[Intro]
Yeah — from Kibera to the Thames, mandem know the story
Matatu rides to midnight hustle, now penthouse glory
Sawa, listen —
[Hook]
You laughed when I was broke, said I had no worth
Now I count bands, switch the scene, reskin the earth
You looked away, now you wanna learn my turn
She laughed then, cashin' now — watch the tables turn
[Verse 1]
Nights of githeri, ndengu for supper, pockets empty, head steady
Gikomba runs, hustle in my hands, makin' plan heavy
She said 'si kweli', that I was slow, that I had no bread
I waved goodbye from the matatu, heart low, mind fed
Kibera corners taught me chess, not checkers, moves in silence
Mama said pray, bada bing, bada boom, grind with resilience
I skipped the flex, I kept the plan, tucked the shame in my coat
Now London skies see my flight, switch the currency I tote
[Pre-Chorus]
Mandem on the block said keep ya head, keep ya lane
Council estate dreams, now I'm on different plane
They wanted shiny, not the rain that made the grain
I stayed steady, grafted hard — now the proof is plain
[Hook]
You laughed when I was broke, said I had no worth
Now I count bands, switch the scene, reskin the earth
You looked away, now you wanna learn my turn
She laughed then, cashin' now — watch the tables turn
[Verse 2]
From cold floors to London floors, penthouse on the Thames
From street vendors to stock vendors, different ends
I spit sheng on grime, cadence tight like a seam
Double-time my hustle, triplet flows in my dream
Estate kids watchin' mandem rise, lessons in the sound
From the corner shop to the club, now my name's around
I keep one eye on fake smiles, one eye on the plan
Money ain't the only meter — it's proof that I am the man
[Bridge]
Too much weight bent my back, I learned how to lift
Lost warm hands but found my craft, that's the gift
If I say less, it's deliberate — silence like a shield
They only see the surface gloss, not the nights I kneel
[Verse 3]
You chose small coins over heart, petty tastes for petty things
Traded our talks for tailor-made bags and diamond rings
Now you DM like we close, sayin' 'waddup' when I glow
But love that left for cheap returns like worn-out clothes
Punchline — I ain't your rescue, I was the upgrade you missed
You sold my name for cheap applause, I bought peace with fists of mist
You wanted labels, now I'm the label — check the price tag burn
You took a cheap love, I made change — now watch the tables turn
[Beat Switch / Flex Bars] (double-time)
Came up from the gutter, now the gutter lookin' cleaner
From hand-to-mouth to deals that feed the dreamer
Clocked the opps, dodged the snakes, kept my circle leaner
Now the same ones say "respect" — used to call me dreamer
Kibera grit with a grime swing, east meets west in my tone
From matatu hustle to the penthouse zone
I move silent like chess, checkmate with a tone
Now the city know my name, I made the oven my throne
[Final Hook / Outro]
You laughed when I was broke, said I had no worth
Now I count bands, switch the
