Beginning as a contemporary artist Kojey moved through the arts with increasing curiosity and defiant will to never be confined to one art form. From as young as 9 years old Kojey chose to see every form of creative expression as one art form; allowing each one to become a new language for him to communicate through.
After releasing his debut EP in June 2014 Kojey quickly became a name to look out for, selling out his first headline show twice due to popular demand. Kojey is widely credited for his explosive live shows and subversive story telling ability, often referred to as a visionary and pioneer of the arts. Kojey's approach and unorthodox style has earned him the attention of GQ Magazine, Idol, Mechanical Dummy, Soul Culture, Wonderland, The405, Clash Magazine, The Fader, BBC 1 Xtra, OKAYAFRICA and Notion Magazine to name a few.
Born
Kojey Radical Lyrics
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mmh yeah, mh
I dey call for di Lord when I stress, my dawg
Why I never hit him when I bless, my dawg?
Blessed and highly favored, you know di vibe cyaan' done
Mek he weathering di storm, whether right or wrong
And I never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
Bad from me born but me righteous
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
We only countin' summers in the city that I'm from
Had to live it up 'cause not many living long
I figure if I get some money I can get my Diddy on
Crabs in a bucket, I get on my Diddy Kong
I had to put myself last just to put my city on
Got the last laugh not my bruddas living calm
Had to send a pretty penny to my bruddas back ah yaad
Told 'em, "Hold that"
Stack a pretty penny when I go back, like throwbacks
Vibe untouchable buy dem still cyaan' feel me
Ah nuh frail me, ah nuh R.I.P. me
Back inna day, momma woulda surely beat me
Now me have mi own yaad, me nuh haffi screechie
Deep seas, sea breeze
Green skies, blue trees
Roll a spliff, kick back and debrief
I don't call at all, when I fall I crawl
I dey call for di Lord when I stress, my dawg
Why me never hit him when me bless, my dawg?
Blessed and highly favored, you know di vibe cyaan' done
Now me weathering di storm, whether right or wrong
Bad from me born but me righteous
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
Bad from me born but me righteous
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
When ah time fi di war nuh bodda chat, my dawg
Seventeen wul inna mi Glock, my dawg (uh)
Me cyaan' drop my guard cah if me drop my guard
All you ah go hear is a black man fall
In the H-O-X-T-O-N, bless me
Right cah me black star, my momma from Kumasi
Think like he Garvey but move like I'm Kwame
Forward, don't make me catch a charge wit' mi chargies
From school detention to immigration detaining me
Dangerous, freedom over peaceful slavery
Bravery, tailored, the shit was made for me
Saves my life, it makes me, me
'Cause where I'm from, they say I'm a shotta
I say that I changed, they say it don't matter
El Shabazz and Assata, I thank ya
Grow mi hair and now dem say me a Rasta
Jah with me, ain't no shaking my chakra (blocka)
I dey call for di Lord when I stress, my dawg
Why me never hit him when me bless, my dawg?
Blessed and highly favored, you know di vibe cyaan' done
Now me weathering di storm, whether right or wrong
Bad from me born but me righteous
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
Bad from me born but me righteous
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
In these lyrics, Kojey Radical and Cashh express their spiritual beliefs and resilience in the face of challenges. The song starts with Kojey Radical seeking guidance from the Lord when he is stressed, questioning why he doesn't seek help when he is blessed. He sees himself as blessed and highly favored, determining that he will weather any storm, regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
The chorus is a declaration of Kojey Radical's character and attitude. He acknowledges that he was born with a tough exterior, but he remains righteous and strong, refusing to shed tears in times of crisis. This verse represents his personal growth and emotional strength.
The second verse reflects on Kojey Radical's upbringing in a difficult environment. He mentions counting summers in the city he comes from, implying that not many people live long enough to experience multiple summers. He desires financial success so he can make a positive impact on his community, likening himself to Diddy and referencing the struggle of escaping an environment filled with negativity ("Crabs in a bucket").
Kojey Radical expresses his determination to put his city first before himself, highlighting the importance of looking out for his loved ones back home. He asserts that while his brothers may be living calmly, he has had the last laugh in terms of success. He also plans to save up money to bring with him when he returns, emphasizing his commitment to his roots.
The following verse focuses on Kojey Radical's self-reflection and growth. He describes himself as untouchable in terms of his energy and spirit, but acknowledges that some people cannot truly understand or connect with him. He mentions how, in the past, his mother would have disciplined him, but now that he has his own space, he can be himself without restrictions.
The lyrics then return to the theme of seeking spiritual guidance in times of stress. Kojey Radical reiterates that he calls upon the Lord during difficult times, questioning why he doesn't do the same when he is blessed. He emphasizes his righteous nature and confidence to never shed tears during crises, reinforcing his resilience and unyielding character.
The final verse delves into Kojey Radical's experiences growing up in Hoxton and his identity as a black man. He acknowledges his mother's origins in Kumasi and references influential figures like Marcus Garvey and Kwame Nkrumah. He highlights the challenges he has faced with detention and immigration issues, emphasizing the importance of freedom over peaceful slavery. Kojey Radical speaks to his bravery and how his experiences have shaped him, expressing gratitude to figures like El Shabazz and Assata Shakur for their influence. He also mentions his physical appearance, growing his hair and embracing Rastafarianism, and ultimately believes in the presence of Jah (God) to guide and protect him.
