Ruoss is a Neapolitan dialect word meaning "rich" or "wealthy." It's a compelling choice because it immediately highlights the regional flavor of the song, as it's not standard Italian.
In the context of the lyrics, "M vulev fa ruoss mag esagerat" translates to "I wanted to get rich, even exaggeratedly so." This word encapsulates the song's theme of ambition, struggle, and the desire for success, making it both culturally interesting and central to the narrative.
Geolier is reflecting on his journey from having nothing to his current success, and he's not forgetting who was there for him. He paints a picture of his past, remembering when "Ciamm addurmut 4 e nuij ngop a nu rivan" (The four of us fell asleep on a sofa). Back then, nobody helped them out, but now that he's famous, everyone wants a piece of the action: "Nisciun cia rat na man quant no tnevm / E cinvitn a mangia mo ca ntimm famm" (Nobody gave us a hand when we had nothing / And they invite us to eat now that we're famous).
Even with all the success, like traveling in the Emirates, he still feels the weight of his past and the pain he carries. He says, "M sapiss soara si srvess a lua tt sta sofferenz c teng" (I would know how to fly if it served to take away all this suffering I have). The song is a declaration of loyalty to his real friends and a promise to himself to stay true. He's determined to leave his mark, stating boldly, "Nu riman sarrag leggend" (Tomorrow I will be a legend).
Geolier is the stage name of Emanuele Palumbo, a rapper born in 2000 and raised in Secondigliano, a working-class neighborhood of Naples, Italy. He raps almost entirely in Neapolitan dialect, turning the language of his streets into one of the biggest sounds in Italian music today.
He signed with Luchè's label BFM Music in 2019 and released his debut album that same year. His breakout moment came at the Sanremo Music Festival 2024, where his song "I p' me, tu p' te" finished second overall but won the highest public vote share in the festival's history. He has since sold out Naples's San Paolo stadium and become one of the defining voices of Neapolitan trap and rap.