DE CAROLINA Lyrics in English by Rauw Alejandro, Dj Playero
Virao' is a slang term from Puerto Rico, a shortened version of virado. While virado literally means "turned" or "flipped over," in this song it means something closer to "turned up," "wild," or "crazy."
Rauw Alejandro sings, "Somos de Carolina y venimos virao'" (We're from Carolina and we arrive turned up/wild). He's describing the high-energy, untamed vibe of his crew when they go out to party. It's a perfect example of the unique, regional slang you can learn from music!
Rauw Alejandro teams up with old-school producer DJ Playero to give love to his Puerto Rican hometown in "DE CAROLINA". He chants "Somos de Carolina y venimos virao'" ["We are from Carolina and we come ready for trouble"], warning outsiders right away that his crew from the street plays rough. Rauw flexes how far he has come from hustling on the block at fourteen ("Desde los catorce en una esquina joseando" ["Since fourteen on a corner hustling"]). He jumps straight from childhood poverty to playing shows in Europe where fans shout praise ("Ya somos ricos, antes éramos pobres / Ahora españa nos gritan 'Olé'" ["Now we are rich, before we were poor / Now Spain yells 'Olé' at us"]). Along the way, he drops local references: the Roberto Clemente coliseum roundabout ("el redón del roberto clemente") and bass shaking car rear-view mirrors.
Once he sets the scene, the beat locks into pure club chaos. Rauw turns up the heat on the dance floor, bragging about dirty dancing against the wall ("Guayando por detrás" ["Grinding from behind"]) while telling DJ Playero to switch up the chords ("Playero, cámbiame los acordes"). He talks about girls hunting for a bad boy ("Salió a cazar un caco" ["She went out hunting for a street kid"]) and happily steps up as the thin guy to take the job ("Baby, yo soy tu flaco" ["Baby, I'm your skinny boy"]). He even mixes street danger with party humor, making gunshot noises ("pa-pa-pa-pa") while shouting out Cadillacs and fake friends who look like undercover cops. It is loud, boastful, and proudly rooted in his neighborhood roots.
