The Director's Cut

Operating, like I'm still eighteen,
I been operating like I'm still a teen,
Kingston bars with Haks and Eugene,
Those days we raved with great tings,


Major danger in living in the past,
Realization hit, old me faded fast,
Casting Idris to play me, watch the scene,
Repercussions, yeah, I can only blame me,

Eighteen, South London boy with a dream,
With a team, but we split, chasing better things,
University life, grants and bursaries,
Watching my niece, that’s a major win, see?

Tailored sins, a closet full of past,
Atmosphere dark, these shadows gotta clash,
Coming to terms with the laughs and the jabs,
Placed at the back while these youngins just stab,


Operating, like I'm still eighteen,
I been operating like I'm still a teen,
Kingston bars with Haks and Eugene,
Those days we raved with great tings,


Advanced the age, but I’m still chasin’ dreams,
P’s from the pain built within, it seems,
Disengaged from the grind, lost in the wheel,
Doubted my skills, shit, how does it feel?

Disregarded the till, coping mechanisms still,
Operating, like I’m sippin’ on that thrill,
Can’t travel back, but wanna ride this saddle,
Mind’s muddled, life brings the damn battle,


Reminiscing bars, where we did them doubles,
Grown now, no cuddles, just a life full of troubles,
Strugglin’ to eat while gettin’ berated,
[This corporate hustle got me feelin' so jaded,]


Operating, like I'm still eighteen,
I been operating like I'm still a teen,
Kingston bars with Haks and Eugene,
Those days we raved with great tings,


Gotta shake the past, no time for the toss,
Future’s waitin’, can’t afford to get lost,
So I hustle hard, like a motherfucka, see?
Living in my truth, 'cause I’m still me,
[Still eighteen vibes, yeah, that’s the scheme.]


Operating, like I'm still eighteen,
I been operating like I'm still a teen,
Kingston bars with Haks and Eugene,
Those days we raved with great tings,


Major danger in living in the past,
Realization hit, old me faded fast,
Casting Idris to play me, watch the scene,
Repercussions, yeah, I can only blame me,

Eighteen, South London boy with a dream,
With a team, but we split, chasing better things,
University life, grants and bursaries,
Watching my niece, that’s a major win, see?

Tailored sins, a closet full of past,
Atmosphere dark, these shadows gotta clash,
Coming to terms with the laughs and the jabs,
Placed at the back while these youngins just stab,


Operating, like I'm still eighteen,
I been operating like I'm still a teen,
Kingston bars with Haks and Eugene,
Those days we raved with great tings,


Advanced the age, but I’m still chasin’ dreams,
P’s from the pain built within, it seems,
Disengaged from the grind, lost in the wheel,
Doubted my skills, shit, how does it feel?


The Jacksons

Yo, what do you think of me?
23, show ID,
23, mask the IP,
23 coats of IV,
Dawg, I'm in my own league,
23 red, I’m my own chief,
Always been the motif,
It’s always been 23!
(It’s always been 23!)

Disguised so heavenly,
When I'm gone, will they remember me?
Or will I fade into their memories?
I remember spitting raps at 17,
Zooting on the evergreen,
Couldn’t sleep without the promethazine,
[But now I’m good, dawg, biochemistry,]

Start the day with herbal essence tea,
Just a negro chasing a dream,
Never meet your heroes, don’t sub for the team,
Lost those good folk to the damn submarine.

Oh Gene, it can get sticky,
Oh Gene, can’t get out like Ricky,
Oh Gene, what happened to Diddy?
Oh Gene, oh Gene, can’t get shot like 50,
Oh Gene, be a boss like Bibby,
Could’ve been with Juice, or hampered like Uncle Femi,
Do you get me?
(Do you get me?)

Always kept it hood like Kenny,
Do it for Rahmon and Kemi,
What do you think of me?
What do you think of me?

Out on the block with Puma,
It can get scary, nigga do more,
Trying to be a pops like Junior,
Who saw him get shot,
I was still out on the block.

Out with the Rottweilers, doing up sport,
Put the Jag in sport,
If you can’t blag, don’t talk,
Striker could’ve been scouted for Dort,

He stay online, he a dork,
USB, I got the fish from port,
Could’ve been abort, ‘cause the family was poor,
BBL, she a whore, showed them the door,

But couldn’t see the dolphins,
Rollercoaster like the Altons,
In the Balkans, I’m floating,
Coasting,
If Obama ran again, yeah, I would’ve voted,
Dealing with emotions,
That’s why I keep smoking,
Joking with co-peers, before I was posted.
[Joking with co-peers, before I was posted.]

What do you think of me?
What do you think of me?
23, I show ID,
23, mask the IP,
23 coats of IV,
Dawg, I’m in my own league,
23 red, I’m my own chief,
Always been the motif,
It’s always been 23!
[It’s always been 23!]

Disguised so heavenly,
When I'm gone, will they remember me?
Or will I fade into their memories?
I remember spitting raps at 17,
Zooting on the evergreen,
Couldn’t sleep without the promethazine,
But now I’m good, dawg, biochemistry,
(But now I’m good, dawg, biochemistry,)

Start the day with herbal essence tea,
Just a negro chasing a dream,
Never meet your heroes, don’t sub for the team,
Lost those good folk to the damn submarine.

