Get all 6 Checkmate Mido releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
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1. |
Butterflies
04:42
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Ningekuwa kwako kama necklace
Mahali uko na-hang around
Juu weh huniwacha breathless
Chini ya maji, underground
Soft butterfly, weh hunipa butterflies niki-ku-think soft
I’m hoping those hips don’t lie, juu nishakubali ka ku-nod kichwa ki-hiphop
Ukicome close to me, fikra za kukuwacha huwa mbali
Mbali na hayo, we could take it slow or we could start in a hurry
Juu mi hukuwaza nikiamka
Akili huamshwa nikikuwaza
Fikra za mito za dhahab zikiteremka paja kwa kutafuta mwangaza
Anasa ni rahisi kuipata ukishajua ni wapi inanaswa
Kwa hivyo machoni mwako napotea nikitamka
Feelings kwa Fantasies
Juu yako nafantasize
Wanipa Butterflies
Sauti ya dhahab, unanibeba, unanivutia
Kama magnet haina mwisho
Ki-tabia, weh ni mashariki, mi ni magharib
Hatupatani. Lakini kwa kukukosa kidogo nakutafuta kwa urefu
Tutapatana pengine dunia zetu zikikaribiana na kuanza ku-rotate kwa sasa
Macho haikosi kuangalia
Moyo haikosi kukimbia
Malaika Malkia
Macho ya nyota, haikosi babako ni ile jua hutuangalia
Kwa hivyo kama maneno kwa ulimi yako kwa utaratibu
Nadance kando yako mood yako ni sakafu nisije ku-i-haribu
Na kila kitu kina kosa lake, kwa hii nimekuja kuaminia
Nakuchukua jinsi ulivyo sio vile nakufikiria
Feelings kwa Fantasies
Juu yako nafantasize
Wanipa Butterflies
©Checkmate Mido 2019
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2. |
Flow
02:52
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It’s been a minaat
Since you’ve been gone for 60 seconds
Where you been at?
Hard to get, ‘you can’t see me’, Ki-John Cena
Umenifichia white, lakini white huja kuonekana kwa giza
Nimekufeel for a minaat
Chocolate, Black Skin Queen, Where’s your King at?
Tukizungumza na body language hakuna mismatch
Si eti juu alikuona wa kwanza inamaanisha weh ni wake, where’s the ring at?
It’s been a minaat
Since anybody anibebe kama 6 pack
Ka nakam too strong ka mti we could leaf (leave) that,
From the look in your eye naweza tell, tutaget strong ka Popeye na Spinach,
Let’s hang for a minat,
And you know
Utakuwa numero Uno,
Ukinipa numeral za kukucall for a minat
Naweza kukuondoa team mafisi
Vako za attention seeking like psstpsst,
Where you be at?
Chorus
Drums zikianguka heavy lazima kichwa kifollow,
Bass ikigroove vifresh itafute tomorrow
Rhyme zikislide vismooth zinaslide na moyo
Kwa hivyo go with the flow,
Go with the flow,
Go with the flow
It’s been a minaat
Umepotea, ka ku-color clash, nimekumismatch
Ms. kubali kuingia box, iko gift wrapped
Na ni safi, corners nimezibeat, cheki my tongue brings the beat back
Waeza nitaste for a minaat
Let me sweep you, from where your feet are
Nikufiche kati ya rhyme nimesunda nyuma ya guitar
Could someone please call 911, nika nimeona sura kwa wanted poster nafeel nimekushika for a minaat
If not for too long, ka ni too long, Delilah to my Samson makasi shika
We could cut this story short, ikiget animated, Pixar
Natell unanifeel, nimecheck levels zako, Mixer
Once again you know
Utakuwa numero Uno
Ukinipa numeral za kukucall for a minat
Naweza kukuondoa team mafisi
Vako za attention seeking like psstpsst
Where you be at?
Chorus
Drums zikianguka heavy lazima kichwa kifollow,
Bass ikigroove vifresh itafute tomorrow
Rhyme zikislide vismooth zinaslide na moyo
Kwa hivyo go with the flow,
Go with the flow,
Go with the flow
Bridge
It’s been a pretty pretty pretty long time since I spent a short minute witcha minute witcha
It’s been a long minute, since some pretty time witcha.
