Criminel Lyrics in English Maes , Morad
Chivatos is a Spanish slang term that translates to "snitches" or "informers". It's a strong, evocative word that immediately sets a tone of distrust and street code.
In the song, the line "Ni chivatos, ni maderos se me sientan en la mesa" (Neither snitches nor cops sit at my table) powerfully conveys the artist's loyalty and his refusal to associate with those who betray or enforce the law. This word is interesting because it's not common in everyday French songs, appearing here due to the song's bilingual nature, and it highlights a core theme of the lyrics.
"Criminel" pairs French rapper Maes with Spanish-Moroccan artist Morad, and the song is built like two halves of the same story. Maes raps in French about dealing and the risk that comes with it: police nearby, product to move, and the constant pressure of staying under the radar. Morad's verses switch to Spanish but circle the same ground, staying loyal, keeping distance from informants, and refusing to talk to anyone.
The hook keeps returning to one worry: every crime story on the news makes the narrator feel like he is getting closer to being caught himself. It plays less like a celebration of that life and more like a portrait of the tension in living it every day.
Because the song moves between French and Spanish, the Spanish sections are marked so you can tell which lines belong to the French you are learning and which are simply part of how the song was performed.