Oh Gene, it can get sticky,
Oh Gene, can’t get out like Ricky,
Oh Gene, what happened to Diddy?
Oh Gene, oh Gene, can’t get shot like 50,
Oh Gene, be a boss like Bibby,
Could’ve been with Juice, or hampered like Uncle Femi,
Do you get me?
(Do you get me?)

Always kept it hood like Kenny,
Do it for Rahmon and Kemi,
What do you think of me?
What do you think of me?

Out on the block with Puma,
It can get scary, nigga do more,
Trying to be a pops like Junior,
Who saw him get shot,
I was still out on the block.

Out with the Rottweilers, doing up sport,
Put the Jag in sport,
If you can’t blag, don’t talk,
Striker could’ve been scouted for Dort,

He stay online, he a dork,
USB, I got the fish from port,
Could’ve been abort, ‘cause the family was poor,
BBL, she a whore, showed them the door,


Griselda

Yo, they say you're a product of your environment,
But the crimes I see, always tied to an IC3,
The streets made me violent, they claim that shit's my alignment,
But I don’t wanna be no IC3, nah, that ain't me.

I was raised in the chaos, trapped in this gridlock,
Sentenced by the jurisdiction, can't break this tick-tock,
Speaking the system, I tried to apply distance,
But I’m still barred with the friction, that’s my mission.

Too many men caught up, lost in the haze,
Either they use or they sell, caught up in the maze,
Trapped in a cell, where the mind goes to hell,
Like I don’t wanna be no stereotypical black male.

They say you're a product of your environment,
But I refuse to be defined by a moment of silence,
Breaking these chains, gotta find my way out,
IC3, I’m done with that doubt.

Living in a world where the vision’s so bleak,
But I’m here to rise up, never accept defeat,
They label us quick, but never know our story,
I’m rewriting the script, I’m claiming my glory.

Yo, they say you're a product of your environment,
But I’m breaking the cycle, that ain’t my alignment,
Too many trapped by the drugs and the sales,
But I’m rewriting the tale, I refuse to fail.

Yeah, I’m stepping out bold, with a fire in my soul,
Flipping the script, watch this black boy roll,
I’m a king in the making, hear the story unfold,
No more chains on my dreams, just let ‘em be told.

So here’s to the fighters, the dreamers, the ones,
Who refuse to let the struggle define who they become,
Stand tall, break the walls, we’ll rewrite the scene,
No more IC3, just living the dream.

Yo, they say you're a product of your environment,
But I’m elevating high, no more confinement,
I’m here to say that this story’s not done,
Light up the path, watch me rise like the sun.

Yo, they say you're a product of your environment,
But the crimes I see, always tied to an IC3,
The streets made me violent, they claim that shit's my alignment,
But I don’t wanna be no IC3, nah, that ain't me.

I was raised in the chaos, trapped in this gridlock,
Sentenced by the jurisdiction, can't break this tick-tock,
Speaking the system, I tried to apply distance,
But I’m still barred with the friction, that’s my mission.

Too many men caught up, lost in the haze,
Either they use or they sell, caught up in the maze,
Trapped in a cell, where the mind goes to hell,
Like I don’t wanna be no stereotypical black male.


Ends & Beyond

Late night got me in my feelings,
Hennessy the remedy for healing,
Dealing with some women, they all in my mentions,
Crying emoji got to show some expression.

But I'm dead to the constant fit regression,
Finding the one seems an impossible mission,
But I'm steady wishing, there's more fish in the sea,
I'm steady fishing, can't let 'em get to me.

Small talk need extinction,
I need the talk that's intrinsic,
Now we talking physics,
But then she bring up dinner, so ridiculous.

Back and forth like tennis,
But there's only one winner,
Trips to France and Venice,
That's a bank account killer.

I'm making my visit,
But first she got to live up to the expectation,
I'm over instant gratification,
Use your education, stop the complication.

Use the medication that's provided,
Use part of this your guidance,
And maybe you won't always get the bad guy,
Like Billie Eilish, I’m just that fly.

Late night got me in my feelings,
Pour another shot, yeah, I'm peeling,
These layers off, get real with me,
Stop with the emoji, give me the real tea.

Finding the one feels like I'm lost in the mist,
Trying to navigate, but I can't find the twist,
Heart on my sleeve, I'm taking the risk,
Late night vibes, it's a hell of a tryst.

So I'm steady wishing,
Got that fire, never quitting,
Late night drives got me reminiscing,
Hennessy pouring, now we’re blissin’.

Yeah, late night got me in my feelings,
Hennessy the remedy, I'm peeling,
Dealing with these women, they all in my mentions,
Crying emoji, show some real intentions.

But I'm dead to the constant fit regression,
Finding the one seems an impossible mission,
But I'm steady wishing, there's more fish in the sea,
I'm steady fishing, can't let 'em get to me.

Small talk need extinction,
I need the talk that's intrinsic,
Now we talking physics,
But then she bring up dinner, so ridiculous.