Juu.
Chorus
Drums zikianguka heavy lazima kichwa kifollow,
Bass ikigroove vifresh itafute tomorrow
Rhyme zikislide vismooth zinaslide na moyo
Kwa hivyo go with the flow,
Go with the flow,
Go with the flow
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3. |
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4. |
Theme (Low)
01:11
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Now we are low because we spent a lifetime getting high trying to fly away from problems only we know
Dear Dedalus after you land, ukifind time, tafuta mifupa za Icarus kwenye sea floor
You thought you could run
Dunia ni yangu, huwezi jificha
That’s why they call me life nakuja vile unanipicture
Ukiona uchungu nakupa uchungu sitakuficha
Uchungu so severe utawish breath ya God haingekufika
Amen
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5. |
Sela ft Glady Mwende
09:26
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My body screams when your fingertips run through my skin slowly cutting through my pores. Tell me how much you love, like nothing can be loved as you. That's how you lie when you want me. Is this passion? or betrayal.
I will say this words over and over again. That I am the mistress, the prostitute, the church, the holy battle, the oasis, the fire, the ashes, the pretty poison. I am the disease and the healer. the syringe piercing through your sun kissed skin demanding you to feel this pain and pleasure. Its the new lie I have grown to believe.
one day you will be wanted and you will pull back, run and hide because you only know how to belong to you.
these women don't say much, they trust you know what to do, they too spread their thighs only to be filled with emptiness that made them want more of this lies. They felt a sense of belonging. A thirst that could be quenched by only mmmh money?. YES MONEY! that's it MONEY.
They hope that mother will empathize with the cold shoulders they show after one or two drinks followed by this and that guy touching here and there and a note will slide in their purses.
They are fire ready to burn you. These women will not tell you how they feel when you call it easy money. Is it easy being tattooed with names and hands of different men? they leave you with a scent that you hope to wash away with water, just water? then put on your pants and go on... the night is still young, you have got many owls ready to sing your song. It's not "easy" when you become a litter of souls but they will smile and watch you
fall in love
they know you will never come back
when you taste the lies of being needed and wanted. of knowing passion and betrayal. Knowing pain.
But worst of all
when you think its "easy" money
Jua likitua, masaa za wezi kutembea,
Ye huamka na kuanza kujirembesha,
Sura nyeusi, mdomo nyekundu, nguo kijani kinapepea,
Ka bendera, kizuri chajitembeza,
Alijipata hapa, ni vile saa zingine maisha hukuendea,
Machozi humwagika ka huna wa kuzishika kukinyesha,
Usinionee huruma! We ndio nani kunionea,
Ye humwambia yeyote anayejaribu kumwongelesha,
Visu kwa handbag,
In case mteja amrushe ka gari inajumpstart,
Kwa utulivu maombi ye hujisemea,
Salaam Maria, umejaa Neema,
Bwana yu nawe, Umebarikiwa,
Nisamehe, siku ya leo sitapoteza.
Akishatuma sala mbinguni,
Anambusu bintiye,
Anasema mama atarudi,
Lala salama. Usilie.
Sela
Sela wangu
Na giza huficha mengi lakini ye hupata kwa,
Kujionyesha, piga horn ukimtaka a,
Kuje kwa motokaa,
aseme Salaam salaam, utatoa mangapi
Kunipata mi kwa masaa kadhaa.
Si usiku nzima, lazima nirudi kutafuta juu natafuta,
Na kabla nijipe, nilipe, najua vile nyi hufanyanga.
Niambie vile unaitakanga
Nakupenda tu kwa ile dakika umelipa, kwa hakika, nitajipa kama Mkristo kanisan.
Na usichukue picha, maanake sitaki ushahid,
Usinifuate tukimaliza, najuana na magaid.
Akimaliza, nyoka pangoni, anangoja mpango ingine kuivana,
Na lazima ajionyeshe na ajifiche poa, juu kuaibishana
Ndio mchezo ye na wenzake hucheza na polisi
Jua ikionyesha ishara ya kutoka, anaenda missing.
