ACE ILLY, Gonaboy, and others deliver ‘Sallah,’ a track from their album ‘Trap Saviors.’ The musician and songwriter Abdul-Razak Muniru Gona pens the lyrics, while ACE ILLY and Kojo Trilla craft the music. The song mixes heartfelt reflections with a gritty celebration of resilience.
Released: April 8, 2024
Sallah
Ace Illy | Gonaboy • From “Trap Saviors.”
Sallah Lyrics Translation (from “Trap Saviors.”)
The narrator tells the story of overcoming struggles, saying, ‘I’ve paid my dues and moved from place to place, it was pain before I found grace.’ Gonaboy and the collaborators blend personal experiences with a message of faith and hope, offering a tribute to perseverance and divine guidance.
Clap for the congregationClap for the congregation.
Mashallah we are great oBy God’s will, we’re doing great.
Who fit burn boy, I’m JAH blessedWho can bring me down? I’m blessed by the Almighty.
Ma tɔ me tiki yeyi wo baabi a kɔ baabiI’ve paid my dues and moved from place to place,
It was pain before grace oit was pain before I found grace.
Now my grace dey gimme pain oNow my success is bringing me its own kind of pain.
Tɔ me tiki, yeyi wo baabi a kɔ baabi ahI’ve paid my dues and moved from place to place, ah,
It was pain before grace ohit was pain before I found grace.
Now my grace dey gimme pain onow my success is bringing me its own kind of pain.
AhhhAhhh.
AhhhhhAhhhhh.
AhhhhhhAhhhhhh.
As you dodge my blow, my brudda show you blowAs you dodge my strike, my brother will show you his.
I go rise after failingI’ll rise up again after failing.
I don’t fear death I die my deedsI don’t fear death; I’ll let my past actions die.
I die my bad deeds, I’m rising cleanI’m letting my bad deeds die, so I can rise up clean.
I’m riding clean (I’m riding clean)I’m living right (I’m living right).
Yɛse biibi hyɛ m’ani ase wo hwɛ mani ase a biibi hyɛ m’ani ase?They say there’s a look in my eyes; when you look, do you see the struggle there?
Mebɔ Onyame ne dinI’m calling upon the name of God.
See I’m rolling my haze and I’m burning my ganjaSee, I’m rolling my ‘h#ze’ and I’m burning my ‘g#nja’.
Se yafa he yɛfri akyire hɔ na yɛɛba naLook at where we’ve come from; we’ve come a long way,
Sɛ mo hu yɛ a na mo achangi mo agendaso when you see us, you’ll have to change your plans.
To all the bros inna the yard ma mo bar ka di sallahTo all the brothers in the streets, I wish you a blessed Sallah.
Whole lotta pains nana yɛn ara na yɛnkaWe’ve been through so much pain that only we can describe.
Trapped with the gang na Nyame aa ne y’agyenkwa aaahHustling with the gang, but God is our savior, ahhh.
Ɛnɛ asɛm bi bɛsi ohSomething big is going to happen today.
Forgetti obiara na yɛngye y’ani ahForget everyone else and let’s enjoy ourselves, ah.
Herh sɛ ɛyɛ fin a kɔ fie na kɔ siHey, if you’re dirty, go home and wash up.
Eh, wotwe bi a yibi kɔ fie, bar ka di sallah ohEh, if you’ve made it, take it home and celebrate Sallah.
Ɛnɛ asɛm bi bɛsi ohSomething big is going to happen today.
Forgetti obiara na yɛngye y’ani ahForget everyone else and let’s enjoy ourselves, ah.
Herh sɛ ɛyɛ fin a kɔ fie na kɔ siHey, if you’re dirty, go home and wash up.
Mm, wotwe bi a yibi kɔ fie, bar ka di sallah ohMm, if you’ve made it, take it home and celebrate Sallah.
Sallah sallah sallah sallahSallah, Sallah, Sallah, Sallah.
Afe akɔ abɛto me ne atanfo ohThe year has come around to find me and my enemies.
Ma wo bar ka di sallah ohMay you have a blessed Sallah celebration.
Sallah sallah sallah sallahSallah, Sallah, Sallah, Sallah.
Afe akɔ abɛto me ne atanfo ohThe year has come around to find me and my enemies.
Ma wo bar ka di sallah ohMay you have a blessed Sallah celebration.
Yaro zongo merepere better wageA young man from the ‘slums’ is hustling for better wages.
Nim mallam, koleba nim shrikkHe knows the ‘religious teacher’, but life is still hard.
Prey on othersThey prey on others,
Aha yɛ rekɔ safe (Mm!)but here, we’re staying safe (Mm!).
This age and I feed from a pocketAt this age, I’m still living from my own pocket.
These risks are scaring meThese risks are starting to scare me.
Struggling for better wagesI’m struggling for better wages.
Yaro zongo merepere better wageA young man from the ‘slums’ is hustling for better wages.
Medaso meetwɛn better days ohI’m still waiting for better days.
Why mon amis turn to enemies?Why did my friends turn into enemies?
When I wake up man I’m all about the dollar treeWhen I wake up, I’m only focused on making money.
So when we step in Big Trilly and KamaliSo when we step in, Big Trilly and Kamali are with me.
Sɛ wote yɛdin a hu sɛ asɛm asi yah yahWhen you hear our names, know that something big is happening, yeah, yeah.
Real shit no fallacyThis is real, it’s not a lie.
Trap boys we dey trap in the pharmacy yaahWe’re ‘tr#p’ boys, making our moves like a pharmacy, yeah.
Sallah sallah sallah sallahSallah, Sallah, Sallah, Sallah.
Afe akɔ abɛto me ne atanfo ohThe year has come around to find me and my enemies.
Ma wo bar ka di sallah ohMay you have a blessed Sallah celebration.
Sallah sallah sallah sallahSallah, Sallah, Sallah, Sallah.
Afe akɔ abɛto me ne atanfo ohThe year has come around to find me and my enemies.
Ma wo bar ka di sallah ohMay you have a blessed Sallah celebration.
Sallah Music Video
If you want to understand ‘Sallah,’ the lyrics describe overcoming hardship and celebrating success. The track features ACE ILLY, Gonaboy, and others, and it’s part of ‘Trap Saviors.’