From the recording man's lament (Pop Back)
Man’s Lament is a cinematic UK rap confessional — a spiritual war cry told through grime-infused drums, gunshot symbolism, and raw introspection. Inspired by Kendrick’s BLOOD, 2Pac’s Temptations, and Akon’s Locked Up, ManLikeKofi unpacks temptation, shame, and the battle for holiness.
Laced with sharp cultural references — from George Michael’s Careless Whisper to Oxide & Neutrino’s Bound 4 Da Reload — this track blurs the line between sermon and street poetry. One gunshot marks the fall. Another, the fightback. The last? A reminder: the war isn’t over.
Song: man’s lament (Pop Back)
Performed: ManLikeKofi
Songwriters: Sai Wentum, Kendrick Duckworth, Daniel Tannenbaum, Anthony Tiffith
Produced: by ManLikeKofi
Sample: BLOOD by Kendrick Lamar
Mixed: by ManLikeKofi & Eddy Rock (BV Vocals)
Mastered: by ManLikeKofi
Additional Vocals: Liz Hunny
Lyrics
[Intro]
I don’t really know
I don’t really know
When it’s gonna go?
Heading down this road
How it get so bad?
How we get so low?
I don’t waste time with it.
I don’t even want 5 minutes.
Lord I think I’ve reached my Limit
Cause I don’t wanna know
[x2]
[Verse 1]
Lord, don’t take me away before I change
Know I’m on journey tryna heal from pain
Carried the cross
why I carry this shame
Thorn in my flesh
why’s this prick at it again
Temptation like an Oakland MC,
I fear
Feels likes the devil keep on calling me (pause)
I hear
On the playground Luci trolling me
Out here
But Who the Son sets free is free indeed
I… (pause)
(Gun-shot fx breaks the flow)
Pop back,
Bound for the bound reload
Open up the Word
I’m in warrior mode
When they try restrict
We gone get it morse code
Can’t stop the source, He is always in mo- (pause)
Tion flow (pause)
We go, where He (pause)
Say so (pause)
O-bey like we (pause) Su-pposed
Su-ffer well (pause)
Then we grow
But do we want that?
No we want the glory and gains without the pain
Little bit of sin on the side that we can tame
I can’t even judge i battle with just the same
Like Christ didn pay the cost for us to break dem chains
Locked up
Going on like sin is not a con
Careless Whispers in the ear, not from George but Shaitan
Like a roaring Lion on the prowl that be pacing
Hungry, impatient, oh that’s who you taming?
Wait man? (Pause)
Had to grab the phone and call my brother Jason (Yo Reggie)
Forces all around so we get to pray-on
Laser focused on God’s will like we shooting Ray guns
Pew! Pew! Pfft! Pfft!
Line em out in crayon
I’ll be playful with the flow
But this ain’t a game son
My bro simply said
Sai, Yield to His kingdom
Uh,
Yeah…
Because you know how life is tecky
Throw you some challenges like you got a sign saying test me
Keep the word on your mind and
Keep the Lord as your bestie
Every trick in the bag
cause Luci be moving Petty
Whisper things in your mind
Leave you thinking it’s what you said
I respond with the truth, and not any nonsense you spread
Romans 12:2 like a two-two
Aiming at you now you’re…
[Gun-shot fx]
[Outro - singing]
Had to grab the phone and call my brother Jason
Forces all around so we get to pray - yon-yon-yon
Pray - yon-yon-yon
Pray - yon-yon-yon
Pray-yon