow can we put a stop to everything that’s happened these past decades?
Paano natin malalaman kung tayo pa rin ang ating tunay na sariliHow will we ever know if we’re still our true selves?
Sino pa kaya ang may lakas ng loob para magsalitaWho’s even left with the courage to speak out?
Aight? Music Video
Looking for the ‘Aight?’ lyrics translation? It unpacks identity, legacy, and resilience in the Filipino-American experience. The chemistry between Carl Angelo and his collaborators makes ‘Aight?’ powerful.