Back and forth like tennis,
But there's only one winner,
Trips to France and Venice,
That's a bank account killer.

I'm making my visit,
But first she got to live up to the expectation,
I'm over instant gratification,
Use your education, stop the complication.

Sonder

I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,

Lost, you can’t retrieve it,
Standing ovation from the seated,
Discussion was heated, no one undefeated,
Pain and disaster, it’s disaster season,
I need a reason, but I’m freezing,
Fire from the touch, I’m feeling the burn,
These lessons learned, but when will I learn?
Demons dance in my mind, they’re scheming,
Got me feeling like I'm lost in my dreaming,


I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,


Unconscious nervous breathing,
Stood for Ollie in them meetings,
But they gave him six seasons,
I’m in the dark, where’s my reason?
Searching for freedom, but the shadows are creeping,
Surprised by the deacon, the truth ain't cheaping,



Treating this like it’s all a game,
Trickery, I’m calling names,
She stood beside a legend, ain't that insane?
Night life shines, but it’s all the same,
Curtains open, revealing the pain,


I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,


Consciousness dealer, I’m feeling the pressure,
Pain receptor retriever, a life full of treacher,
Lost my grip, could’ve slipped by a meter,
Disaster striker, but I’m a believer,
She stood behind the post, a keeper in shadows,
Bipolar psychosis, battling my battles,
Demons chose neither, neither side’s winning,
I’m clawing back, but the darkness is spinning,


A leader to many, but a follower still,
Demons chasing, I’m running uphill,
Engulfed by my demons, can’t escape this feeling,
Lost in the fight, I’m screaming, I’m screaming,


I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,

Lost, you can’t retrieve it,
Standing ovation from the seated,
Discussion was heated, no one undefeated,
Pain and disaster, it’s disaster season,
I need a reason, but I’m freezing,
Fire from the touch, I’m feeling the burn,
These lessons learned, but when will I learn?
Demons dance in my mind, they’re scheming,
Got me feeling like I'm lost in my dreaming,


I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,


Unconscious nervous breathing,
Stood for Ollie in them meetings,
But they gave him six seasons,
I’m in the dark, where’s my reason?
Searching for freedom, but the shadows are creeping,
Surprised by the deacon, the truth ain't cheaping,



Treating this like it’s all a game,
Trickery, I’m calling names,
She stood beside a legend, ain't that insane?
Night life shines, but it’s all the same,
Curtains open, revealing the pain,


I'm screaming, I'm screaming,
Engulfed by my demons,
Out of touch with my feelings,
Dreams, I no longer believe 'em,
Peeling, it's revealing,
Deceiving… but nah, you deceived him,

Consciousness dealer, I’m feeling the pressure,
Pain receptor retriever, a life full of treacher,
Lost my grip, could’ve slipped by a meter,
Disaster striker, but I’m a believer,


Inside Out

Nobody can help me, I’ve been battling my health,
Somedays I feel like I’m battling myself,
Cried out for help, but nobody's there,
When I was down and out, looks like nobody cared.

Heartbroken, insides torn to pieces,
Broken, but somehow, I'm healing, no leases.
Dealing with decisions, that I made,
We all take that shit to the grave, it won't fade.
Feeling so lost, yeah, I’ve been wasting time,
People that coulda helped, they weren’t so kind.
Blind to success, life’s a tangled mess,
I’d rather guess than stay trapped in distress.

Nobody can help me, I’ve been battling my health,
Somedays I feel like I’m battling myself,
Cried out for help, but nobody's there,
When I was down and out, looks like nobody cared.

Lessons burned, bitch, lessons never learned,
It’s your turn, but that wasn’t my concern.
Maybe we find peace in a church on a Sunday,
Or maybe in a hearse, man, it’s all just gunplay.
Fought for hours, did you even care?
Battling these demons, when nobody was there.
Everyone wants me to share, but did they even care?
Trying to reconcile with my friends, but it’s rare.

Nobody can help me, I’ve been battling my health,
Somedays I feel like I’m battling myself,
Cried out for help, but nobody's there,
When I was down and out, looks like nobody cared.

No matter the reason, still a reason to live,
Deceived by those big wigs, they take but never give.
Trying to find peace, like the Middle East,
Taming a beast, with a lion unleashed.
Damn life’s stressful, moments eventful,
Gotta be careful, bodies always hurtful.
It’s a damn shame when no one respects you,
You coulda been helpful, now I start to resent you.

Nobody can help me, I’ve been battling my health,
Somedays I feel like I’m battling myself,
Cried out for help, but nobody's there,
When I was down and out, looks like nobody cared.

Caught in this mess, man, I paid all my dues,
A few left in the crew, who would've knew?
Last one in the queue, first one to sue,
You shoulda had a clue, I’m just breaking through.
Abused so many times, can’t wash off this stain,
This pain that I’m battling, unraveling the shame.
It’s a game that we play and no, you can’t save,
On the train that day, it was raining in May.


Slow Dancing In The Dark [Demo]

Gbenga is an artist hailing from South London. 

Influenced by Kendrick Lamar, Sampha & Kanye West, his top-tier lyricism, virtuosic microphone command, and sharp conceptual vision consolidate his musical journey.