Almost a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Translation Party. This wonderful website takes english phrases and translates them to and from japanese until “an equilibrium” is found. Comments on the context and subtle nuances of both languages aside, some of the results are pretty funny. This smirk inducing humor is only exacerbated when the phrases being translated are from the wordplay driven, contextual, and vernacular-ridden genre of hip hop music. So today I present to you, Hip Hop: In Translation.

Kanye West and Jay-Z - H.A.M.

Many Translations later…

Camp-Lo - Luchini (This was a fun choice because not many english speakers, or hip hop fans for that matter, have any idea what the fuck these guys are talking about 98% of the time)

Many translations later…

It makes a little more sense in translation, actually.

Gangstarr - DWYCK (This was a softball. I don’t think this will be too difficult)

Wow… This is taking a while.