Kasta - An Order Higher
Don’t forget your roots - remember There’s things that are an order higher, you hear They say you gotta get out of here, basically Start a family, raise children
And maybe that is right, but the past can’t be Left behind, abandoned - and later found again Don’t forget your roots - remember There’s things that are an order higher…
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Hey bro, wait up Where you rushing off to, sit down with me Tell me how’s life - how you got so thin, man Want a smoke? - You don’t, that’s awesome How many times you tried to quit now?
Didn’t even recognize you right away - Must be an omen that I’m gonna get rich now Haven’t seen you for a hundred years, now tell me Where you coming from? Where you rushing off to? - You’re even out of breath, man
Maybe you seen one of our old crew lately, Who’s up to what? Everyone alive and healthy? Well, thank God… And me? Ah, don’t ask - a bit of everything That’s just life - just fucking around mostly You know how that goes… listen, here’s what I wanted to ask:
Your guys were saying like you’re going abroad to live - Is that true? What, for real? And when? - Day after tomorrow, eh… Come on old man, you could’ve called - like come on, we gotta send you off And so that’s like, forever? You’re leaving without return? You gonna tell me where at least? Ohh, alright, I got you… Come on, don’t sweat it - you’ll be back again yet I myself have already worn out the skin of an immigrant
And you, I know you like a brother Over here - things ain’t good, not gonna lie, the facts are on your side, man You want to eat and not be hungry, you want to sleep soundly - Then the fuck are you thinking now man, you should’ve bailed ages ago!
But I’ve seen those faces, man - you’re gonna wither there And when you try to look inside them - you’ll die from despair It’s empty there, man - and you, brother, are Russian! That’s what matters about you - fuck everything else
Man, understand that this here is a sincere confession - Sincerity, truth, a soul bright at sunrise - pure like a drop of vodka And there, you’re gonna be alive among zombies An Ignoramus in the Sun City* - but you’ll get to know the price of gold
In the smile of a Russian girl - compare her to an imported sheep Who throws those fake smiles around left, right and center I know how this kitchen works - the airliner will raise you into the air You’ll realize what you’re casting off - but it’ll be too late
I see that you’re pitying yourself - well alright, onwards, be brave now But don’t burn bridges, man - and come back sooner Come on bro, at least send me a few lines from there I’m gonna go grab something to eat, not saying goodbye to you though…
—
Don’t forget your roots - remember There’s things that are an order higher, you hear They say you gotta get out of here, basically Start a family, raise children
And maybe that is right, but the past can’t be Left behind, abandoned - and later found again Don’t forget your roots - remember There’s things that are an order higher…
*Neznaika v Solnechnom Gorode (“Ignoramus in the City of the Sun”) is a title of a well-known children’s book, about a well-intentioned but ignorant elf from a magical land, who sets off on a journey to a futuristic Sun City where he wants to do good deeds for people by using his magical powers - but instead ends up in a lot of misadventures.
***
Kasta, a rap trio from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-the-Don, were perhaps the dominant force in Russian hip-hop during the 2000s and remain a highly influential and respected band. They had, in many ways, helped create a whole generation of Russian rappers and rap fans by maintaining a strong web and street presence, organizing competitions, events and featuring up-and-coming talent. A hallmark of Kasta’s style is the fusion of 1990s American hip-hop with Russian “street” music genres - not an obvious combination by any means, but one that has worked well for Kasta and many others, especially in the Rostov scene, whose sound they had helped shape.
The song “An Order Higher” is as topical as ever today, touching on the difficult issue of emigration and a search for a “normal life” that often motivates people to leave Russia. While the chorus might come off as a bit of a sermon, most of the song is an open and honest discussion of the pros and cons, with a narrator who seems as conflicted as his friend who has decided to emigrate. (archive)