Anarudi nyumbani kuoga,
Akitoa uchafu kwa ngozi, maji hushikana na machozi inayomtoka,
Akijiangalia sura, ashaanza kuzeeka na kuchoka,
Lakini Sela anapoamka, Chakula mezani,
Magoti sakafuni, Uzito begani,
Wanatuma sala mbinguni,
Kisha anambusu bintiye,
'Kisema mama amerudi.
Ulilaaje?
Sela wangu
Naomba Sela asiulize,
Ni wapi nimetoka,
Hata akiwa mkubwa Salaam Maria,
Najikaza, maisha kasi, Salaam Maria,
Asiniulize,
Mbona niliifanya,
Ajue tu nampenda
Sela,
Jua nakupenda,
Na kazi mi natafuta,
Nakutakia mazuri,
Ili usiwe kama mimi.
Sela
Jua liki tua siku moja kama mwizi nitatembea,
Na nisiporudi mchana.
Kwa chumba changu, kuna kitu nimekuwekea,
Chini ya kitanda.
Sela usilie.
Sela Wangu!
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6. |
Shots
04:30
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In the name of the Father
And this Holy Spirit
Forgive my blasphemy
And everyone in my company
Who’s in it
Amen
The apologetic apologizer
Anafungua chupa
Kisha anarusha maji juu kama geyser
Let it rain like pa pa pa pa pa
Acha shots zi-rain like pa pa pa pa pa
Halo kwa kichwa
Mkia ya devil
Nimedouble shots
Hii glass kwa mkono ni treble
Kwa hivyo bass si hukaribishwa na giza
Na masoprano fresh wenye kuimba tuanzishe misa
So tena ni ma name of the Father tukisip Holy Spirit
Hoping watoto wasiamke juu we become monsters they shouldn’t see this Amen
the apologetic apologizer
Anafungua chupa nyingine kisha ni maji kwa hewa kama geyser
Now it rains like pa pa pa pa pa
Acha shots zi-rain like pa pa pa pa
Sa ni shots kama robbery
Shots like Nairoberry
Shots like above the knee
Shots, Shots
Shots kama bunduki
Ni shots kama basketball
Shots like what you say to me
Is there a kind of love that could get bruised and heal itself
What if I look inside for guidance but my wisdom fails
What if I chased my dream and followed my heart
What if after all these effort I still find myself at the start
I can’t
So in the name of the Father
Nasip Holy Spirit
Praying to get elevated the sky is my home and I hope to reach it
After chasing love in the wrong places
What if all these questions are just facts in a sentence
As they rain on me like pa pa pa pa pa
Falling from the skies like pa pa pa pa
Bartender bring those shots like pa pa pa pa pa
Let them fall on me like pa pa pa pa
Uliniambia mahali utakuwa
Nikutafute jua likitua
We were creatures of the night but my night vision was poor
Itakuwaje saa giza ikinichukua
Itakuwaje saa giza ikinichukua
Juu ulisema unanipenda
Lakini ka nakupenda
Mtihani utaleta
Nikianguka utaniwacha
Uliileta nikaanguka
Hauwezi futa penzi ikishakupata rohoni
So wacha tears zi rain like pa pa pa pa pa
Falling from their eyes like pa pa pa pa pa
Wacha shots zicome like bra pa pa pa pa
Bartender bring more shots like pa pa pa pa
Ni more shots kama basketball
Shots kama boxing
Like this was my one chance after I’ve tried it all
Shots ka bunduki
I was hit, but I never tried to fall
Before I could let you know that I’d take a bullet for you
I heard the shot
Sasa shorts kama jeans
Zinanikata miguu as I try to crawl
Seeking salvation, trying to see through the rain
Na hii uchungu ni ukuta, I can’t see through the pain
Shots fired I need some back up please
Shots fired I need some back up please
Shots fired I need some back up please
As they rain on me like pa pa pa pa pa
Hoping we got high enough to look like shooting stars in their eyes as we fall like pa pa pa pa
Shots fired
Shots fired
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7. |
Jazabel/Theme (Chasing)
04:52
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Yes nampenda my Egyptian,
Mode of description
A royal highness
Too many pluses ukimpenda hakukosi minus
Namtouch vile ananitouch touch yangu ni ya Midas
Bathed in gold features zake nachocha kwa cipher
We started real slow, tupime kwa timer
As we broke down minutes to seconds kwa kila second rhyme na
Jaribu kupata form yake bila kumind ka
God kwa Genesis
State of mind