In summary, these lyrics illustrate Kojey Radical's determination to remain strong and righteous despite the challenges he has faced. He seeks spiritual guidance in times of stress and emphasizes the importance of never shedding tears in crises. Through his storytelling, he reflects on his past, his community, and his identity, highlighting his personal growth and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
I dey call for di Lord when I stress, my dawg
I pray to the Lord when I am under pressure, my friend
Why I never hit him when I bless, my dawg?
Why don't I reach out to Him when I am blessed, my friend?
Blessed and highly favored, you know di vibe cyaan' done
I am blessed and chosen, you know that the positive energy cannot be stopped
Mek he weathering di storm, whether right or wrong
Let Him endure the storm, whether it's the right or wrong path
Bad from me born but me righteous
I have been tough since birth, but I am morally upright
And I never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
And I never cry during difficult times, my friend
We only countin' summers in the city that I'm from
We only consider the enjoyable moments in the city where I come from
Had to live it up 'cause not many living long
I had to live a fulfilling life because not many people live for long
I figure if I get some money I can get my Diddy on
I think that if I become wealthy, I can live a lavish lifestyle like P. Diddy
Crabs in a bucket, I get on my Diddy Kong
In a competitive environment, I rise above like Diddy Kong in the video game
I had to put myself last just to put my city on
I had to prioritize my city's success over my own
Got the last laugh not my bruddas living calm
I ended up being successful while my friends remain in a state of peace
Had to send a pretty penny to my bruddas back ah yaad
I had to send a significant amount of money to my friends back home
Told 'em, "Hold that"
I told them to keep that money
Stack a pretty penny when I go back, like throwbacks
I will accumulate a substantial amount of money when I return, like old memories
Vibe untouchable buy dem still cyaan' feel me
My energy cannot be affected, even though they still cannot understand me
Ah nuh frail me, ah nuh R.I.P. me
I am not weak, not ready to be mourned
Back inna day, momma woulda surely beat me
In the past, my mother would have definitely punished me
Now me have mi own yaad, me nuh haffi screechie
Now I have my own place, I don't have to hide anymore
Deep seas, sea breeze
Tranquil oceans, refreshing ocean breeze
Green skies, blue trees
Lush green skies, vibrant blue trees
Roll a spliff, kick back and debrief
Roll a marijuana joint, relax and review
I don't call at all, when I fall I crawl
I don't ask for help, when I fail I pick myself up slowly
When ah time fi di war nuh bodda chat, my dawg
When it's time for battle, don't waste time talking, my friend
Seventeen wul inna mi Glock, my dawg (uh)
I have seventeen bullets in my Glock, my friend
Me cyaan' drop my guard cah if me drop my guard
I can't let my guard down because if I do
All you ah go hear is a black man fall
All you will hear is a black man's defeat
In the H-O-X-T-O-N, bless me
In Hoxton, bless me
Right cah me black star, my momma from Kumasi
Right, because I am a black star like my mother from Kumasi
Think like he Garvey but move like I'm Kwame
I have the thoughts of Garvey but the actions of Kwame
Forward, don't make me catch a charge wit' mi chargies
Move forward, don't make me face legal trouble with my close friends
From school detention to immigration detaining me
From being punished in school to being detained by immigration
Dangerous, freedom over peaceful slavery
Dangerous, I prefer freedom over a peaceful yet oppressive life
Bravery, tailored, the shit was made for me
I am naturally brave, it suits me
Saves my life, it makes me, me
It saves my life, it defines who I am
'Cause where I'm from, they say I'm a shotta
Because people from where I grew up say I am a shooter
I say that I changed, they say it don't matter
I claim that I have transformed, but they say it doesn't make a difference
El Shabazz and Assata, I thank ya
I express gratitude to El Shabazz and Assata
Grow mi hair and now dem say me a Rasta
I grew my hair, and now they say I am a Rastafarian
Jah with me, ain't no shaking my chakra (blocka)
With God on my side, my spiritual energy cannot be disturbed (gunshot)
I dey call for di Lord when I stress, my dawg
I pray to the Lord when I am under pressure, my friend
Why me never hit him when me bless, my dawg?
Why don't I reach out to Him when I am blessed, my friend?
Blessed and highly favored, you know di vibe cyaan' done
I am blessed and chosen, you know that the positive energy cannot be stopped
Now me weathering di storm, whether right or wrong
Now I am enduring the storm, regardless of whether it is the right or wrong path
Bad from me born but me righteous
I have been tough since birth, but I am morally upright
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
And I never cry during difficult times, my friend
Bad from me born but me righteous
I have been tough since birth, but I am morally upright
And me never shed tears inna crisis, dawg
And I never cry during difficult times, my friend
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cashief Wayne Nichols, Kwadwo Amponsah, Kwame Kwei Armah, Rayan El-Hussein Goufar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind