1. Everyday I’m tryna be better than I was before The call to a greater existence is hard to ignore Used to be on some, “Tryna discover who I am” Now redefining and creating self is the plan Ignorance blinds you, Im tryna open my eyes Truth is scarce, yo, they tryna get you soaking the lies Like basing racism on a premise of science And now my people feel small we were created as giants You won’t know unless you start flipping through the pages We gods manifest its essential to engage this Cold world, and to change the status quo Purpose above paper, that has to matter more You won’t find worth from what you cop at the mall Acceptance is a poor reward for the loss of your soul I pen these thoughts to chords that will pull at your heart strings A little light to help you while you move through the dark scenes And when the horns come in, Let your soul breathe, That’s the zone I’m in, Like that And take a minute and chill Sumn you feel It’s not sumn that you listen to It’s sumn you feel, it goes 2. Sekuru vangu vakandiudza usa mhura Chero benzi hausiwe wakariumba Some of this broken folk are angels in rags Losing hope as the days turn to ages that pass I’m blessed with the ability to speak for a few That’s responsibility to only speak if it’s true So late nights I’m banging on the keys on my laptop Chronically ill I need a Chronic beat as a backdrop Doubting myself like, “noboby cares” But I guess it’s just a way to let you know that I’m there Like a child scraping his name in the grain of some old wood What’s done out of love will remain so it’s all good Coz the earth was affected by my presence Cherish existence, every second is a blessing I pen these thoughts to chords that pull at your heart strings A little light to help you while you move through the dark scenes 3. Some say God came to the earth as Word in bodily form So I’m careful with the words I choose to embody a poem Yo I’m hardly as grown as my age suggests I’m still chasing pipe dreams from one day to the next I’m questioning life at most times, yo, I be feeling lost Coz nobody path came with a road sign Some people are lucky just to know from the start The rest gotta figure out the right road to embark And there’s always these potholes and roadblocks The pressure to conform so you live like a robot Gotta break the mental chains, and let freedom reign Become the person that you want as the seasons change Coz the only one responsible for you Is the person in the mirror make a plan and follow through I pen these thoughts to chords that pull at your heart strings A little light to help you while you move through the dark scenes It’s not sumn that you listen to, it’s sumn you feel We got that heartcore music for yall,

1. Yo I forgot to write, to channel my thoughts in the direction Of finding the understanding in my own introspection, Got a little fame started believing the hype Shielding my inner light by becoming what people like But my pen was dry and my page was unvisited Creative not creating I swear you couldn’t live with it Trapped inside a cell on writer’s block For one who used to paint with words Life loses its colour when the writing stops Failing to understand why my art was dying, Searching for inspiration in wells slowly drying Words used to flow like rivers after the sky cried Pen used to shed tears on the page but now its dry eyed It danced on paper like calligraphy Now I have to wrench words from my soul birthing them painfully Is it coz of my album with my life story Giving complete strangers the keys to really know me I should have played it cool and hidden behind the metaphor But Im exposed by my prose but does it matter though, Writer’s Return If art is a way for us to connect Then my nakedness is needed for our minds to intersect In the foreplay of dialogue, culminating in the Conception of a mutual understanding If I can see through yours and you can see through my eyes Maybe then we can see through the lies, so write on Write on through the pain and the struggle you feel Clothing emotion in words allow yourself to heal Write to birth light in the seasons of night To fight against the silence so the people rise 2. Yo I forgot to write, in fact I forgot how to Caught up in the mechanics of just making the crowd move And all it takes is a catchy repetitive hook An 808 kick and a few punchlines too Nothing worse than think that your best work is past you Fans turn into enemies everytime that they ask When are you dropping next, why is it taking long Why ain’t you locked up in the studio making songs Could they truly understand my new understanding That immortalising words is an exercise demanding Of some soul searching and some serious conviction The words that you send into space, they leave an imprint Giving the world the lens to peer right in your soul But the image stays static while you slowly evolve How many got the patience to follow you through the changes If I met me from a decade ago we would be strangers Yo, Im growing and I recognise it Though its not reflected in my old music when you analyse it But maybe that’s exactly why we create, To preserve ourselves in time as the planet rotates So I’ma call this one the Writer’s return End of a dark day coz my light has returned So I don’t forget again this song is a reminder to write Inside my journal hoping you would be the finder Of a truth that had eluded you Writer’s Return A truth that’s beautiful Familiar words showing you the unusual If your words are caged may they break free So your truth has the freedom to be

1. The conversation went something like ‘Muslim women are passive’ And in my mind was thinking, 'oh really is that so'D Thought of Nebila and the poetry she write That tackles injustice and exposes it to light I thought about Mona Moon a fierce sister with heart And about the revolutions that her wisdom can spark And Adia and Afsa on they way to becoming bosses Rocking hijabs in highrise corporate offices I questioned where people get their information from Probably equating Islam with detonation of bombs We consuming propaganda at a frightening pace How much TV determines our perception of race I saw this film casually calling Iraqis savage To sanitise a war first dehumanise the casualties Some accents signify a villain in my head Never met the people though, its an idea that I was fed On the screen people my complexion are dealing drugs While the cops killing them even their leader seeing ‘thugs' Man, I guess the box stay giving us the boxes That we put people in while we turn obnoxious They’ll kill more than your character with just a camera In modern warfare. bullets are used by amateurs Who owns the corporations that tell you the news Painting the hues of your world while they shaping your views And I know that you don't understand me, Coz all of my life they were ‘othering’ me But you might find theres a brother in me Or just another slave who is just trying to be free From, the rat race and the politricks From, the same mess that got you pissed I’m not saying we exactly the same But we a lot less different than the media claim 2. You ever been told you don’t look or sound Zimbabwean Like they had their own picture that they were imagining Rocking leopardskin or maybe hunting and gathering And machetes and guns instead of mics when we battling You might have heard about the dangers that you bound to face By telling a single story about a people or a place The diversity of Africa is lost in the narrative That seems to only focus on the elements thats negative Then theres people hopping on planes trying to save us Ignoring the root causes of the conditions that plague us Don’t really want to get into a history lesson I’m just saying, fully understanding needs some reflection When I started rhyming it was the lion learning to speak I’ll debunk the hunters lies every time I’m on a beat We don’t need new names, we need need some new images How bout you also show the people running their businesses The geniuses finding creative solutions And the people still smiling while keeping it moving It’s no lie, man I come from a beautiful place You wouldn’t know from the news that they choose to display 3. He told me his story and while I listened to him I felt it could have been me just in different skin Same struggles, same pain, same depression I felt And finding solace in the music as a way to find help If we hadn’t found ourselves in this particular moment The way the world is would probably have us pitched as opponents So many things can divide us if we focus on those We were never consulted before we were thrown in these roles It’s a shame that the world thrives on the divisions Instead of focusing on the peace they push the violence in religions I don't care what you believe in if it makes makes you a better human And affect the world positively while you moving But the system in place gives privilege to a race To the detriment of others so it needs to be replaced They try to define beauty by the least amount of melanin I worry about the world that my newest niece is stepping in She might have to defend her humanity everyday With surroundings trying to tell her that she’s less in every way Everyone who has to fight for the simplest of rights Just wanted to let you know that I’m feeling your plight We all tryna find out purpose on this planet Manage with all the pressure and maybe work out a balance Be happy with ourselves at the end of the day And dance to the life’s music as the record is played Explore our potential and self actualize And share our vast talents and the passion inside See smiles on those who reside in our heart And leave the world a little better by the time we depart I’ve broken down what they say my people are like So now, tell me what’s your stereotype If it happens that people ain’t seeing you right They probably only see you stereotype Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie : "I've always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person. The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar."

1. Joy was the sound of the bell when the ice-cream man came Pyjama type gear like he just came from a chain gang, We used to get milk pints delivered at school With those little animals on it used to think it was cool Running home coz Voltron or Transformers was on In the evening MacGuyver would diffuse a bomb with a comb After wrestling we’d have our own championships Moms shouting from the living room would silence us quick Watching Santa Barbara, closing eyes when people were kissing Now that Im grown I can confess, I was secretly peeping Remember once, watching Dracula hiding behind the sofa Too scared to go to sleep by the time that it was over That was when Cressidas were the flyest thing on the road Before sitting four four we had 404s Going to school, my blazer huge had to keep it for years, But I was small so I had to learn to deal with the jeers We’ve come a long way we got further to go Sometimes I wonder if we still on the road Seems we, stuck in a moment but my memory fine So just indulge me while I remember the time Nostalgia, thinking back to the Zim that I loved Nostalgia thinking back got me feeling so bugged How did we get here from such a beautiful past Would have appreciated more if I knew it wouldn’t last 2. Christmas was rice and chicken and flexing your new clothes Had that Golden China with the Super Mario Bros The ride of choice was BMXs when cruising the streets Saving up your tuck money fill your pocket with sweets Sweet like this smile on this girl that I liked Flossing like a boss doing wheelies swerving my bike Trying to act mad nonchalant in front of my friends Pushing wire cars dreaming of driving a benz Now, sugar on your hands was evidence of crime The quiz on tv was a chance for you too shine The public library was a source of wonder for me We weren’t rich, through the books I could travel for free I feel in love with hiphop coz of American rap, One talent show did Biggie’s part on that 112 track, I’d tune in to the charts never knowing I’d be on radio Was young then, growing up was kinda crazy though 3. It go back in the days when I was young Im not a kid anymore But somedays I still wish that I was Thirteen with plenty of dreams And life had mystery there was a whole world to be seen Something about childhood before innocence lost Before relatives were taken by a sinister force Before parents failed at marriage and had to drift to divorce I mean I get it, its all a part of living of course And now I’m puzzled by these youngins trying to grow up fast Talking about how they balling while they blow pops cash Kinda like Biggies video for Sky is the limit They don’t know they envied by those they trying to mimic Coz now I’m wearing this ill-fiitting suit of being a man Like damn, I’m past 30 still working out the plan If I could, I’d take a ride in Michael J’s Delorean And take a vacation in the days were left our glory in

