Pouilleux literally means 'lousy' or 'infested with lice', but it's used colloquially to describe someone who is scruffy, dirty, or penniless. It's a vivid and somewhat old-fashioned insult that isn't heard in everyday conversation as much as other slang.
In the song, the lyrics play on this double meaning: "Traîne avec des pouilleux, t'as des chances d'attraper des poux" (Hang out with scruffy people, you risk catching lice). This clever wordplay makes pouilleux a memorable and engaging choice, highlighting the song's humorous and critical tone about bad influences.
Change De Pote is a tongue-in-cheek rap dialogue where the narrator is squeezed between two powerful forces: his ride-or-die buddy and his fed-up girlfriend. Throughout the verses, the girlfriend bombards him with the French proverb “Traîne avec des millionnaires, t'as des chances d'attraper des millions; traîne avec des pouilleux, t'as des chances d'attraper des poux” – in other words, you become the company you keep. She paints the friend as the worst influence imaginable:
Behind the comedy, Casseurs Flowters poke at a universal dilemma: loyalty versus social climbing, authenticity versus image. The girlfriend’s mantra reflects a society obsessed with status, while the narrator’s half-hearted resistance shows how hard it is to cut ties with someone who shares your history and jokes. The song’s punchlines keep things light, yet the repeated chorus leaves an open question: Should we ditch people who hold us back, or stay true to the friendships that made us who we are?