Rapper Sings of Mafia's So-Called "Good Life"

By Ed Scarpo



Sicilian hip hop singer Marracash has a song called Ero Vivo.

It includes wiretaps and promises made to new recruits. As the song progresses, Marra realizes the smoke & mirrors that have been sold.

As for the name, Eros was a Greek god of love.

But in Italy there is no word for "good" or "bad."

Everything is referred to in beauty or what would translate to heaven and hell, if such concepts existed.

Ero=light/heaven, Thanatos=death/hell.

When calling someone they ask "brutta momento?" (or ugly moment? or bad time?)

When greeting even men, or speaking well of something it's always bella.

 Buono e male was adopted much later, and male means more "sick" than "bad"

So Ero Vivo is about the so-called "good life" the mafia promises.
By Rosie--from the Palermo region.

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