Té-cô is a fascinating example of French verlan, a type of argot where syllables of a word are inverted. It's derived from the word côté, which means 'side' or 'coast'.
In the song, Dr Yaro uses té-cô in the context of money and success, saying "Million sur le té-cô," which implies having a million on the side or perhaps referring to a luxurious lifestyle by the coast. This word offers a glimpse into French street language and makes the song's lyrics particularly engaging and unique.
Dr Yaro sets his baseline ridiculously high in "Minimum Ça", and honestly, who can blame him? After grinding hard, he decides he has earned some serious downtime: "Chérie, moi j'ai / Mérité le repos, minimum ça" ("Darling, I have earned rest, that's the absolute minimum"). But his checklist for peace of mind doesn't stop at a simple nap. He wants a luxury Mercedes van—"VHR Vito, minimum six"—and an easy fortune stashed away: "Million sur le té-cô, minimum trois" ("Millions on the side, at least three"). Here, té-cô is French verlan (backslang) for côté, meaning cash kept tucked aside. Add in jokes about moving like he holds secret bank vaults ("J'agis comme si j'avais deux, trois comptes en Suisse" / "I act like I have two or three Swiss accounts"), and you get an artist who clearly knows his own worth.
Despite the big talk, Dr Yaro keeps the vibe playful and invites everyone to celebrate right along with him. He hypes up the mood with Congolese dance calls like "Allez bina kotazo" ("Go on, dance the kotazo") while claiming top honors: "Dix sur dix c'est la notation / j'suis numéro uno sans prétentions" ("Ten out of ten is the score / I'm number one, no pretensions"). He balances the swagger by reminding everyone "J'suis pas mauvais" ("I'm not a bad guy"), resting easy knowing that divine justice ("Justice de Dieu, y en a") handles the rest. It is a bouncy, upbeat anthem about cashing contracts, letting go of drama, and demanding the very best out of life.
Dr. Yaro, born Mohamed Ertan, is a French rapper of Comorian origin who grew up between the 19th arrondissement of Paris and Blanc-Mesnil, just outside the capital.
He started writing and rapping at 14, and his friends nicknamed him "Doctor" for his perfectionism in the studio and his obsessive attention to detail. He first made his name alongside his cousin in the duo Dr. Yaro & La Folie, whose freestyle series caught the attention of established stars like KeBlack, Naza, and Gims in 2017.
Dr. Yaro launched his solo career in 2023, quickly landing a feature on Stromae's album Multitude before releasing his own singles "Caramelo" and "Minimum ça." The latter became a massive hit across France, Belgium, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, turning the confident, hard-earned bragging of "Minimum ça" into one of the biggest French rap anthems of the year.