Za let there be light
This is real Jazabel
This has to be real Jazabel
She even put a tattoo of my name hoping that I stick around
Ile love angependa kukeep around
Promise hutakuwa burden utaniwacha nipige round
Nikurudie nikiwa willing to get down
Saying this knowing that I need her more
Najua atanipenda zaidi kwa ile kitu sitashow
So smiles na tabasamu ndio zilipata every
Line nilitamka to bring to life my Jaza Belly
Alidance juu nilifanya moyo wake uende di-dum di-dum
Alidance juu nilifanya moyo wake uende di-dum di-dum
Na nimekupenda for a long time na siwezi pretend
Weh ni picha akilini unaelewa hii game
Nimekupenda for a long time na siwezi pretend
Na siwezi pretend
Weh ni picha akilini unaelewa hii game
Unaelewa, unaelewa
This must be real Jazabel
Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!
This has to be real Jazabel
Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!
This must be real Jazabel
This has to be real Jazabel
Yes nampenda my Egyptian,
Mode of description
A royal highness
Too many pluses ukimpenda hakukosi minus
Namtouch vile ananitouch touch yangu ni ya Midas
Bathed in gold features zake nachocha kwa cipher
We started real slow, tupime kwa timer
As we broke down minutes to seconds kwa kila second rhyme na
Jaribu kupata form yake bila kumind ka
God kwa Genesis
State of mind
Za let there be light
This is real Jazabel
Chasing.
Chasing my ray of light she said she knows a way through the pain
Told me to find her where the dark of night meets the day
So now I’m scared, to even let sleep come to me
Should an insomniac oversleep with questions of waking up from a fantasy
Spread your wing sweet love won’t you come to me
I’m not writing as Checkmate anymore this is Anthony
Mind on guilt trips wishfully thinking on thoughts that I shouldn’t have
Feet tripping, walking all over hearts that I couldn’t love
I chased the root of all evil I was promised the fruit was sweet
They said it ends in glory left out the part where my friends bleed
And lay dead by my feet
So
What’s a crown to a King now?
We look we don’t see
We don’t listen we just hear now
Does it even matter that I’m here now?
As a result of staying for too long on this journey your doubts become fear now
Amen
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8. |
Kimbia
03:32
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Bulai mukhwana khuchelebatat
Khuyana khumbe nanana nandera
Khuyanza khumbe, ladadadada
Oh wewe kimbia dadadada
The stare
The touch
The kiss
The hug
Hauwezi tell
Niulize if she loves the answer is sort of
50/50
Half half
Believe alihave rough
Time kucome to terms with
Ngoma ye huskia hawajaknow of
Blow off
Ndio jina aliitwa by a few, but not most
Ukaniambia nimdescribe na word moja, nasema composed
She’s not soft
The type ukimwambia
hana wings, atakuambia
“wait here, tell me that after I’ve flown off”
But at the same time ako scared,
so ye huweka dreams zake inside her heart,
just to keep her soul strong
always anahum some tune
ask her where she got her song from
alipoteza answer the case is gone she just lost one
mi humuambia hepa
toka mbio na nyuma usiangalie
heepa
toka mbia mapenzi yasikufikie
dada dada
oh wewe kimbia dada dada
kimbia dada dada
Oh wewe Kimbia
Skies ndio anawish kucall home
Ye hukeep macho kwa sky hold on
Ana-aim nyota, incase aslip awe na clouds ku-fall on
Sounds kwa walkman
Ndio humkeep company
Ye ni dreamer, hajai kuwa na shida kudoze
She sleeps properly
Probably
naeza nimdescribe
As living inside her own world
I’d say she chose to leave the cold behind
She found warmth in words
Na comfort in rhythm
Looking at the world like, what would they want with hugs
na mi humuambia hepa
toka mbio na nyuma usiangalie
heepa
toka mbia mapenzi yasikufikie
Bulai mukhwana khuchelebatat
Khuyanza khumberewere
lananandera khuyanza khumbe
Mananananana
Ladadadadadadada
Bulai mukhwana khuchelebatat
Khuyanza khumberewere
nananandera khuyanza khumbe
Mananananana
Ladadadadadadada
