On August 30, Zico took the stage as a guest artist at A-NATION 2025, Japan’s largest summer music festival, held at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. To the surprise of many, he performed “Turtle Ship”, the iconic song he produced during Show Me The Money 4.
The track is not just a symbolic title—it directly references the historical Korean warship “Geobukseon” (Turtle Ship), used by Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin War. With bold lyrics such as “We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty” and “We’re survivors, you guys are just average”, Zico uses the legendary battleship as a metaphor for his dominance and resilience as a rapper.
T/N: Lyrics for ref –
[PaloAlto]
We’re the Turtle Ship*, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils are widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
[Jamezz]
Uh what’s ya name?
Because you don’t know of my existence, you guys feel the fear
Uh my aka are ninja, undercover, camouflage, underground
Whatever you call me, you guys barely have my information
J-A-M-E-DOUBLE-Z, Remember that now
Soon imma be on the top (on the top)
Uh what’s ya name?
Maybe call me Jack
The bean stalk I planted grew a lot in this passed year
The sky is my destination when I climb it
Wanna get them sloths
When my well-made album comes out soon
Rappers who’ve been lazy and full until now
Don’t give excuses, just get out
If you’re not better than me
Hongwon donates to the young star with big dreams
Mic and pop filter, don’t give excuses like that
Take preventative measures and wash your hands from this
If this touches a nerve, you’ll probably say you can’t feel it like it’s an anesthetic
Just take a few more shots and close your eyes
That’s right, only you must not have heard my name
[PaloAlto]
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils are widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils are widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
[Andup]
Whoo, I’ve always walked my way
Rowed my way but
I felt myself turning backwards
So I’m ending my first act, to my next generation
What the fuck you want
If you thought I was easy, you better bend your back
If you thought I was cute, Imma fuck you love hard
Better to get beat up than come on my bad side
A few bastards are already checking their tongues
Going for peace? Ma friend yeah I used to
Acting like I know everything with a rotten smile? Ha yeah I used to
If you judge me from back then
Piss me off and you’ll have to drink an alcohol fountain with your nose
I’m pure but I’m not innocent, I won’t fall for your tricks
Look at my face, my nose bridge is high (high high)
You can try ten times but you won’t find a flaw
I won’t fall victim to the editing (nah nah)
If my confidence was drunken courage
I would’ve been killed early on
Let’s battle it out with rap
If I were to eat you, y’all hesitate, hesitate, hesitate whoa
[PALOALTO]
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
[MINO]
A little baby with gills drank some bad water
But he still survived and came all the way up here
Like gum, I’ll suck out all the experience from failure
And spit it out cuz it won’t taste good anymore
A life that hit the spot, I just followed God’s plan
I don’t play with Korea
I’m cool enough to drive the Korean flag on top of the world
Zico-PaloAlto’s 3rd adopted son Song Minho
I’ve received a proper family education
Destroying all of you is my duty of a good son
Power of my agency? Fuck you
Now my agency sucks up to me
Team YG will be shot dead,
You slipped the gun into my hands, that’s your situation
Idol rappers mo’fucker
Goddamn I’m a idol too
Don’t take off your biased eyes, just get destroyed with them on
I’ll give you the settlement money
Loser bastards try to ban me ss if my existence is against the rules
Y’all serving the wrong rapper, all of y’all are fakes whoo
[PALOALTO]
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
We’re the Turtle Ship, other boats are empty
Just fall into a pile of shit
Your pupils widening, I feel your fear
We’re survivors, you guys are just average
CR: WithWinner)
Choosing to perform a song that highlights Korean strength and heritage on Japanese soil drew explosive reactions from netizens. Many praised his confidence and artistry, commenting, “This is real hip-hop”, “That red stage itself felt like a Turtle Ship”, and “Others cry watching Demon Slayer, I cried watching Zico’s performance.”
Fans also noted that Zico has performed “Turtle Ship” multiple times in the past at university festivals, proving his lasting attachment to the song. His Tokyo performance is now being hailed as a bold and unapologetic statement, further cementing his reputation as an artist unafraid to take risks.
Sources: nate
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