Hey everyone!

Hey everyone, let me introduce myself—and please bear with me if my American English feels a bit off. To be honest, I’m actually Italian. I’m a twenty-year-old guy from Italy, and I’m not even trying to hide it; in fact, it’s actually
a point of pride for me that I can speak and have basically taught myself this language. I absolutely love it. I didn't pick it up in a classroom setting, but rather spent about four or five years studying it on my own throughout my teens. I started way back when I was just sixteen—just a kid really—and at that point, I couldn't understand a single word. American rap was honestly what got me through some pretty rough patches, and I’m obsessed with it. Naturally, I'm always spinning tracks by artists like Eminem (who I love) and those old-school legends. Honestly, modern Italian rap has gone downhill; it’s become too commercialized for my taste, with the exception of a few greats like Padre Pio (my absolute favorite) and the old-school Eminem style. Everything else lately is just garbage. I’m also big into cars, and I recently stumbled upon watching Top Gear on YouTube. I love it, man; the banter between the guys is just top-tier.

So, you see,
even though I'm Italian, I grew up immersed in this culture... it’s part of my history. About five years ago, when I was still a naive fifteen-year-old, I went absolutely crazy for this one American girl, and I’m actually really grateful to her. At first, I genuinely thought I was in love, but looking back, she was more of a chapter in my life that provided me with a lot of inspiration (is "inspiration" the right word to use there?). She really influenced who I am today. Before that, when I was fourteen, I didn't know anything about the US. Now, let’s be real—American girls are incredibly beautiful and striking, and while I don't know what the future holds, if the opportunity ever arises, I'd love to start a romance with an American girl... anyway, that's me in a nutshell.

Sorry again, I wasn't quite sure which subforum this belonged in. I was scrolling around a bit confused. Where should I have put this?

You write pretty well in English. 😁

Though, if you want to really nail it, you’d probably need to tweak some of those specific pronunciations and polish a few other small details.
Do you live in the States?

Our language can be a real headache for foreigners.
And if you try listening to old-school New York rap, it gets even more complicated... 🤣

God help me☕🤣

Peter Kim3 said:Good afternoon, everyone. Please allow me to introduce myself, and I apologize in advance if my English isn't quite perfect—the truth is, I'm not American, I'm actually Italian. I'm an Italian guy in my twenties. I'm not embarrassed by that; in fact, I'm proud to be communicating in English. It makes me happy that I taught myself the language during my teens... back when I was just a sixteen-year-old kid who didn't understand a thing, though now I can hold my own quite well. American rap really helped pull me through some tough times, and I absolutely love it. Of course, I'm always listening to artists like Eminem or Dr. Dre. Italian rap just isn't good anymore; it feels too commercial now, except for the old-school legends like Dr. Dre (who I adore) and Eminem... everyone else is just trash. I'm also into cars. Lately, I've started watching Midnight Racer on YouTube. I love watching those buddy comedies, especially seeing how they mess with each other...

I corrected a few things for you. I'm no expert, but here's my take as a layman. You should definitely practice your grammar and Syntax...

Sarah Garcia84 said:I fixed a few things for you—look, I’m no expert, just a layman—but maybe work on your grammar and Syntax.

What even is Syntax?

No, I don't live in America...

Syntax is basically just how you organize and arrange your sentences, whether you're talking or writing.

Maria Johnson said:God help me☕🤣

Hahaha, alright, fair point...

Thanks for the correction, Sarah Garcia84. I’m still making mistakes, which is expected since I’ve never actually lived in the States; I haven't really had the chance to speak the language in a real-world setting. I know the slang in a big city like New York can be tricky, but I've been picking up some bits from studying local blogs (just an FYI, not a plug, I promise). From listening to the subway announcements on the L train, I noticed people tend to use certain slang terms instead of standard English. Like, local rappers might say they "dig" something rather than "understand" it, or they'll talk about "hitting on" someone instead of "flirting." It's all very specific.

Then you have the Southern slang, which is a whole different beast. For example, someone down there might say, "I woke up, shut the window, headed out, looked at the sky and thought, man, this world is beautiful... then I ran into my buddy and grabbed a burger with him."

A lot of words actually have roots in other languages... but personally, I’m more into the urban slang. Just my two cents.

Peter Kim3 said:Thanks, Sarah Garcia84, for the correction. I’m still making mistakes, but that’s to be expected since I’ve never actually traveled through America or had the chance to speak the language with anyone in person... I know the slang in a place like NYC can be pretty tough, but I’ve been picking up a few bits from a website called basic.us.blog (just wanted to let you all know, I'm not trying to promote it)...Listening to the track, I noticed that the target always uses... It’s interesting how certain slang terms stick... instead of saying "what," local rappers tend to favor "get it" over more standard terms like "understand" or "comprehend"—though I’m fairly certain "comprehend" actually traces back to that Italian verb *capire*. They also lean toward "smooth talk" rather than "seduce"... and I even caught them using "chat" in that one track about friendship, which feels like a nod to the German word *sprachen*...

It isn't just about the sentence, but the rhythm of the words themselves...
I don't just intend to act; I will make it happen...
I actually find quite a bit of enjoyment in correcting your writing...😁

I’m having a bit of trouble following that specific part of your sentence... what exactly are you trying to convey?🤔

Sarah Garcia84 said:It’s not just a sentence correction; it’s a whole linguistic overhaul.
I don't say "I ain't doing it," I say "I'm doing it."
Honestly, fixing your grammar is becoming my favorite pastime.😁

I have no idea what you were even trying to get at with that highlighted part of the sentence.??🤔

I thought highlighting meant "to notice" or "to observe"... when I said I was correcting the sentence, I meant that while I was listening to the subway, I realized the target uses way too much slang.

Peter Kim3 said:I thought "to mark" meant "to notice, to note, or to see"... I was trying to fix my sentence—while listening to the subway, I realized that the target uses "like" way too much...

The verbs notice and perceive would actually fit better. For example, "I noticed that the target..." or "I perceived that..." and so on...

Sarah Garcia84 said:Actually, the verbs noticed or spotted would fit much better here. Like, I noticed or I spotted that the target...and so on.

It’s just like what Restmen says in that song "How to be cool"—the second you walked into the club, I noticed you were different...

That was one of the first American hip-hop tracks I ever fell in love with. It brings back so many memories from when I was sixteen, back in the summer of 2010... back when everyone else in the States was still obsessing over "Waka Waka" and all those other mindless commercial hits. 🙂

Sarah Garcia84, why don't you invite our guest over to give him some actual lessons? 😒
The guy clearly has zero clue what real American music sounds like.
Just play this for him:

And then hit him with this:
🙂

It honestly blows my mind that an Italian guy who's basically a total Southerner by nature listens to more rap than traditional folk music... especially since he even admitted his own dialect is packed with Italian influences... 🙂

crimsonpuma23 Asks:
Sarah Garcia84, why don't you give our guest a call and have them come over to your place for some one-on-one coaching? 😒
Honestly, the guy clearly has no idea what real American music sounds like.
Just let him listen to this:
I watched that video, and honestly, it’s kind of like watching someone try to build an IKEA bookshelf without the instructions—lots of frantic movement, some impressive-looking tools being used, but ultimately you're left wondering why there are three extra screws lying on the floor at the end. There’s this specific energy in the way they approach the subject that feels incredibly familiar, almost like a tech startup trying to disrupt an industry that wasn't actually broken to begin with. You know the type. They come in with all this high-level jargon, acting like they've discovered fire, when really they've just figured out how to make a slightly more expensive lighter. It’s all very polished, very "Silicon Valley," but if you peel back one layer of the marketing gloss, you start seeing the cracks in the logic. It reminds me of those old debates we used to have about whether more complexity actually equals better performance. It rarely does. Usually, it just means more things can break. They're selling a solution to a problem most people didn't even know they had, which is the oldest trick in the book. It’s clever, I’ll give them that, but I’m not exactly jumping for joy over it. I'll stick to my current setup, thanks. It might not be "revolutionary," but at least it doesn't require a software update every time I want to turn it on.
And then:
🙂

It honestly baffles me that a guy who’s basically your quintessential Southern stereotype would spend more time bumping rap than listening to traditional folk music. It’s pretty wild, especially since he’s even admitted that his local dialect is practically peppered with Italian influences. 🙂

What does it actually mean when someone calls you a "Southerner"? If that’s meant to be an insult, please, let's not go around judging Italians based on stereotypes. And honestly, how can you even root for a hardcore fan club like that if you’re living in a city like Chicago? Did you move there recently or something? I know it sounds a bit wild—this idea of an Italian guy growing up immersed in American hip-hop culture—but I felt this deep, internal pull to understand that world, almost like it was a calling from God Himself. Listening to American rappers makes me feel right at home. Like I mentioned before, I pick up on some Southern slang here and there, but it’s not really my vibe. I’ve always had a much stronger affinity for that gritty, fast-paced slang you hear in places like New York.

I’ve been through the ringer for this. I’ve fought tooth and nail for the music from the old North American states, and let me tell you, people didn't take it lightly. I’ve actually been jumped behind the high school just for sticking to my guns, but honestly? It’s a matter of faith at this point. At my core, I’m an Italian, plain and simple. But that old-school hip-hop from back home is a massive part of who I am. Sending love all the way from Italy.

Peter Kim3 said:What even is a "Southerner type"? If you're trying to insult me, please, don't go bringing those stereotypes against Italians... how can you be such a die-hard fan if you're from a place like NYC? Did you move there or something? I know it sounds wild, that an Italian grew up listening to American hip hop, but deep down, it just clicked for me—it’s like God told me I had to understand this world. American rappers make me feel alive, and like I said before, I pick up on some Southern slang here and there, but it's not my favorite... I'm more into that East Coast vibe...

I just felt it deep down, man. I fought for that old-school hip hop scene, dealt with tons of jerks messing with me, even got beat up at school for it, but it's my creed... first and foremost, I'm Italian. But that hip hop era is a massive part of who I am... writing this from Italy.

I'm just messing around, yo. 😎 I'm not a racist and I don't hold grudges. 😉
I took a little Italian in school; it's a pretty cool language.
Especially the numbers. Io ho quattrocentoquarantacinque ragazze italiane. 🤣

A "Southerner type" is just someone from the South, plain and simple.
And when it comes to mindset, Southerners are way more similar to folks from Dalmatia than they are to people from NYC or Chicago, etc.
Tutta Italia e la mia squadra. 😛
Whereabouts in Italy are you living and writing from today? How's the weather out there?

crimsonpuma23 said:I’m just messing around a bit, you know. 😎 I’m not a bigot and I don't hold prejudices. 😉
I picked up some Italian back in school; it's a fascinating language.
The numbers especially. Io ho quattrocentoquarantacinque ragazze italiane. 🤣

A Southerner is just someone from the South, plain and simple.
But mentally speaking, Italians are more like the folks from the Deep South than they are like people from New York or Chicago or whatever.
Tutta Italia e la mia squadra. 😛
Which part of Italy are you living in and writing from today? And what's the weather like out there?

I'm from Rome. That's where I live, where I was born... it's truly the heart of Italy. I'm neither a Northerner nor a Southerner... we're all so different. There's that saying, "Fatta l'Italia, adesso bisogna fare gli Italiani!" which basically means, "Italy has been made, now we have to make Italians!" and honestly, it hits the nail on the head. I've never really clicked with my buddies, let alone girls... especially when you're claiming to have four hundred and forty-five of them! Nice work, man!!! 🙂
One of these days, I don't know exactly how it'll happen, but I'm going to marry an American woman... I've kind of lost faith in Italian women... they crave the spotlight way too much, acting like little princesses who can get away with anything... man, seriously... obviously they aren't all like that, but most of them are... Italian women are gorgeous, no doubt, but about five years ago when I was only 15 and met some American girls... my whole perspective shifted.
I find myself more attracted to American women now...

No—how's the weather outside? (che tempo fa fuori?)
So... it's cold... freezing... around 35 degrees...

The right way is four hundred forty-five. You guys are just smashing everything together.
But who cares when I'm out here being the ultimate gentleman 😒
Yeah, okay, maybe my slang is a little rusty, but I’ll get back on top of it, trust me.

you're the perfect match, beautiful American girl __________

Are you a student?

Fabrizio, you're actually pretty hilarious.. 😁

And why on earth would you say Happy New Year 2015!!! 🙂

crimsonpuma23 said:Fabrizio, you're actually pretty funny. 😁

And why else wouldn't we say Happy New Year 2015!!! 🙂

Hahaha, actually, you don't say "il studente"—it’s "lo studente." When you're dealing with a word starting with an 's', the rule changes from "il" to "lo." It's just one of those little grammar quirks that trips you up if you aren't paying attention.
Look, it’s not like we call it "two thousand fifteen" in any other context. When we’re talking about years, we just treat them like regular numbers. It’s like saying "Happy 2015"—it’s straightforward, simple, and honestly, much more natural than overcomplicating things.

And honestly, why even bother saying Happy New Year 2015? It makes zero sense. You basically just said, "So, why Happy 2015?" in Italian.

Why does "because" even matter? Honestly, I feel like we spend half our lives trying to justify things that don't actually need an explanation. It’s like when someone asks you why you chose a specific burger joint or why you’re listening to a certain track—sometimes there isn't a deep, philosophical reason. You just did it. We get so caught up in the "why" that we forget the "what" is usually plenty. 🙂

Happy New Year to you too!

Quote:.

Peter Kim3 says: Good afternoon, everyone. If my English seems a bit off, please forgive me; the truth is, I'm not actually American, I'm an Italian. I'm just a twenty-year-old guy from Italy, and I'm not ashamed to admit that it's actually a point of pride for me to speak this language, which I love so much. I didn't learn it in some classroom setting, but rather taught myself over the last four or five years. I started back when I was just sixteen—just a kid who didn't understand a single word. To be honest, American rap was what really pulled me through some dark times, and I'm still obsessed with it; I'm always spinning tracks by artists like Eminem, or those old school legends. It feels like Italian rap just isn't hitting the same way anymore, hasn't it? It’s all become so commercialized in my eyes, except for maybe the classics like Dr. Dre (who I absolutely adore) and the old-school Eminem

Padre Pio

[QUOTE=Frank Hall3;52825822]Dr. Dre

[/QUOTE

Seriously, you guys need to check out Dr. Dre! I've got him on loop right now.

This is Dr. Dre at his best.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zg9ZBtg0Xig[/QUOTE]

Peter Kim3 said:hahaha, it's not "il studento," it's "lo studente"... when you're dealing with an 's,' we don't use "il," we use "lo."
it isn't "duemilaquindocesimo," because when you're talking about years, we just use regular numbers—like, we say "buon duemilaquindici," which literally translates to "happy 2015"...

and since "buon capodanno duemilaquindicesimo" makes zero sense, you basically just said in Italian, "and why happy 2015"

because "perché" means why🙂

Happy New Year to you too...

thanks

btw, "perche" also means because as far as I know...

man, now I'm remembering lo studente -> gli studenti 🙂
Italian rap totally sucks
listen to this:


Our Pescadero house (fish 😁) nica republica...