Bulai mukhwana khuchelebatat
Khuyana khumbe nanana nandera
Khuyanza khumbe, ladadadada
Oh wewe kimbia dadadada
Bulai mukhwana khuchelebatat
Khuyana khumbere nanana nandera
Khuyanza khumbe, manananana
Oh wewe kimbia dadadada
Kimbia
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9. |
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10. |
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Caught kwenye cycle ya more and more
Caught up in a triangle with so and so
Inakuwachaakiliiki-circe, square faced ki-spongebob
Fichasura, siowengihutakakuonamachoziikidrop
Alitamka between puffs of smoke na sniffing glue,
Sold her body in Gomorrah, sodomized akiwa fifteen tu
Now dreams are for dreaming juu
No hands wish to fall on her back now,
That’s why she says,
Only God can hold us
Only God hold us
Only God can hold us
Ukiwachini, unaweza feel nikama prayers hazikifiki
Grace aliniwacha, I cheated with Faith maramingi
Steamy nights for the cold days, husuit my heart vifiti
Suits na ties siozangu so no wedding bells will be ringing,
Only God can hold me, mkonozabinadamusi fitting
Naishimaisha vi-reckless nikamanimepewamaishambili,
Scars na bruise sikama tattoos,
Nobody chooses when or where to have them, you wait for them to have you
Na kitunilisahaukuji-remind ni,
uchungunimgeni, mkaribishe, once or twice,
Sikuyatatu, muongeleshemlangoni, usimruhusu, aingie inside
Juuakikuzoea, majiraniwatamtumiakukudefine
Na hakuna word itawezakuuwelcome au kukuremind that
Only God can hold us
Only God hold us
Only God can hold us
On my back making love to fate
Dying in cold nights, breaking a cold sweat
Tenth of my gold,
Just to buy me some hope
Bloody hands in the air,
Only God can help me now.
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11. |
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12. |
Very Well
04:15
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Very well very
Very well very
Very very very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
See the thing about Check ni
Ye hupreach love kwa kugive love ye hupima ka maneno kwa speech
Juu the thing about Check ni
His two eyes have seen too much
He’s never giving up for giving up’s sake
Still believe in destiny bado na trust fate
The straw meant to break the Camel’s back didn’t now wait
The devil’s in his ear like listen MC just break
Hakuna mtu anangoja updates zako
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Welcome the man of steel, cause he’s still at it kama Clark Kent bila Kryptonite
Kiubiggie tunahypnotise
At it ka Dre tukileta beats
Sort of,
Tofauti ni si headphones, ni beats za box of,
So welcome to right now, this gift in your presence your presence is our present
The essence of forever is right now
Keep your mind clear
kuwa very well right now as we speak
Leo ni memory right now as we speak juu
Leo ni memory right now as we speak tu
So
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Can we kick it? yes we can and very well
Can we uh uh? Yes we can, very well
Can we … yes we can and very well
Can we biggidy biggidy box we can and very well
Can we do do do do this thing, very well
Can we mhh mhh, do this thing, very well
Can we… beatbox and spit very well
Can we… ki kick it very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
Wakiuliza how are you doing wasema very well
Do they pay you nowadays to kick it very well
Na Boxofbeats how’s that going well very well
Can we kick it? Yes we can and very well
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Checkmate Mido Nairobi, Kenya
Checkmate Mido (the dancing poet) is a musician, poet, beatboxer and certified trainer of the performance
arts.
Writing in English, Swahili and Sheng (Kenyan Slang), he considers himself ‘a carrier of
stories’. His work borrows from life, life experiences (his and others’) which he then creatively collects and weaves together through collaboration and music.
... more
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