Well, I miss being a child I miss not having a care in the world I miss Christmasses when we'd get new clothes and we were all excited To eat chicken and rice, drink cold drink I miss family I miss being together with all the cousins I miss not having to worry, you know Even though I had less, you know, I didn't really have to worry I miss not having adult issues you know... yes I miss freedom in Zim of speaking whatever language, Well, speaking one language, Shona, and not being ostracised like we do here I'd rather be home honestly Yeah

So she was like, I don’t know man, its like Sometimes when you catch a flight You arrive and you’re there physically But it takes a while for your soul to catch up 1. Too many goodbyes I’ve watched too many planes taking off Dreading that long distance and thinking of breaking it off I know they say distance makes the heart grow fonder When theres no return flight sometimes you tend to wonder Will we ever be in the same physical space? Will Skype calls be enough for all the things we gon face I guess the burden of uncertainty is pretty heavy Kinda like luggage, you gotta carry it deftly, y’all Nothing to it, coz movement is life I had to catch a few flights spreading music through mics Connect with peeps and have to say “Peace” on the morrow Just thankful for the happiness we each got to borrow I caught a sunrise while standing on a roof in Dakar With new friends the thought of leaving left a bruise in my hear Exchanged facebook names and promised to add Hugs and daps that was that then I hopped in the cab So many monuments were built on the labour of migrants That’s my consolation while I’m praying for guidance Coz pane vakati kusina mai hakuendwi Asi chitsva chiri murutsoka saka gumbo mberi Final night in Berlin the emotions were strong Broke down by the time I was closing the last song It was straight to the airport after the show Like I hate to say goodbye but damnit I gotta go Vakamboonana havashayane, Kutamba hakubvaruki (Byebye, Goodbye) 2. I used to feel like a traitor even contemplating leaving Tired of the same scene wanderlust is what I’m feeling Yo I can’t explain this longing to see the unknown It’s been mad long since I had the feeling of home A rolling stone, grew up living with uncles and aunts In some spaces only stayed in for a couple of months Lack of stability doesn’t help a child’s development Lost mad time searching for acceptance and relevance Chasing the cool kids taking combis up north Borrowed clothes couldn’t hide that my accent was off Didn’t get daps from cats or hugs from chicks Navigating in that world had me feeling like shit I let go of chasing belonging in circles like that Started hanging out with poets coz the cyphers were fat Now Im thinking of leaving the only scene I really know And throwing myself into the unknown so I can grow Im not the hustler type like this place calls you to be No jobs but plenty graduates with college degrees They said “look east” so maybe I’ll do exactly that But ima probably have to face discrimination coz I’m black Im not used to being different, always try to blend in Thats why I felt naked when I was walking in Berlin Reading Baldwin relating coz though times have changed Time and again felt like I was the stranger on the train Getting head nods from melanated folk that I met Like ‘I acknowledge your existence and accord my respect’ And down south ain’t an option coz they are killing us there Drunk on a concoction of hate, and ignorance and fear Outside these borders I’m just a foreigner I guess And sometimes thats a crime with a penalty of death So the idea of leaving fills me with trepidation At this point I’m more scared of stagnation Mos Def time that I did the Travelling Man This is home, so no doubt I’ma be back when I can Word to Jimmy hey, maybe I’ll be headed your way Coz I love Zimbabwe but I’m ready to say Goodbye goodbye goodbye, oh I’m leaving 3. We connected for a little but the journey is through So the word I hate to say I gotta say it to you But at least we synchronised our lives In a time when our eyes are usually just glued to some device Goodbyes are temporary, memories are forever Life is moments, special ones keep people together So I know that I’ll be safe if you keep me in your heart As long as life doesn’t break, it if it does. I’ll fall apart So peace, auf wiedesehen, toonana Zai Jian, a la prochaine, sizabonana Thats me signing of this love letter to you The Soulsteez, stay positive, whatever you do