Better than Hip-Hop

A little while ago, the Malaysian Music Awards were on TV. At the moment I tuned in, the winners for the Rap category were being introduced. Pop Shuvit, they call themselves. I cringed to see these jokers come on stage with their pants sagging, jewerly blinging and hair done up in cornrolls. They rap in Malay, which is sort of cool, but I couldn’t get past the horribly derivative image to even bother to listen. If I’m being unfair to the Malaysian rap scene, you can set me straight.

However! There is a true Malaysian rap form that is as sincere and engaging as the KL homies are phony and dull. And that is the music called Dikir Barat. Dikir Barat is performed by groups with one lead rapper and a raucous gang that calls out the chorus, keeps the beat, and rocks and sways to the music. The lyrics are extemporaneous when performed at weddings or similar events, though at a televised competition I saw, it was much more rehearsed. Like with rap, the lyrics are key, and the style and flow of the lead MC are important. The MC is called the tukang karut, an inelegant translation of which would be “master liar”. But as has been pointed out to me, karut can also mean to versify or rhyme extemporaneously, in which case tukang karut would be more like a storyteller or even rhymemaster. The Tukang Karut stands, and often struts and gesticulates as he raps. The crew sit crosslegged, and perform the most lively dancing I’ve ever seen from people sitting down. The movements are synchronized, but the crew will shout and yell across the rap as they feel the urge. The music is all percussion, from hand claps to drums to gongs. The beats are lively and loud during the chorus, but often fall away during the rap. The beats aren’t hyper-syncopated like hip-hop, but have definite funk to them. There are downloads and a few translations here, courtesy of Fire and Hemlocke, or you can search for dikir barat on Kazaa.

Other informational sources for dikir barat:

www. Dikir Barat .com

Kelantan Royal Net

Dikir Barat Page

Dikir Barat in Singapore

Rabbani Does Dikir Barat

On the subject of dikir barat, the excellent nasheed group Rabbani has a song that is done with a dikir barat flavor, called Ingat 5 Sebelum 5, “Remember 5 Before 5″. You can find it on Kazaa if you are outside of Malaysia. I thought I’d try my hand at translating the lyrics this afternoon, since it is something I can do while rocking my 2-month old in her buaian. I didn’t try too hard to make the translation poetic, just reasonably close to the meaning. Corrections or critiques are most welcome. Thanks to CyberNasyid for the original lyrics. I’m sending my translation on to Nasheed World; Nasheed World keeps a growing collection of mostly Malay nasheeds translated into English.

Ingat 5 Sebelum 5

Duhai teman dan tuan-puan – O dear friends, sirs and ladies
Mari kita berpesan-pesanan – Come let us take advice together
Baik lelaki juga perempuan – Come boys and girls
Duduk di kampung atau di pekan – Whether in the village or the market

Zaman in zaman kemajuan — This time is a time of prosperity
Kebendaan menjadi ukuran – Material wealth has become the measure [for which]
Hidup saling bersaingan – Life has become a competition between us
Jika lalai tinggal sendirian – And the one who is uninterested is left behind alone

Nabi junjungan pernah berpesan – The Holy Prophet once advised us
Agar hidup ada pegangan – So that this life may be grasped
Semak selalu jangan lupakan – Always pay heed, don’t forget
Agar tak susah di hari kemudian — So that there is no difficulty on the Day to come

Kena diingat lima perkara – We must be mindful of five things
Sebelum tiba lima perkara – Before five things occur
Aaa… aaa… – Aaa… aaa…
Semoga hidup aman bahagia – For life to filled with peace and joy

Waktu lapang buatlah amalan – In time of leisure, do good works
Sebelum sibuk pelbagai urusan – Before you become busy with your various affairs
Isilah dengan amal kebajikan – Fill it with good deeds
Menuntut ilmu dan baca Al-Quran – Seek knowledge and read the Quran

Waktu senang beringatlah – In time of ease, act prudently
Sebelum tiba waktunya susah – Before difficulties arise
Jika datang ancaman musibah – If great disaster arrives
Mampu bersedia selesai masalah – You will be capable to solve the problem

Bila sihat jagalah badan – In time of health, look after your body
Sebelum derita sakit tak keruan — Before heavy suffering and pain
Kawallah makan untuk kesihatan – Guard your food for health
Ringan ibadah nak dikerjakan – It will lighten the effort of worship

Jika kaya bermurah hati – If you are rich, be generous
Dapat pahala menolong orang – You will get the reward of helping others
Aaa… aaa… – Aaa… aaa…
Jikalau miskin apa pun tak ada – And if you are poor, and have nothing at all

Waktu kita hidup di dunia – Our time in this worldly life
Sediakan bekalan sebelum mati – Is to prepare our provisions before we die
Walaupun susah banyak halangan — Even though it may be fraught with much difficulty
Tabah dan sabar Allah kan sayang – Be steady and persevere, Allah will love you

Ingat-ingat kita semua – Take care, O we all
Jangan mudah sombong diri – Don’t fill your self with pride so easily
Insafilah pesanan ini – Realize that this advice
Untuk kita suluh diri – Is for us to illuminate our selves

Semoga lembut hati kita – In order that we may soften our hearts
Untuk taat dan berbakti – For obedience and devotion
Dari Allah kita datang – From Allah we have come
Kepada Allah kita kembali – And unto Allah we shall return

About this entry

You’re currently reading “Better than Hip-Hop,” an entry on Bin Gregory Productions

Published:
05.17.03 / 9pm
Category:
Malaysia